Scott Columb On Podium Form At Frome
26th May 2009 COLUMB & BARR ON PODIUM FORM AT FROME
Relentless Suzuki MX rider, Scott Columb, left round three of the ACU MMX British Open Championship, held at Frome in Somerset at the weekend, as the leading team rider, after improving throughout the day to finish in fourth overall. With all team riders out in action at the fast and dusty circuit, it would be Columb who would end the day strongest, after a sixth place finish in race one, was turned into a race lead and an eventual third place result in race two, after goggle issues dropped the New Zealander from the lead. For teammate Martin Barr, his fortunes would be reversed, after a good ride in the first race, saw the RM-Z450 mounted rider take to the podium with a well-earned third place finish. His second race would be less successful after a crash at the first turn, left the Irish rider to remount and fight back to seventh place at the flag. WIth Jamie Law riding home to ninth in both races, disappointment would strike once again for Scott Probert, after his best ride of the season ended in disaster with a broken Tibia and dislocated ankle, after trapping his foot and ankle under his own footrest. Team manager Rob Hooper, "Another day with highs and lows. To see all four riders inside the top-ten in race one was fantastic and even better to see Scott Columb lead the second race in such a determined fashion. With young Matt Burrows racing at the same venue in the under 21 class, and proving his ability with a strong ninth place finish in the first race, we have shown we have a very strong line-up across the board. The big low for us all is the injury sustained by Scott Probert. We really have no idea how long he will be off the bike, but wish him a speedy recovery. The next round of the series takes place at Wroxton in Oxfordshire on 21st June. Relentless Suzuki MX Partners: Relentless, Suzuki GB PLC, Apico, Castrol, Maxxis, Leo Vince, Pro Taper, Twin Air, Langcourt, DID, Gold Fren, Venhill, Polisport, NGK, Boyesen, K-Tech, Petersen Racing, Answer, Arai, Diadora, CTi, Pro Clean, HS Systems, Pump-X, Vans, Maximum Solutions, SB Windows, Graf-Fix, SFS, Rip'n'roll, Miro. Open Overall Results: 1st Brad Anderson, 2nd Kristian Whatley, 3rd Carl Nunn, 4th Scott Columb, 5th Martin Barr, 6th Alex Snow, 7th Danny Smyth, 8th John May, 9th Jamie Law, 10th Elliott Banks-Browne
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Scott Columb
Well Hello,
Good day?
I’m just on my home home from racing in the first round of the Red Bull MotoX
championship which was held in Landrake, Southern England. Its a track I have
been to before and one I enjoy due to its layout, up hills, downhills, jumps its all
good. The weather was fantastic the skies were blue and the Guru was shining down
on us all day, “good ‘ol England ay”.
I qualified 3rd in my group and I was feeling pretty good because the weather was
warm it was super hard to adjust to the weather when i first arrived- going from New
Zealand summer to a British Winter aint no good unless you enjoy drinking pints all
day “en a local pub innit?”
So Race 1 and you know what I took a gamble and lined up waaaaaaaaay over on
the outside and guess what? Guess! I-got-the hole shot! That’s right folks I got the
hole shot my first one ever in the U.Kay so I was pretty pumped, well the truth is I
was so happy I wanted to stop right there and have a little “happy boogie” but I knew
my team boss Rob Hooper may not share my joy should I do that so I carried on but
not for long till I got passed by Carl Nunn and Jordon Rose. I wasn’t about to let my
maiden hole shot go to waste so I got my game face on and started to reel in Rose,
once I got past him I started hounding Nunny. Nunny is currently 2nd in the British
Championship so he aint no turtle but I was feeling the flow and with about 4 laps to
go I got past him and “touk Ze Vin” I’m sorry let me re phrase that - I took the win!
Yeah yeah my maiden win in the U-Kay I was so stoked I even allowed myself a little
display of emotion as I gave it a little fist pump as I crossed the finish line table (may
I point out that the “fist pump” has been the most favoured display of winning
celebration since Wimbledon first began).
So Race 2 and the track had dried out a little and was quite dusty. I got a good start
but not another holeshot (damm) and was passed by a rider on the inside of me as I
ran wide. The pace was up front was intense, James Noble, Rose, Nunn and myself
were going at it. I was applying pressure trying to force a way past or get him to
make a mistake when Rose tucked the front and went down. I managed to catch up
to Nunny but then he found another gear and he pulled away a little. I was so
focused on trying to find some more speed to catch Nunny I didn’t realise Pascal
Leurut was chasing ME down and passed me I crossed the line 4th with Nunn 3rd,
Leurut 2nd and Noble taking the win.
On the way to the podium I took a swig of my Relentless Energy drink as I was
Informed by race officials that I had taken the MX1 overall for the day yeah!
I went 1/3, Nunn went 2/2 so I won. Standing atop the podium I
was pretty dam happy I mean I wasn’t like Josh was in Bulgaria listening to them
playing the New Zealand National anthem or anything thing but I had got my first
holeshot in the UK and starting up the front is the key to doing well over here. I had
my first big race win and thats a monkey off my back 4sure AND I had taken 1st
Overall at Round one of the Red Bull Moto X Champs on my Relentless Energy
Hooper Suzuki so my team boss was pretty happy BUT and there was a but, as I
cruised back to the truck with the red #1 plate in hand old mate from the podium
came up and said “we made a mistake with the points -sorry. As this was not an
ACU event things are scored differently so actually you and Carl Nunn tied on points
but he actually got 1st on the count back cause he ‘ad a better second race than you”
So I was, well let’s just say I was gutted and felt a bit of a shit buzz. Once I got a bit
of time to get over the disappointment of not taking the overall I was able to at least
draw positives out of the fact that I rode well and continue to improve. I’m still fit and
healthy and so really life’s all good just have to win the second moto as well next
time haha.
Love to you all.
P.S. I hear we got a couple new NZ Junior MX champs from down the South Island
so congrats to Campbell King and Micah McGoldrick (clean sweep mean man).
SCOTT COLUMB
