FRENCH DOMINATION AT HAWKSTONE PARK
The MX3 World and European MX2 Championship provided spectators with an exciting programme of racing, during an action packed Handlebar Festival at Hawkstone Park this weekend.
Unseasonably warm weather at the Shropshire circuit meant that the races were run under near perfect conditions, with PAR Honda’s Brad Anderson giving the home crowd something to cheer about in the MX3 World Championship races.
The 27-year-old British rider got the holeshot in the first moto, but found himself demoted to 15th place after a tumble on the second lap. Undeterred, the current points leader of the Maxxis British MX1 Championship then put on a virtuoso performance as he fought his way back through the field to fourth place, only missing out on a podium finish by the narrowest of margins.
Anderson takes the holeshot and sets about a podium finish.
In the second race Anderson again led the field around the opening lap, but the effort expended during the first moto meant he was unable to fight off a determined challenge from experienced Frenchman, Julien Vanni, who took the lead five laps into the race. The PAR Honda rider continued to push hard, but was unable to close the gap on Vanni by the chequered flag.
Fourth in race one and second in race two were enough to give Anderson second overall, and to leave him second in the points standings as the MX3 World Championship travels onto the next round in Spain without him.
Nothing like getting sprayed in the face with cheap champagne.
“I’m pleased to have been up there on the podium in second, but I really wanted to win here today in front of a home crowd. The first race crash was just a little mistake, I was trying to pull a good lead and I was feeling comfortable on the bike. Although in hindsight it would have been better to have just concentrated on being smooth, as a racer I just wanted to go as fast as possible to create a bit of breathing space behind me,” commented Anderson.
“I recovered and fought hard through the pack to take fourth, but it cost me the overall win today. In the second race I just had no answers for Vanni, he was very fast, so I brought it home in second to get on the podium. This weekend has been great and I’ve really enjoyed being here at the Handlebar Festival. The freestyle display and the other activities, as well as the support from the British fans, have all been great,” concluded the PAR Honda pilot.
The fiercely competitive European MX2 races were equally as exciting, with British riders Martin Barr, Scott Elderfield and Graeme Irwin getting good starts in the first moto. Barr crashed out, but Elderfield managed to battle his way through to tenth place, with Irwin coming home 15th. South African, Neville Bradshaw, was the highest placed British based rider, bringing his DB Racing Honda home in fourth place. However it was Frenchman, Christophe Charlier, who shone today, as he battled his way from 11th position to take the win.
Yet another French kid Christophe Charlier who has come off the conveyor belt of motocross talent – it must be something in the water in France that helps produce outstanding riders.
In race two the bar-bashing European series did not disappoint again, with strong performances from British aces Barr, Shane Carless and Elderfield. While Charlier recovered from another poor start to take the double win, Bradshaw came through the field from tenth to take third at the finish line. Barr and Carless finished the race in fifth and sixth positions, with Elderfield earning himself another 10th place. Charlier won overall, with Jeffrey Herlings in second place and Bradshaw rounded out the podium in a very well deserved third position.
Neville Bradshaw was the top British performer in the EMX2 class with an outstanding third place on the podium.
During breaks in the racing programme the crowd were kept well entertained, with displays from the awesome Monster Energy Freestyle Motocross crew certainly well received, along with the trials demonstrations from reigning British Champion, Graham Jarvis.
The crowd were entertained throughout the Easter weekend with the Monster Energy FMX team and Graham Jarvis hopping around of rather large rocks.
A full programme of mini bike racing also provided a huge amount of enjoyment, as spectators watched fully-grown adults battling it out aboard miniature motocrossers around the purpose-built sand course. The bikes might have been small, but the competitors certainly take their racing, and crashing in the most spectacular fashion possible, very seriously indeed.
Mini bike madness as the fun never stopped for the whole two days of festivities.
The RHL Activities team will now pack down the Handlebar Festival over the next day, before turning its attentions to the Motocross Grand Prix of Great Britain, which takes place on 30th and 31st May at Mallory Park. The prestigious event will be held at the Leicestershire track for the second year running and plays host to the seventh round of the ultra-competitive World MX1 and MX2 Championships.
For more information on the Motocross Grand Prix of Great Britain, or to book tickets and camping, log on to the official event website at www.britishmxgp.com.
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