UK Arenacross Rd 2/3 - Belfast Blast
By Andrew Hill on 21st Jan 15
The UK Arenacross juggernaut powered into Belfast for a double-header at the Odyssey Arena on Friday and Saturday night.An enthusiastic crowd watched a former champion come back to his best and two stylish pilots go bar-to-bar for glory and a place in the hearts of the Northern Irish fans.
Coming into round two on Friday night Thomas Ramette (SR75 Molson Suzuki) held the Pro championship red plate and was intent on continuing his good work from round one in Manchester while other hot favourites Adam Chatfield (CBR Racing Honda) and Angelo Pellegrini (Oakleaf Honda) were out to stop the Frenchman's AX dominance.
Chatfield came out on top during Friday's Main Event, gapping the field with an assertive wire-to-wire win and showing the sort of form that had taken him all the way to the AX crown in 2013.
But a crash in the whoops during Saturday practice meant Chatfield would miss the second night's point-paying races.
Saturday's final turned into a battle between Ramette and Pellegrini which got the Belfast crowd on its feet.
Ramette – who won both his heat races and the head-to-head final – grabbed the holeshot and looked in control but a slip in concentration just a few laps from home dumped him on the deck.
Although he remounted quickly the damage had been done and Pellegrini was able to take full advantage. Looking smooth and comfortable, the 27-year-old Italian powered his Honda over the finish line in first place.
Ramette now has a 10-point advantage in the championship but Pellegrini, Florent Richier and Harri Kullas are all capable of getting on the top step of the podium.
FOR FULL REPORT AND PICTURES SEE TMX JANUARY 22 (ISSUE 1955)
