Sport » Autosport
SPANISH SUPERMOTO HEATS UP IN LLEIDA
Contributor / 2012-06-23 20:01:41
The Supermotoland team made the journey to the city of Lleida, in Catalunya over the weekend to compete in the second round of the Spanish Supermoto championships on a specially built street circuit in the city centre.
The Lleida moto club, who organised the event had worked hard to produce a very technical track which twisted through parkland and trees before opening out into a very fast set of corners and then jumping into the purpose built dirt section that featured a massive table top jump that brought the riders back onto the asphalt. The clubs efforts were rewarded with thousands of spectators enjoying a great day of close racing.
Anthony Ford-Dunn was not happy with his second row qualifying position that meant a good start was required if he was to be able to stay with the two championship leaders Francesco Cucharrera and Israel Escalera. When the red lights went out for the start of the first race Anthony was quick off the line but became locked in a battle for 3rd position whilst the two leaders opened up a lead.
Once Anthony was clear of the pack he was too far behind the leaders to catch them and had to settle for 3rd place. Whilst a better opening lap in his second race saw Anthony make some aggressive overtaking moves, once again the gap to the leaders was too great to close. Two 3rd positions gave him 3rd overall on the podium and a solid 3rd in the Spanish Championship.
‘I am a little frustrated with today’s result, I really need to be winning races now if I am to have a chance of taking the Spanish championship and today I just gave myself too much work to do by not qualifying in a better grid position for the start. My bike is working well and I am gaining in confidence after some preseason injuries, so next time out I will be looking for that win.’ Said Anthony after the podium presentations.
Anthony’s older brother Mat Ford-Dunn was also racing in the SM30 championship for racers over 30 years old. His day went a lot better with a pole position in qualifying and then a great battle for the lead in his first race before a small collision whilst passing a lapped rider saw him fall from his bike before remounting to take 2nd position at the flag. The second race went more to plan and produced a frantic battle between Mat and his championship rival Joan Lopez before Mat crossed the finish line first and took the top step of the podium, and the championship lead.
The brothers now have a few weeks to prepare for the 3rd round of the Spanish championship that will be held at Villarcayo in Burgos on the 8th July.
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