amca wrap - New broom...
By TMX Archives on 15th Dec 05
...sweeps clean as the old guard move over for two first-time AMCA champions in '05
With 11-time AMCA king Gary Davies not competing in 2005 and reigning Open class champ James Russell retiring during the season, there were to be new names on the AMCA championship trophies. Step forward Northampton's exciting Excel Body Repairs Honda 250F pilot Brad O'Leary and Open class rider Simon Lane - a former ACU competitor who even tried qualifying at a Foxhill GP and still boasts a set-up both on and off the track that would be the envy of a lot of pro riders.
In what was another super series that along the way visited venues including Culham, Hawkstone, Matchams and the spectacular Thoresway Honda Moto Parc, the destinations of both titles could well have gone right down to the wire. That was until two championship-deciding moments saw contenders Rick Du-Feu and Aaron Crowder pick up injuries which severely hampered their progress.
Using timed qualification for the first time, the AMCA 2005 championship kicked off in Enmore in Somerset. At a dry and dusty opener, Ride MX pilot Rob Clark took the 125cc overall win but Matt Porter won at round two at Thoresway before this class developed into an intriguing battle for the crown between O'Leary and Du-Feu. In the Open class championship reigning champ Russell won the only race at Enmore before another Ride MX pilot - this time Charlie Hollis - ran out winner at Thoresway.
With super-fast 125cc rider Rob Clitheroe already out of action and awaiting an operation on a previously injured scaphoid, another one of the quick boys joined the sick list at Thoresway as Lee Payne crashed out of the season, suffering a suspected broken pelvis. And that list became even longer when Open class favourites Hollis and Paul Burn both tumbled at Matchams - Charlie suffering a badly broken leg and ankle while Paul bust his shoulder.
With Charlie out of the championship equation, the door was now left wide open for Lane and Crowder to begin their dash for the 2005 crown, pushed all the way by the undisputed AMCA holeshot king David Thomson. But it wasn't just a three-horse race - exciting two-stroke pilots Clinton and Elliot Barrs and Yorkshire sand specialist Danny Blakeley plus Matt Lee, Matt Ryder and Nicholas Batcock were all right on it as well.
In the 125cc class Brad took the overall wins at both Matchams and the following week at Hawkstone chased hard by Du-Feu, Jamie Powell, Lee Dunham, James Lane and David Harrison. Although O'Leary bagged the big points Du-Feu still led the series, helped by one of the most memorable rides of the season in the final Hawkstone moto. On the famous Shropshire circuit, Rick battled for almost the whole race with a front wheel puncture on his DK Off-Road 250F Honda, finishing a brilliant second.
Round five at Walterstone, near Pontrilas, was to produce the definitive moment in the Open class battle as Aaron Crowder suffered his first DNF of the season when he twisted his leg in a rut. With the unlucky Lancashire rider out, the dynamic Lane blasted to a brilliant maximum points score to back up his overall win at the previous round at Hawkstone. Leaving Walterstone a delighted Simon had turned a five-point deficit into a 30-point championship advantage with just two rounds remaining.
One round later at Culham came the moment that was to ultimately change the direction of the 125cc title. Battling for the lead in moto two, O'Leary and Du-Feu clashed with Du-Feu biting out hard and dislocating his shoulder. Rick bravely attempted to race in the final moto of the day but his injured shoulder again popped out - leaving Brad to take another vital win. In the title chase after trailing Rick since the opening round in Somerset, Brad now held a very healthy 39-point advantage.
After six dry rounds the rain decided to take big-time revenge at the series' decider at Charnock in Lancashire. Almost in his own backyard, Du-Feu displayed great courage to splash his way to a brace of muddy moto wins but Brad used his head, concentrated hard and steered to a 3-2 scorecard - enough to secure the 125cc title. For the previous two seasons young Brad had finished as championship runner-up so maybe this was justice.
Second in the overall table, Du-Feu could at least take some consolation from his brilliant IMBA 125cc European championship win back in September. Third place in the series was Powell followed by James Lane, Dunham and Harrison. After starting the season strongly, Alan Pearce and Matt Porter both suffered injuries that halted their progress and eventually saw them finish in seventh and ninth places.
In the Open class an absolutely delighted Simon Lane confirmed his first AMCA crown despite suffering a slightly worrying moment in moto one at Charnock. While leading the charge he got stuck in a bike-swallowing rut but despite losing his advantage he quickly recovered his composure to get back to sixth. In the second clash the Gloucester racer displayed his true class to blast to a magnificent win and the title. Runner-up position in the championship went to stylish young gun Elliot Barrs ahead of a still injured Aaron Crowder, David Thomson, Danny Blakeley, David Wright, Craig Chamberlain and Paul Burn. After breaking his shoulder at Matchams, Burn made a great late-season recovery, taking the overall win at Culham and third overall at Charnock.
Thomson - after being a main contender for most of the season and a regular top four overall finisher - suffered late season heartache, missing out on the championship bronze medal slot by just four points!