The Italian Crossodromo La Colla was the perfect set for the last round of the 2024 EMX Quad European Championship, where British Quadcross Champion added to his haul by landing the 2024 European Quadcross Championship.
Race 1
For the penultimate time this year, the gates slammed to the ground and, despite Marcu s Thomsen momentarily taking the race lead, it was the German, Manfred Zienecker, who made the best launch to put himself into the lead of the race and, with that, take the holeshot ahead of the chasing pack. Champion-elect, Walker, put himself in prime position inside the top-5 positions with Mclernon, Thomsen and reigning champion Turrini. Former Sidecarcross World championship rider, and now-turned Quadcross rider, Julian Veldmann found himself in 6th position after the opening lap.
Walker found his way through on Northern Irishman, Mark Mclernon, to promote himself into second position and, barring a mechanical issue with his machine, would be set to clinch the championship with one race remaining if he was to complete the event in this placing.
During the midpoint of the race, Walker seemed to have the speed and was closing down the gap between himself and Zienecker, with Mark Mclernon within 5 seconds of the double-British champion. While this unfolded, 2023 champion Turrini did not seem to have the momentum to remain with the trio at the head of the field, and could almost feel the chances of retaining his title slipping through his fingers. The fight for 6th position raged on, with Veldman and Nicolo Roagna locked together on the circuit for the 15-point scoring position.
The 2-lap board was prepared and shown to race leader Manfred Zienecker who, by this point, has retaliated to the challenge of Harry Walker, and increased his leading margin to 4 seconds, with Mclernon and Turrini occupying a, relatively lonely, 3rd and 4th position – evidently, time was running out for the now outgoing European champion. Marcus Thomsen, likewise, was in a comfortable 5th position with Veldman slightly increasing his advantage over Nicolo Roagna. Such was the pace of the leading 7, that Laurynas Mikalauskas was a further 40 seconds behind Roagna in 8th position.
The chequered flag beckoned the arrival of Manfred Zienecker who would take yet another victory in the 2024 campaign, but it was to be a day that dreams are made of for the man from Reading in the UK, Harry Walker, who took the chequered flag in 2nd position and, with this result, claimed the title of being crowned 2024 European Quadcross Champion – an accomplishment he, very proudly, will carry for the rest of his career. Despite the obvious disappointment of not retaining the title, Patrick Turrini goes into the second race of the day with a 2-point lead over Manfred Zienecker, who himself is only 5 points ahead of Mark Mclernon.
Race 2
With the sun still beating down, and the shadows starting to grow, the gates dropped once more for the 10th and final time of the year, and it was to be Karlis Neija who took the initial advantage from Mark Mclernon, however, a decisive move from Mclernon would see him promoted into the lead of the race by the end of the opening lap. Newly-crowned champion, Harry Walker, sat proudly in 3rd position ahead of earlier race winner, Manfred Zienecker, who had high hopes of snatching the vice-champion position in the final standings, from the clutches of Patrick Turrni who, after lap one, sat in 6th.
Unfortunately, after completing only one lap, Zienecker would retire from the event and his hopes of climbing up to second in the European standings were cut short prematurely – a great shame for the friendly German. This retirement would see Karlis Neija and Julian Veldman shuffled up the timing screen into the top five placings at the halfway point in this final encounter. Patrick Turrini who, despite losing out on the championship, was doing himself absolutely no disgrace by swiftly deposing Harry Walker and long-time race leader Mark Mclernon to round off his tough season, by taking the lead of the race with only 5 minutes remaining.
Once more, for the last time of the 2024 season, the 2-lap board beckoned the outgoing champion Patrick Turrini who, despite the misfortunes of Heerde and Gdansk, was incredibly keen to complete his season on a high with one more victory. Mark Mclernon would complete the race in a strong 2nd position ahead of new champion and great friend, Harry Walker, to complete the podium.
With his showing in La Colla and the retirement of Zienecker, Mclernon would move into 3rd position in the championship standings, only 12 points clear of the German competitor.
Words by EMX Quadcross – Feature Image by Earths Eye Media