They think it's Condover...it is now!
By TMX Archives on 3rd Sep 09
CONTINUING the fine form which has been displayed by British riders during their 2009 IMBA European championship campaigns, Brad O'Leary scorched to a superb runners-up slot at Condover, near Shrewsbury, on Sunday.In what was the penultimate round of the Euro MX1 series, O'Leary posted an impressive 7-1-2 scorecard while fellow Brits Charlie Hollis, David Campbell, Ben Saunders and debutant Tim Truman all finished inside the top ten overall with fifth, sixth, seventh and tenth places respectively. Completing the strong AMCA team on duty at their home round, superbly organised by Shrewsbury MXC, was Richard Meakin who finished 11th and James Russell in 17th.Supporting the IMBA action was round six of the AMCA MX2 Championship which saw Lee Dunham earn yet another stylish overall win ahead of Mark Hooley and a fast, young Jack Taylor.With Dunham's closest rival, Phil Mercer, suffering a DNF in the final moto due to gearbox problems, the Gloucestershire youngster now holds a very comfortable 134-point lead at the head of the points standings.
IMBA MX1
Opening the action though were the IMBA racers with season long leader, Dutchman Heikki Van den Berg holding a narrow 30-point advantage over reigning champion, German Frank Jansen-Teitz. With the final round due to be held on Teitz's home circuit at Kleinau in four-weeks time, Van den Berg was under pressure and desperate for a strong result at Condover.
Indeed the day produced a perfect start for the IMBA MX1 series leader as he produced a simply lightning holeshot to lead the pack in moto one with British wildcard rider James Russell in a great second ahead of Teitz, Campbell, Hollis, O'Leary, Meakin and German Kai Wirtz.
For another IMBA debutant it was to be a nightmare start as Truman fell on turn three while Saunders also tasted the Condover soil and was struck by the following Campbell.
AMCA MX2
Following his victory the previous week at Nympsfield, current AMCA MX2 Championship leader Lee Dunham made a stunning start to moto one on Sunday, controlling the race from start to finish.
For a majority of the contest, Phil Mercer riding with damaged ligaments in both his left knee and ankle looked set to earn the runners-up spot until being passed on the final lap by the exciting young racer, Jack Taylor.
After gating tenth Mark Hooley moved stylishly up to fourth at the flag ahead of Shane Holmes, Matt Porter, Paul Neale, home club rider Shaun Pearce and Jamie Dobson who held a strong third spot during the early exchanges.
AMCA MX2 MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Rd 6 – Condover (Shrewsbury MXC)
1 Lee Dunham (MotoXtreme Kawa) 60 + 50 + 60 = 170
2 Mark Hooley (Craigs M/C KTM) 47 + 60 + 47 = 154
3 Jack Taylor (Proppa Gear4 KTM) 54 + 47 + 45 = 146
4 Matt Porter (Select Homes Honda) 43 + 43 + 54 = 140
5 Shane Holmes (KTM) 45 + 39 + 50 = 134
6 Robert Clark (Suzuki) 35 + 37 + 39 = 111
RACE ONE: 1 Dunham, 2 Taylor, 3 Mercer, 4 Hooley, 5 Holmes, 6 Porter.
RACE TWO: 1 Hooley, 2 Mercer, 3 Dunham, 4 Taylor, 5 Frayne, 6 Porter.
RACE THREE: 1 Dunham, 2 Porter, 3 Holmes, 4 Hooley, 5 Taylor, 6 Dobson.
SERIES STANDINGS after 6 (of 8) rounds: 1 Dunham 941 points, 2 Mercer 807, 3 Porter 807, 4 Hooley 664, 5 Frayne 643, 6 Holmes 604.
NEXT ROUND: September 13 – Walterstone (Hereford MXC).
SUPPORT CLASSES
EXPERT SUPPORT: 1 Jamie Powell 174 points, 2 Ryan Jones 168, 3 Colin Conduit 135.
SENIOR SUPPORT: 1 Rian Warren 155 points, 2 Aaron Tucker 149, 3 Matthew Enright 148.
PETE JONES MEMORIAL TROPHY: Ryan Jones (Best Shrewsbury MXC Expert MX2 on day).
IMBA MX1 MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Rd 5 – Condover, BRITAIN
1 Frank Jansen Teitz (D) 60 + 54 + 60 = 174
2 Brad O'LEARY (GB) 41 + 60 + 54 = 155
3 Heikki Van den Berg (NL) 54 + 45 + 43 = 142
4 Davit Cools (F) 45 + 47 + 47 = 139
5 Charlie HOLLIS (GB) 43 + 43 + 50 = 136
6 David CAMPBELL (GB) 47 + 35 + 45 = 127
RACE ONE: 1 Jansen Teitz, 2 Van den Berg, 3 SAUNDERS, 4 CAMPBELL, 5 Cools, 6 HOLLIS.
RACE TWO: 1 O'LEARY, 2 Jansen Teitz, 3 SAUNDERS, 4 Cools, 5 Van den Berg, 6 HOLLIS.
RACE THREE: 1 Jansen Teitz, 2 O'LEARY, 3 HOLLIS, 4 Cools, 5 CAMPBELL, 6 Van den Berg.
SERIES STANDINGS after 5 (of 6) rounds: 1 Jansen Teitz 773 points, 2 Van den Berg 771, 3 Cools 724, 4 CAMPBELL 610, 5 O'LEARY 596, 6 Verhorevoort 588.
NEXT ROUND: September 27 – Kleinhau GERMANY.
FOR FULL REPORT SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2009
Brad O'Leary (11) takes charge at the start of race three, as he leads Charlie Hollis (16), David Campbell (10) and Richard Meakin (15) into the first bend.