Monday September 20, 2010 at 3:24pm
ACU Masters Champion Andrew Appleton took a superb second place in the final FIM Long Track World Championship round on Saturday at Marianske Lazne in the Czech Republic, moving him up to fourth overall in the rankings and just a single point away from the podium.
It means Appleton automatically qualifies for the 2011 FIM Long Track Championship and will be targeting wins from the start. Such is the recent form of Appleton that if the World Championships had been held over the last three rounds only he would have been a clear winner.
Appleton said: “It is a shame I didn’t have a similar start to the GP season as the finish as it may have been a very different result. I had three bad rounds but then the turning point was winning the ACU Masters Championship which led on to winning the European Championship and the final rounds of the GPs.
“I am delighted with a second place in the Czech Republic round but also a little disappointed not to have finished third in the World. I needed to win on Saturday to force a race-off for third and gave my everything but it wasn’t to be.
“This helps me a lot for next season. I am more or less finished for 2010 and there is a lot of preparation for next year. The results are a big boost for me and I know I can do it now.
“There is definitely the talent in the UK to compete at these international levels of track racing. There are a few good guys coming through and they need to bite the bullet and get into Europe and start racing at a higher level.”
Glen Phillips, also representing the ACU, finished an excellent sixth on Saturday to take 10th overall in the Championship. He has qualified for the FIM Long Track Challenge which takes place in Forssa, Finland, next weekend.
ACU Track Racing Chairman Peter Gregory said: “Andrew’s result at the weekend is fantastic and shows the strength of track racing – particularly grasstrack racing in the UK at the moment, he has had a brilliant end to the season and will be looking to build on that next year.
“Glen has shown that Andrew is not alone in being competitive on the international stage and he is doing a great job. We can expect him to be fighting higher up the results sheets in 2011.”