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UEM 2010 Final |
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The final round of the 2010 UEM European Enduro Championship took place at Oliveira do Hospital in Portugal. The wooded slopes of the rocky hills around the town were tinder dry. The sun was hot but - with everything to play for - the competition was even hotter. The organising Club Sieta did a fantastic job. Huge billboards featuring Britain's Gavin Houson welcomed the visitors to the town. There were life size cut outs of riders on every roundabout and banners hanging from every lamp post. The paddock was on 2 terraced carparks within walking distance of the town square where the opening parade was held on Wednesday night. Oliveira do Hospital is on a plateau and the view across the plains of Portugal was spectacular. North of the town the club threw out a 50km loop that the riders would have to complete 3 times on each of the first 2 days. Recent rain would hold the dust between the rocks for a while but not for long.
There were 3 tests in the first check. The first was a MX style track alongside the start in Oliveira Do Hospital. The gritty ground was unforgiving and the combination of hot blooded enthusiasm and cold engines proved to be a heady mix. Within minutes of the start one rider was rushed away with a suspected broken collarbone. The second test was over large slabs of volcanic rock. There was good visibility for the crowds as a recent fire had delimitated the forest. The fire warning meters were at maximum all around the course. The final test was an extreme rock face. The 150 foot slab of rock lay against the side of the mountain at angle greater than 45 degrees. James Giddings & Julian Crimp both lost their clutches and retired on lap 2. Portugal's Goncalo Reis was the overall winner ahead of fellow countryman Luis Correia. Greg Evans sustained a knee injury at the BEC in Dyfi and he had been off the bike for 3 weeks so he rode steadily and he finished in 14th. Ollie Moyce continued with his attack on the E2 Junior podium with a 3rd place finish. James Jackman was 10th in the E2 Seniors. Tyson Maytom Jones was 8th in the E3 Seniors. Moto Team Italia A were the best club team. Phil Smithson buckled his front disc and lost brake fluid pressure. He borrowed replacements from Jamie Paget's Husaberg.
The riders started the 3rd day in reverse and rode a 20 km loop before competing in the final Motocross on a track laid out below the start in Oliveira. The Woman and the Veterans completed their 5 lap motos but the big E3 class threw up a lot more dust and the race was stopped for safety. The main feature of the track was a 50 foot drop off and without clear sight it was very dangerous. The track was watered but the 2 fire tenders were set an impossible task in the midday heat. After some heated discussion - presided over by the Jury Chairman John Collins - it was decided that the test would be timed as a Special with each rider getting a sighting lap followed by a single timed lap. Greg Evans finished in 2nd and won the European Enduro Championship. Aaron Poolman was 7th and James Jackman was 14th. Ollie Moyce was 5th in the E2/3 Juniors. Phil Smithson, Dave Coles & Julian Crimp won the Vets class on the final MX. The best One Make team was Diahatsu Terios Yamaha. Goncalo Reis was the overall European 2010 champion with 136 points ahead of Greg by only 2 points. After the event Greg said " Of the course I am really pleased to have won the E2 championship but a little disappointed to have only just missed out on the overall, the event was really tough and I just did not feel at my best. With missing a few weeks training and riding in conditions unfamiliar to me I just could not match the pace of the locals this week. But my bike ran great and I would like to thank KTM and all our KORR Team sponsors who have helped me this season”. Photos Days 1 & 2 Day 3 Results
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Day
1. By mid morning temperatures had soared to 39c. Ashley Wood had a disastrous start when he was a minute late
to the line. He then compounded the error by making up a minute. On his
second lap his day went from bad to worse when he injured a toe. Ollie
Moyce on the other hand was flying. Fellow Midwest
Husaberg rider Jamie Paget was suffering after breaking his sternum 3
weeks ago and the prospect of wrestling the Berg around the Extreme test
for a second time proved to be too much. He retired to the pits to help
his team mates.
The hottest news
on Day Two apart from the temperature was a mini tornado that ripped
through the pits just after lunch. It lifted the Midwest Husaberg gazebo
15 feet in the air and deposited it 50 yards away . Fortunately there was
no damage. Apart from Jamie Paget, all the British riders were able to
start the second day although Julian Crimp's clutch repair didn't hold and
he retired. Greg Evans coped well with the pressure of being class leader
and he improved to finish in the top ten although like all the riders he
was exhausted. It was a hot day for Aaron Poolman when he was pinned by
his KTM and burnt his leg on the exhaust. Despite the discomfort he
finished. Portugese riders Luis Correia and Goncalo Reis took first and
second overall. Greg Evans was 9th. Ollie Moyce maintained his workmanlike
consistency but slipped back a place to 4th in the E2 Junior class. Ashley
Wood had a much better day. Despite his injured foot, he was the third
best British rider and he finished in 44th. Jonathan Rosse won the E1
Juniors and Dogo Ventura was the runner up.
