Report: AX Tour - Birmingham Genting Arena
By Team DBR on 22nd Jan 17
The latest round of the AX Juggernaut rolled into the Genting Arena at the NEC on Saturday night and the fans who were there were treated to some awesome racing in all classes.
The Pro class was again ruled by SR75 World Team Suzuki's Cyrille Coulon, who proved that age isn't an issue when it comes to Arenacross.
In the Main Event, the 34-year-old Frenchman started behind Keystone Honda's Florent Richier, and picked his way past in the early stages of the race – he was never bettered.
Behind him, a hard-charging Brit in the shape of Jack Brunell, stayed strong throughout on his Team Green Kawasaki and was perfectly placed to take his first podium position of the season with a solid third.
The track was a little slick and Thomas Ramette went down on the first lap and could only manage seventh at the flag. MVR-D Husqvarna's Adrien Escoffier and RFX St Blazey MX's Cedric Soubeyras tangled and went over a berm and onto the concrete but both rejoined the race.
However, in the short race format, they were both unable to recover places. Coulon now takes the red plate to Belfast next weekend. I-Fly JK Yamaha's Yannis Irsuti was an AX unknown prior to this season but has firmly stamped his mark of authority on the Pro Lites category.
He rode two flawless races to take the win and extend his championship lead. In the youth groups, both Ben Clayton in the Superminis and Ashton Boughen in the Youth 65s maintained their winning ways and took maximum points and the championship lead in their respective classes.
The Arenacross Tour now heads across the Irish Sea to Belfast for the only double-header of the tour at the The SSE Arena next Friday and Saturday, January 27/28.
Tickets are available via www.arenacrossuk.com or by calling the box office on 0844 338 8000.
