This Sunday, June 25th it’s the first home round of IMBA European Championship motocross for 2017 as the Ladies and Sidecars go into battle at Lower Drayton, near Penkridge in Staffordshire. Promoted by the Cannock MXC, this event will be event number three in the series for the girls having already visited Holland and Belgium whilst its’ just round two for the Sidecars after their opener at the superb Wohlen circuit in Switzerland.
In the Ladies IMBA, Bethany Farmer is currently the top Brit holding a fantastic 6th place with Gabrielle Hamlet also in great form and sitting in 8th. Indeed in the two completed rounds, Farmer has been really mixing it with the leading Euro aces and has already carded a hat-trick of top six moto placings. Also doing their bit in style for Team GB are Georgia Ithell in a solid 17th place and Vicky Marriott, hampered by a nasty early season arm injury in 23rd. The regular IMBA starters will be joined on Sunday by Chelsea Gowland, the current leader of the British Womens motocross series, Wiltshire based sisters Catherine and Camilla King, Leonni Tighe, Rhianne Barker and youngsters Ciara Robertson(16), Charlotte Hall(15) and Eleanor Calby(15).Currently leading the IMBA Ladies contest is Dutch girl Gwenda Haans from Belgian Brenda Wagemans and German Fionna Hoppe. Also don’t forget to keep an eye on former F.I.M World Ladies Champion Steffi Laier of Germany and possibly young Australian Emma Milesevic. After having both missed the opener in Holland, these two Ladies starred in Belgium producing three outstandingly fast tussles.
Over in the Sidecars, at the time of going to press, Sam Osbaldiston/ Nathan Cooper are the sole GB representatives although there is sure to be more names added before the event. In round one at Wohlen, home Swiss crew Andy Burgler/Martin Betschart took all three moto wins ahead of Dutch lads Jarno van den Boomen/Dennis van den Berg although it looks like neither will be present at Lower Drayton. For Osbaldiston, well he started with 16th overall and 77 Championship points. There’s also solo support action on the programme for Sunday making it a full day of great racing. So if you fancy supporting the British lads and lasses then get along to the circuit, postcode ST19 5RE which will be signposted from Penkridge town centre and junction 13 of the M6. Admission charges for the event are just £7 Adults, Under 16 and OAP’s £2 with children under 5 getting in for FREE.