Last fight at the Brom's!
By TMX Archives on 25th Sep 08
COMPLETING his hat-trick, Marc Spruce took the AMCA Veterans Championship at Abbotts Bromley on Sunday for his third successive year of this prestigious and hotly-contested title. Despite finishing second overall on the day to worthy competitor Chris Wainwright, Spruce took no chances and three good rides ensured the title was his for the taking.
In addition to hosting the final round of the Vets series, Cannock MCC also ran a full programme of races, which looked in doubt at the beginning of the day. An incident in Junior practice delayed proceedings for an hour or so while the air ambulance was called. Good organisation thereafter however, ensured that the day ran well, helped along by superb racing and a good dose of uninterrupted sunshine.
With all to ride for, the final round of the Veterans Championship got under way, with just a few points separating the top three. With Marc Spruce leading the series going into the final round, three solid rides to consolidate good earlier performances was the name of the game.
As the gate dropped for the opening moto, Andy Mantle led the pack out with Spruce hot on his heels followed by Jim Shand.
Spruce took the lead early on and was followed by a trio of riders all looking for the race win. Another series front runner, Chris Wainwright busily worked his way through the pack, nipping in at the last moment to push Mantle into third, but it was Spruce who took the first race win.
Wainwright topped the second moto with Jim Shand having his best race of the day finishing in second, Neil Corbett a wheel's length behind in third. However, Spruce only managed a sixth place finish after a fall left him at the back of the pack with his work cut out.
Spruce lead the pack into the first corner of the final moto, chased down by Mantle and Corbett.
Wainwright's mid-pack start did little to deter him as he started to reel in the riders in front of him one-by-one.
Mantle took the lead from Spruce with a wheel's length separating the pair. Spruce regained the lead temporarily but riding with a dislocated little finger – an injury picked up in moto two – saw the lead slip from him to Mantle then Wainwright.
Spruce took no chances, knowing that a finish would see him lift the Vets crown.
Despite finishing the day with the overall in the bag, Wainwright missed out on the Vets title this time around. Spruce finished in second but with the ultimate goal reached, second was enough to leave him with a big grin on his face. Third place went to Andy Mantle who had been a worthy competitor throughout the series.
In the overall standings, Jim Shand finished the series in the runner-up spot with third place going to Greg Ogilvie.
Expert MX1 belonged to Charlie Hollis as he saw off the competition virtually uncontested to take all three wins with massive leads. Andy Manley took second spot after a series of good battles with Tim Burrows, who claimed third.
Andy Marchant took the Expert MX2 overall following a nail-biting final moto, which saw Dale Halls, who had taken two race wins, fall to the back of the pack on the first lap. Despite working hard to make up places, a rear wheel puncture in the closing stages left Halls in sixth, and second overall on the day. Matt Burrows was third overall.
Senior MX1 was a three-horse race, with each taking a win apiece. The overall went to a consistent Jay Rumbold. Ryan Palmer took second place after an off at the beginning of race two lost him valuable points. Matt Davis completed the line up in third with a win in race two under his belt.
The Senior MX2 threw up some of the most enjoyable racing of the day as Dean Swift and Scott Arnold battled tooth and nail.
Despite being run as a single race, the Junior Unlimited race was scored separately with the MX1 win going to Stephen Darby, who took two out of three, only losing out to second place Greg Walker in the second moto. Neil Gilbert took overall honours in the MX2, with Andy Davis a very close second. Third place went to Jonathan Costello who gets better each week.
In the Junior Under 18, Eddie Warrilow got off to a flyer in the opening moto but lost out to Lewis Cole, who took an early lead and never looked back.
Sean Wainwright cleaned up in the Inter Junior with three uncontested wins.
Despite a slow start, the racing at Abbotts Bromley gained momentum and the day turned out to be one of the season's best. The track held up well and the new sand section met with the approval of most riders but an overwhelming majority are in favour of removing the whoops section.
AMCA Veterans Motocross Champs
Final Rd – Abbotts Bromley
(Cannock MCC)
Veteran: 1 Chris Wainwright, 2 Marc Spruce, 3 Andrew Mantle.
Expert MX1: 1 Charlie Hollis, 2 Andy Manley, 3 Tim Burrows.
Expert MX2: 1 Andy Marchant, 2 Dale Halls, 3 Matt Burrows.
Senior MX1: 1 Jay Rumbold, 2 Ryan Palmer, 3 Matt Davis.
Senior MX2: 1 Dean Swift, 2 Scott Arnold, 3 Daniel Wilson.
Junior MX1: 1 Stephen Darby, 2 Gregg Walker, 3 John Pearson.
Junior MX2: 1 Neil Gilbert, 2 Andy Davis, 3 Jonathan Costello.
Junior MX2 Under 18: 1 Lewis Cole, 2 Eddie Warrilow, 3 Grant Sadler.
Inter Junior: 1 Sean Wainwright, 2 Richard Smith, 3 Tom O'Rourke.