Qualifying
Mike van Grinsven has shown this weekend that he could throw a spanner in the works for the title hopefuls, as he had first gate pick over Patrick Turrini and Manfred Zienecker. Harry Walker would line up on the gate fourth, ahead of impressive local Sylvain Petit and a returning Mark Mclernon.
The gates dropped and 21 quadcross machines hurtled towards the first turn, and it would be Harry Walker who took the lead of the race in the early stages ahead of his main, and only, rival for the title, Patrick Turrini. Sylvain Petit slotted into third position, much to the delight of the home supporters, but would soon start to feel the pressure from Zienecker, van Grinsven and Mclernon.
Initially, it seemed that Walker and Turrini would spend the race unchallenged, as they opened their margin to over five seconds over third position, but a hard charging Zienecker would soon find his way through on van Grinsven, and then Petit, to promote himself into third position. With clear track ahead, the German rider soon made hay while the sun shone, posting the fastest lap of the race to reduce the deficit between himself, and the leading duo.
Back at the front, Turrini would experiment with different lines to find the opportunity of making the pass on his rival, but this would not come to fruition and, very soon, he would be forced to turn his attention away from Walker, and over to Zienecker, who was hot on his heels going into the closing stages.
Mike van Grinsven would find his way through on Sylvain Petit but, by this point, Zienecker was too far up the road so he would be forced to settle for fourth position – a great result, nonetheless. Petit soon found himself in a secure fifth position, as Mclernon appeared to lose ground into the closing stages of the event but would do enough to hold onto sixth place.
Into the final couple of laps, and Walker had opened his margin to over three seconds over Turrini. Turrini, however, still had to contend with the incredible speed of Zienecker, who was proving to be relentless in his pursuit of second position. A decisive move made by Zienecker would see him move to second position, but this was quickly corrected by Turrini who retaliated immediately. They would continue arguing over this position, until Zienecker placed his #89 machine in prime position, to shut down any attack that the series leader had in mind.
Taking the chequered flag first was Harry Walker, and this will give him the first gate pick for the two point-scoring events on Sunday. Zienecker held onto second place ahead of Turrini, who rounded off the podium.
Results
- Harry Walker
- Manfred Zienecker
- Patrick Turrini
- Mike van Grinsven
- Sylvain Petit
