Comment
By TMX Archives on 8th Apr 04
But recently, in a moment of madness, I had a little flutter - and it looks like my bet's going to leave me with a bad taste in my mouth.I was wandering around the Hawkstone pits when little Tommy Church came bounding over to me, all excited. But recently, in a moment of madness, I had a little flutter - and it looks like my bet's going to leave me with a bad taste in my mouth.I was wandering around the Hawkstone pits when little Tommy Church came bounding over to me, all excited. The issue we'd just finished had our Brit champs predictions in it so, purely in the interests of ripping the ***s out of him, I mentioned that the MX2 class was really hot and he had no chance of getting an overall decision at any round this year."Have so," said TC, his bottom lip trembling. "Have not," said I, evil grin firmly in place. "In fact," I added, feeling cocky, "if you do I'll lick your cousin Huck's back from bottom to top - after he's finished a moto!" Fast forward a week to Canada Heights and TC goes 1-4 to take the overall...Remember kids, gambling is bad!That was bummer of the month #1 - bummer of the month #2 is Gordon Crockard getting hurt at Canada Heights. Gordy's looking at an enforced rest until mid-July after an operation to reconstruct his anterior cruciate ligament - get well soon Gordon, we're all rooting for you...But it's not all doom and gloom this month. In fact, far from it! A fair few years ago I was having a drink with Mike Church, father of my new nemesis, after the first Belfast SX and the conversation rolled around to Swordy. "He's going to be world champion one day," reckoned MJ - a sentiment I fully agreed with at the time and still do. I thought last season would be Swordy's breakthrough year but he ended it without scoring so much as a debut podium. This year's been a different story.Armed, at last, with a full-factory ride Steve's been on the podium at every grand prix so far, has taken his maiden GP moto win and is tied at the top of the MX2 table. Okay, so the Jan De Groot-prepped KXF is the weapon of choice but mental strength is worth its weight in gold in a sport like MX - and now Swordy knows he's fast enough on the world stage he's going to be a tough man to beat.So, come the end of the season, that could be two Church predictions that come true - I'm just glad I didn't have a wager with Church Snr as well...