Brit podium at Lydden

The first-ever European championship supermoto round held in the UK took place in front of 10,000 fans at Lydden in Kent on Sunday

The crowd had something to cheer after British rider Ady Smith claimed a podium spot in the 650cc class at the MCN-backed event. And 16-year-old British roadracer Jonathan Rea triumphed in the Press and Celebrity race and is considering a full time move to supermoto. Currently riding for the Red Bull Rookie team, his times on a Yamaha WR450 would have qualified him for the showpiece European rounds.

The penultimate round of the championship saw drama in the first 450cc race. French Honda rider Alex Thiebault just grabbed the holeshot in front of Italian Max Verderosa and took the win. Fellow French team-mate Fabrice Lacoanet took third. In the second race, Verderosa benefitted from a mistake by Thiebault on the off-road section of the track, with Dani Muller and Simone Girolami also making the podium.

The first 650cc race was the highlight of the weekend with a long battle between Thiebault and Bernd Hiemer. But Hiemer crashed out, and Thiebault ended up retiring with a puncture. KTM rider Marcel Gotz took the win.

The second race saw a dominant Hiemer lead from the start, with Muller taking his third podium of the day in front of Britain’s Ady Smith.

Said Thiebault, ” I’m disappointed about the problems I had after some excellent practice session, but I really enjoyed the fast track, ” said Thiebault.

The final round takes place in Greece on November 15 and 16. Meanwhile highlights from the action last weekend will be screened on Motors TV on Friday October 24.

First 450cc race:

1) Thiebault. 2) Verderosa. 3) Lecoanet. 4) Gaillard. 5) Muller. 6) Lavett. Brits: 9) Iddon. 10) Knight.

Second 450cc race:

1) Verderosa. 2) Muller. 3) Girolami. 4) Baracani. 5) Gaillard. 6) Iddon. Brits: 7) Knight. 15) Haigh.

First 650cc race:

1) Gotz. 2) Muller. 3) Fiorentino. 4) Thiebault. 5) Iddon. 6) Hirschi. Brits: 10) Haigh. 13) Smith.

Second 650cc race:

1) Hiemer. 2) Muller. 3) Smith. 4) Kvasnicka. 5) Girolami. 6) Iddon. Brits: 12) Smith. 16) Haigh.

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