Campbell cans it!
By TMX Archives on 2nd Jan 08
Following on from the AMCA Motocross Championship Review seen in the Christmas edition of T+MX, here is the Open Class instalment...
Typical of the action served up by the AMCA boys in a thrilling season,the Open class title also went right down to the wire and the finalrace of the season with David Campbell dramatically snatching the crownfrom rival Ben Saunders. With both riders having moved across to theassociation from the ACU, the contrived to serve up a titanic battlechased hard by the likes of Charlie Hollis, Aaron Crowder, ClintonBarrs, Simon Lane and Jamie Powell.
With expected front runners, Elliot Barrs, Richard Mike-Jones and PaulBurn all missing due to serious early season injuries, it was formerACU rider Ben Saunders who won the first Open class championship motoof the season ahead of David Campbell, Clinton Barrs, Aaron Poolman,Aaron Crowder and Charlie Hollis.
In moto two, the fast starting Poolman was to take the chequered flagin pole position while Campbell was the final winner at CleoburyMortimer. Already displaying their class, it was an ACU reunion on thepodium with Saunders the victor Campbell second and Poolman third.
In atrocious conditions at Condover during round two, Campbell splashedto a brilliant muddy double to earn the overall win on the day.
Dave Wright, son of former top CCM pilot Bob Wright, was the man wholed the opener at Condover before falling and dropping back to 23rd.Taking fifth spot in moto one was Simon Lane, competing just 48 hoursafter his wife Emma had gave birth to their first child.
Also lining up at Condover was a gallant Elliot Barrs, the 2006runner-up making his comeback after suffering a badly broken leg atHawkstone Park in April.
In moto two, Campbell was again the mud king with a majestic victoryahead of Saunders, Crowder, Danny Blakeley, Jamie Powell and long jumpstar Jason Rennie. At the top of
the championship table, Campbell and Saunders were locked together on113 points apiece and the season long tussle for the Open class crownwas now well and truly on!
Round three at Kerry and the dynamic duo of Campbell and Saunderscontinued to dominate, sharing one moto win each in the opening twoclashes at the North Wales venue, chased hard by the combination ofPowell, Hollis, Crowder and Rick Du-Feu.
However in the last moto of the day, the leader-board was to show achange, for while Saunders again took the win, Campbell after gating inninth, was to finish in fifth spot. Having his best ride of the day,Clinton Barrs took a strong second spot ahead of Hollis and Du-Feu.Unfortunately at Kerry, Elliot Barrs, just three meetings into hiscomeback, was to suffer another serious injury, ruling him out for the
remainder of the season.
As support for the British 125cc IMBA round, the Open class were nextin action at Branston. Moto one at this meeting was to produce asurprised but very delighted winner in the form of Charlie Hollis.
AMCA OPEN CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP
TOP TWENTY: 1 David Campbell (Honda) 516 points, 2 Ben Saunders (RaceConnections Honda) 501, 3 Charlie Hollis (Invek Foods Honda) 367, 4Aaron Crowder (Sandiford Honda) 338, 5 Clinton Barrs (WildmoorWulfsport Honda) 330, 6 Simon Lane (Honda Equipe) 323, 7 Jamie Powell(Stevens Yamaha) 311, 8 Rick Du-Feu (Delkevic Kawasaki) 308, 9 AaronPoolman (G&S Patios Midwest Kawasaki) 278, 10 Danny Blakeley(Silvester Yamaha) 194, 11 Steve Bailey (Honda) 176, 12 David Wright(Sandiford Honda) 168, 13 Craig Chamberlain (Honda) 132, 14 RichardMeakin (Honda) 128, 15 Paul Coward (Honda) 111, 16 Stuart Rawlings(Artdeans Honda) 98, 17 Stephen Tillotson (Delkevic Kawasaki) 81, 18Gavin Hookham (Honda) 65, 19 Martin Jones (Honda) 62, 20 Craig Martin(Honda) 61.
MOTO WINS: Campbell 10, Saunders 8, Barrs 3, Hollis & Poolman 1.
for full report and pictures see T+MX News, Friday, January 4, 2008
PICTURE:tmx_047_005_04-01-08
CAPTION:David Campbell (65) is seen here being chased by Clinton Barrs who finished fifth in the series.