The first two rounds of the Arenacross Tour proved to be a box-office-busting sell-out showdown at The SSE Arena, Belfast this weekend with capacity crowds filling the arena on both Friday and Saturday evening.
The gathered audience was treated to world-class racing from the aggressively competitive Pro 450 and Pro Lites, with French racers Greg Aranda and Cedric Soubeyras giving a masterclass of Arenacross racing.
The youth classes and, exclusive-to-Belfast All-Ireland Cup, also provided non-stop entertainment with some early championship contenders emerging across the groups.
The Pro 450s were all about Aranda. The uber-smooth Team Green Kawasaki rider remained unbeaten all day, from free practice right through to the Main Event Super Final.
He had to work for his living in the final though as FRO Systemsā Cedric Soubeyras tore off the start line, grabbing the holeshot and leading the race right up until two-thirds race distance.
Back in fourth Aranda first picked off Buildbase Hondaās Adrien Escoffier and then SR75 Suzukiās Valentin Teillet in his charge to the front. He closed on Soubeyras and then charged through to the front.
Behind him, Soubeyras kept his cool to take second and with Teillet in third, placed two 250s on the podium. Brit Jack Brunell (Team Green Kawasaki) had a storming ride to finish fourth.
Northern Ireland’s Martin Barr crashed earlier in the evening and sadly, a broken hand ruled him out of continuing through to the final, he promised to be back at Birmingham and added: “despite the injury, I really enjoyed the whole evening. The crowd were unbelievable and Iām now concentrating on getting fit in time for Birmingham.”
In the Youth classes, it was repeat business in all three classes with Ben Clayton powering past Josh Greedy in the Rookies to take maximum points, and the championship lead.
Alfie Jones performed the same feat in the Team Green Supermini Cup, as did Freddie Bartlett in the Youth 65. James Mackrel was again dominant in the All-Ireland Cup.
Arenacross now heads back to the mainland for the third and fourth round of the Tour at The Resorts World Arena, Birmingham on Friday the 1st and Saturday the 2nd of February 2019.
Doors open at 6pm and the eveningās entertainment gets underway at 7.00pm. Tickets are available directly from the Arena Box Office on 028 9073 9074 or on the door.
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