As good As it gets
By TMX Archives on 23rd Jul 08
IN a dramatic and controversial second round of the IMBA European MX1 Championship at As, in the Czech Republic on Sunday, reigning champ, Belgian Christophe Descamps moved to the top of the series standings ahead of 2006 champ, German Frank Jansen-Teitz while Britain's Brad O'Leary slipped back to third. However at As, O'Leary (fourth), Charlie Hollis (sixth), Clinton Barrs (seventh), Rick Du-Feu (eighth) and first moto winner Ben Saunders (13th) all produced impressive, battling performances and should travel to the next round, their home event at Branston (on August 3), full of confidence.
In the calm before the storm and on a very narrow, technical circuit the need to grab the holeshot was absolutely imperative. O'Leary and Saunders produced the dream start as they led moto one chased by Descamps, Tomas Lhotsky, Jarno Verhorevoort and Jimmy Kaal while the unfortunate Barrs stalled on the start-line and was left in last place.
Five laps into the contest and Saunders took control, leaving O'Leary to repeatedly fight off the challenges of Descamps and Lhotsky. Although Lhotsky eventually got through into second, Saunders rode a superb, controlled race to hold on for a glorious win with O'Leary eventually fifth. Hollis, despite a burnt out clutch, finished ninth, as Barrs made a fantastic recovery for tenth and Du-Feu recovered from a couple of falls to claim 12th.
IMBA EUROPEAN MX1 CHAMPIONSHIP
Rd 2 As, CZECH REPUBLIC
Moto One: 1 Ben SAUNDERS (GB), 2 Tomas Lhotsky (CZ), 3 Christophe Descamps (B), 4 Jimmy Kaal (NL), 5 Brad O'LEARY (GB), 6 Erwin Robins (NL), 7 Frank Jansen-Teitz (D), 8 Jarno Verhorevoort (NL), 9 Charlie HOLLIS (GB), 10 Clinton BARRS (GB),... 12 Rick Du-FEU (GB)...
Moto Two: 1 Jansen-Teitz, 2 Verhorevoort, 3 Descamps, 4 O'LEARY, 5 Kaal, 6 HOLLIS, 7 Du-FEU, 8 Cremer, 9 Erwin Robins (NL), 10 BARRS,... 11 Saunders....
Moto Three: 1 Jansen-Teitz, 2 Kaal, 3 Descamps, 4 Lhotsky, 5 O'LEARY, 6 BARRS, 7 HOLLIS, 8 Du-FEU, 9 Verhorevoort, 10 Furar.
Overall on Day: 1 Jansen-Teitz 161 points, 2 Descamps 150, 3 Kaal 146, 4 O'LEARY 137, 5 Verhorevoort 130, 6 HOLLIS 121, 7 BARRS 113, 8 Du-FEU 111, 9 Lhotsky 103, 10 Schepers 97,... 13 SAUNDERS 93.
Series Standings: 1 Descamps 299 points, 2 Jansen-Teitz 291, 3 O'Leary 287, 4 Kaal 280, 5 Barrs 247, 6 Verhorevoort 243, 7 Hollis 236, 8 Saunders 227, 9 Furar 212, 10 Lhotsky 204,... 11 Du-FEU 200.
For full report see T+MX NEWS, Friday, July 25, 2008