GB TAKE 2ND IN CZECH REPUBLIC

Image courtesy of Steve Hone Photography

Great Britain finished runners-up behind Czech Republic in the FIME Under-23 Team Semi-Final on Sunday morning.

The hosts won the event with 50 points, GB 35, France 20 and Germany 14.

Anders Rowe top scored with 12 followed by Tom Brennan 10, Leon Flint 8, Ashton Boughen 3, Jordan Jenkins 2.

Vatcher said: “Of course we are all bitterly disappointed not to reach the Final later in the year in Krakow.

“We have to pay huge credit to the Czech team. They were dialled in from the off and didn’t give us a chance to control the meeting.

“But like we always say in these events, it’s the big picture that counts above all.

“It was important experience that really counts. I’ve no doubt that all the lads learnt a lot about themselves and about racing on the continent.

“I felt we were perhaps a bit unlucky at times not to put more pressure on the Czechs.

“We were delighted about how Ashton came in and performed. For a lad of 16 to ride like he did was very impressive. He also had an engine failure while in the points.

“Overall it’s a hard one to accept. But we’ll take the positives and move on.”

“To miss out on a European Final is extremely disappointing, but it shows with Anders, Tom and Leon who were all in the mix how important it is for our young riders to continually be involved in these events and gain the valuable experience at these type of tracks and these European venues which are so different from the UK.

“All credit to the our team but the facts are that the Czech team had 4 riders capable of winning races and ultimately that is what you need to do when in a competition where only the winning team qualify. At both Under 23 and Under 21 levels due to the age category the GB Team are now in a period of transition and we will be working hard to gain as much experience as we can over the next few seasons, but we do have some great young talent coming through and it will not be to long before we are challenging for medals again.

Brennan only dropped two points and also admitted the team were disappointed.

He added: “It’s very hard to come to these places and get a result.

“The Czechs started stronger because they were dialled in. We never really managed to haul them back after they took the lead.

“Fair play to them. They were consistently good and out of the starts. They also had a Grand Prix rider in their team in Jan Kvech and we just lacked a bit extra at times.

“But all the boys pulled together as much as we could. I felt as a team unit we all worked really well. It’s not the result we wanted. We all want to win for our country and we will keep learning every time.”

RESULT:
Czech Republic 50
Great Britain 35
France 20
Germany 14

Anders Rowe 12
Tom Brennan 10
Leon Flint 8
Ashton Boughen 3
Jordan Jenkins 2