Speed merchants turn on the style

Lower Drayton Farm, just off the A449 near Penkridge, hosted the British round of the IMBA European Ladies Motocross and Sidecars Championship.

It was round number three in the series for the women riders, having already visited both Holland and Belgium, while it was a second outing for the sidecars after their opener at the Wohlen Circuit in Switzerland.

“It was a good crowd and everybody there seemed to enjoy themselves,” said Mike Wood, from the Amateur Motor Cycle Association, which is based in Cannock.

“In the ladies. one of the British girls, Chelsea Gowland, finished third overall, despite realising the day after that she had broken her ankle in the last race. That’s some achievement.

“Then, in the sidecars, we (GB) only had one crew because it clashed with another event but they finished fifth which was massive for them.

Wood is now eagerly awaiting the next action at the track.

“On July 23, we have another European Championship for the MX1 and MX2,” he said. “We are really looking forward to that, and judging by this past weekend, it should all go really well.”

Gowland was the star turn for the host nation on her European series debut, racing superbly on a five-year-old Honda to earn that podium spot.

And 24 hours later her achievement became even more astonishing when she discovered that after landing heavily from a jump, she had actually broken her ankle.

While Gowland starred, there also plenty of other great results from the GB Ladies who gave it their all in a determined and outstanding showing.

Bethany Farmer, Charlotte Hall, Catherine King, Leonni Tighe and Camilla King all finished inside the top 15.

In the opening Ladies’ contest, it was to be one of the stars of the sport, Germany’s Steffi Laier, who controlled proceedings.

Former multi FIM world champion Laier provided a motocross masterclass as she led from start to finish ahead of Belgian Brenda Wagemans and IMBA series pace-setter Gwenda Haans of Holland.

With Haans going out of moto two after three laps with a knee injury, the very fast and smooth Laier again took the win from Wagemans and Gowland.

Tighe (jarred back) and Hamlet (sore thumb) were both forced to sit out the restarted final moto as Gowland made another strong start and was right on the gas. Passing Wagemans, she moved up into second and was even closing on leader Laier before suffering that ankle injury.

She was forced to stop briefly but then battled on to claim third.

The event also featured round two of the IMBA European Sidecar series with Sam Osbaldiston and Nathan Cooper GB representatives. The duo produced a stirring performance to claim fifth overall, jumping from 16th up to sixth in the Championship table.