The Garmin Arenacross tour kicks off in Belfast with two nights of intense racing inside the Odyssey Arena made all the more exciting by tricky track conditions that claim more than a rider or two over the course of the weekend. The biggest name to get bitten is Arenacross #3 Jack Brunell who tweaks an ankle and misses both main events ending his chances of 2014 championship glory.
A green bike does lead the way though with LPE Apico Kawasaki’s flying Frenchman Fabien Izoird holding a slender one point lead in the championship chase with a 2-1 scorecard that’s bolstered by four bonus points won in Saturday night’s head-to-head clash.
Steven Clarke sits second in the series standings after going 2-1 in the traditional races and picks up bonus points by finishing as runner-up in Saturday’s head-to-head. The Dyer and Butler KTM star now heads into his home round of the series on a high and will be looking to snatch the red plate back from the Frenchman at his home round on Saturday night.
After an erratic start to the race programme MBO Sport ASA Scaffolding Yamaha’s Aussie import Daniel McCoy sits third in the standings. The Aussie vet backs up a third on Saturday with fifth on Sunday to sit nine points from the pace setter. McCoy has a pair of Frenchmen hot on his heels with Loic Ro(sham)baut and Cyrille Coulon right in there like swimwear while Daniel’s team-mate Kristian Whatley sits sixth in the championship – just ahead of fellow UK residents Nev Bradshaw, Elliott Banks-Browne, ‘Mellow’ Brad Anderson and Jamie Law who rounds out the top 10.
Round three of the series takes place in Birmingham’s LG Arena on Saturday night before heading to Liverpool on Feb 2, Newcastle on Feb 9, Sheffield on Feb 15 before finishing in London’s Wembley Arena on March 1. Head to www.arenacrossuk.com for tickets or enter our FREE ticket giveaway.
