Team GB took a strong 9 rider team to Baseox in Belgium for the 50th edition of the Coupe de l’Aviner (under 21 MXON)
The event is steeped in history, producing future world champions and top GP stars from the early 1970s right up to the current times.
Previous winners including our own Graham Noyce, Neil Hudson, Dave Thorpe, Paul Malin, Mark Banks, Jason Higgs and more recently Josh Gilbert.
The team consists of 3 x 65cc, 3 x 85cc, 1 x 125cc, 1 x MX2 & 1 x MX1 rider.
GB this year was represented in the 65cc class by Marty Spires, Casey Lister & Arthur Moore, the 85cc class of Josh Vail, Freddie Gardiner and Jamie Keith, Open class of 125cc Charlie Heyman, MX2 Sam Nunn and MX1 Tom Grimshaw.
The track on the border with France is an old school hard pack venue with tricky step downs and off cambers where the start is critical as the field negotiate four 180 degree turns before hitting a big step-up jump that certainly in the 65cc class made a huge difference in lap times if cleared.
Track conditions on Saturday were perfect as the team had open practice, timed practice and a qualifying race to determine gate pick for Sunday.
With 3 great qualifying positions Team GB were looking right in the mix with the strong Belgian, French, and Swedish teams as the 65cc team qualified 3rd, the 85cc 1st and the Open class 2nd.
With honours up for grabs in each class both as a team and individually the main goal on Sunday was to win the “Joel Robert” Super Cup, one that Team GB had never won before.
The format allowed Team GB to drop their worst individual race result in each of the classes, so with every rider having to contribute it really is a “Team” event and had the riders all focussed on this.
With overnight rain the team woke up to a wet track as the 65cc riders went out for warm up, unfortunately this was the last this class would ride as the rain continued to pour making the track unrideable for the 65cc races later in the day, so the previous days qualifying counted as the teams 65cc score.
Still a fantastic achievement and experience for Marty, Casey and Arthur with finishes of 3rd, 11th and 16th in a stacked field.
The 85cc and Open class was also shortened to 2 races each and wow, did GB show its class.
The first 85cc race saw Josh Vail win by over 2 minutes in the trickiest muddy conditions. Josh was on rails, and this was backed up by Freddie Gardiner who for most of the race was in 2nd until a last lap crash, but still brought it home in a fantastic 3rd with Jamie Keith showing true bulldog spirit fighting back from 40th to 28th at the flag.
Race 2 for the 85s was even wetter as riders struggled in the deep ruts but again Freddie Gardiner put in a great effort for 3rd to give him 2nd overall in class, Josh and Jamie both having to pit for fresh gloves and goggles bringing it home 12th and 24th was enough to put the team 3rd on the podium, a fantastic achievement but no more than they deserved as a top step was definitely a possibility.
The first Open class race saw Tom make a fantastic start from the outside as although he was our fastest qualifier the team elected to put Charlie on the 125cc on first gate pick to run him up the inside and get in amongst the front runners, this worked perfectly as they were joined by Sam in the top 10 as they excited turn 2.
Some great racing followed with Tom at one point getting in the lead, eventually finishing 2nd between the Belgian Coenen brothers in 1st and 3rd, with Sam 4th and Charlie 12th.
Race 2 was a real muddy race and the guys were outstanding with 3 in the top 4 at one point. Tom led for over half the race, before a fall relegated him to 12th, Charlie rode a blinder finishing 3rd on the 125, a result that was outstanding by a 125 pilot, and leaving the best till last, Sam took the runner up spot and in doing so the overall Coupe de l’Aviner trophy, adding his name to the hall of fame.
The results over the weekend was a great achievement and beyond the team’s aspirations, with a podium in every individual and team class and topped off with winning the Super Cup.
This was a huge team effort from every rider, parent, mechanic, supporter to achieve this result.
A full vlog from the event to follow which will tell the whole story……watch this space!