TMX Says: Hurt & Ernee as Brits tumble
By Team TMX on 30th Sep 15
This is motocross and anything can happen.
Okay, so that's a king-sized cliché but the thing with clichés is they tend to be true – otherwise they wouldn't get bandied about so much – and you only need to look at last weekend's action from Ernee for confirmation.
Okay, so that particular cliché relates to shock results so it doesn't apply to Team France – clear favourite to win this year's event – coming out on top.
Running world MXGP one and two Romain Febvre and Gautier Paulin alongside AMA 250cc vice-champ Marvin Musquin – on home soil – made it a no-brainer.
It doesn't really apply to the US of A finishing second either. Even without undisputed AMA No.1 Ryan Dungey the three-man team of Justin Barcia, Cooper Webb and Jeremy Martin was still stronger than a pint of Tennents Super with a Buckfast depth charge.
Where it does apply is to the s**tstorm that blew Team GB's way.
Heading into the event we were looking good for our first podium finish since 1997 with 2015 GP winners Shaun Simpson and Max Anstie hooking up with AMA front-runner Dean Wilson.
But, don't forget, this is motocross and – yep – anything can happen and the turdnado struck in MX2 qualifying when Pascal Rauchenecker used Anstie as a downslope.
It wasn't the Austrian's fault – he was unsighted over a big downhill jump and couldn't see Max trying to bump start his stalled motor – but the damage was done.
It also applies to Ben Townley's performance. The Kiwi – world MX2 champ all the way back in 2004 and AMA Lites East SX champ in 2007 – hasn't raced full-time since 2013 but absolutely smashed it in France, running 6-2 for third overall in MXGP.
Not bad for a ‘retired' 30-year-old.
It's the ‘anythings' that – for me – make motocross such a fantastic, unpredictable sport. Sure, France won and the USA was second but Rauchenecker could have just as easily taken out Musquin or Martin in that qualifier – Max was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Anstie's injury also means his chances of winning the Maxxis MX2 championship have just gone from good to slim.
Despite missing the opening round at Hilton Park with an injury, the rapid redhead holds a comfortable 44-point lead with just this Sunday's final round at FatCat to go.
With Max out the way's clear for Steven Lenoir to claim another title for the French. The only rider within striking distance of Anstie, Lenoir looks a shoo-in to overhaul him in South Yorkshire but, just in case we forget, this is motocross...
