Britain’s Vets Nations double!

British teams swept to victory in both classes of the Vets Nations at Fareigh Castle, winning the twin-shock and Evo classes, against tough international competition from the USA in the world’s biggest retro motocross festival.

With over 600 riders competing on the famous and historic Farleigh Castle Circuit, thousands of spectators saw close racing in all the classes over two days that were hit by heavy rain overnight. But the highlight was the Evo Nations battle which saw current and former GP and AMA pro riders go head-to-head on bikes that officially should have been made before 1989. Although Mike Brown’s Husky clearly flouted the rules at it had a very modern front end on it!

But it was Team England that ran away with the Evo Nations victory, as Kurt Nicoll, Mark Eastwood, Tom Church and Brian Wheeler took the win from their American rivals of Mike Brown, John Dowd, Doug Dubach and Todd De Hoop. Third was team Belgium who edged out South Africa for the final podium spot despite South African Nev Bradshaw making a clean sweep of all four motos.

And in the Twin-shock Nations, team Twinshock UK’s Alex Rach, Rick Du-Feu, Terry House and Wayne Butt took the win from the North of England and Luxembourg teams.

In the Evo classes, EMX300 champion Brad Anderson romped to victory on a CR500 in the 500 class. And in a fitting homage to the late Hakan Carlqvist, he stopped for a beer on the penultimate lap! And former British champion Kristian Whatley won all four 125 races in his first ride back since breaking his femur. He was only given the go-ahead to ride by the doctor a few days before the event.

Nicoll was in winning ways in the Over-50 Evo class, taking a KX500 to the win over long-time rival Doug Dubach. While John Down piloted a Maico to the Over-50 Twin-shock win. But it was a disastrous weekend for Jeff Emig, who had bike problems and crashes and failed to finish a moto. But he was loved by the spectators, as was Doug Henry who made a guest appearance alongside Dakar winner Sam Sunderland who couldn’t race as he had bike problems. And even US 250 champion Zach Osborne turned up to spectate, alongside former world champion Graham Noyce. And former GP star Mervyn Anstie raced and had lots of fun with 10th overall in the Twinshock Nations races and 24th in the Evo 500s, while his son Max was in France finishing on the MXGP podium!

Vets Nations Evo overall

1. England
2. USA
3. Belgium B

Vets Nations Twin-Shock overall

1. England
2. North of England
3. Luxembourg

Bradshaw was unbeaten in the Evo Nations

Evo

1. Neville Bradshaw
2. John Dowd
3. Mark Eastwood
4. Kurt Nicoll
5. Craig Anderson
6. Jurgen Van-Nooten
7. Tom Church
8. Brian Wheeler
9. Marvin Vandaele
10. Patrick Caps

Twin-shock

1. David Campbell
2. Alex Rach
3. Terry House
4. Didier Stommen
5. Rick Du-Feu
6. Stephen Kelly
7. Wayne Butt 36
8. Lance Marshall
9. Daniel Thomas
10. Merv Anstie