TOUGH START FOR MAXXIS APICO SUZUKI
The opening round of the Maxxis British Motocross Championship proved to be a tough start for the new-look Maxxis Apico Suzuki Team at the weekend, after visa problems prevented Kayne Lamont from entering the country and racing, leaving Steven Clarke as sole team rider at the Little Silver track near Exeter in Devon.
With Clarke making a full-season return to the UK after four years away racing in the USA, the team were optimistic of a good start, before a difficult qualifying session saw Clarke on the back foot and looking for improvement.
But despite a gate pick of 19th, the RM-Z250 rider looked impressive in the opening laps of race one, running as high as fifth place before a crash forced him to restart his attack from tenth. Struggling to get his rhythm back, Clarke crashed again, eventually crossing the line in a disappointing 13th position.
Regrouping for race two, Clarke looked determined to put his race one disappointment behind him, impressively gating first off the line, before a missed gear forced a further crash. Unfortunatly for Clarke and the team, as he lay on the ground an impact with Arnaud Tonus caused injury to Clarke's ankle, forcing retirement from the race and any further part in the day's racing.
Steven Clarke: "I'm bitterly disappointed to start the season in this way. The bike ran superbly, but I struggled to get a rhythm in qualifying and then despite feeling good for race one, it all fell apart. While I don't think the injury picked up in the second race will be too much to worry about, it is the same ankle that I injured at the Liverpool Supercross, so it's frustrating to say the least."
Team manager, Rob Hooper: "Yes I'm disappointed, but it isn't the end of the world. With Kayne absent and a few weeks of bad weather that has prevented further testing, we were on the back-foot anyway, although I had hoped for a little better. By Canada Heights I'm very optimistic of having two fit and healthy riders on the team, where we can show our real potential. Our emphasis in the meantime will be to get the second visa application approved for Kayne and for Steven to get over his injury and get some more time on the bike."
Race Results:
MX2 Race 1: 1st Zach Osborne, 2nd Arnaud Tonus, 3rd Jake Nichols, 4th Ray Rowson, 5h Mattis Karro, 6th Mel Pocok, 7th Luke Hawkins, 8th Scott Elderfield, 9th Elliott Banks-Browne, 10th Scott Probert
MX2 Race 2: 1st Zach Osborne, 2nd Arnaud Tonus, 3rd Jake Nichols, 4th Mattis Karro, 5th Elliott Banks-Browne, 6th Luke Hawkins, 7th Bryan Mackenzie, 8th Ray Rowson, 9th Alan Keet 10th Stuart Edmonds
MX2 Race 3: 1st Arnaud Tonus, 2nd Mattis Karro, 3rd Elliott Banks-Browne, 4th Bryan Mackenzine, 5th Jake Nichols, 6th Mel Pocok, 7th Alan Keet, 8th Stuart Edmonds, 9th Anthony Reville, 10th Scott Elderfield.
MX2 Overall: 1st Tonus (69), 2nd Karro (56), 3rd Nicholls (56), 4th Osborne (50), 5th Banks-Browne (48), 6th Hawkins (39), 7th POCOCK (37), 8th Mackenzie (32), 9th Rowson (31), 10th Elderfield (29).
2011 Team Partners Include: Maxxis, Apico, Suzuki GB, Akrapovic, Doodson, Langcourt, MX Zone, Rip'n'Roll, Sky Shades, The Heritage Company, Motorex, Venhill. DID, NGK, Burfield Associates, Graf-fix, Alpinestars, C'n'C Doors, Pro Clean, Polisport, Factory Connection, Twin Air, Samco, Answer, Pro Taper, Pro Carbon, Generate, Donjoy, Petersen Racing.
