With eight different race winners and five different round winners this season, the seventh and final round here in the savage sand of Lommel delivered what was the most intense and dramatic yet exhilarating end to what was easily the best ever season of European Championship EMX250 racing. With the championship being more or less narrowed down to two riders heading into the final race of the championship, the red plate holder CNC Doors KTM’s Steven Clarke and HSF Logistics Motorsport Team’s Brian Bogers carried the weight of the world on their shoulders.
When the gate fell for the last time this season, the guy trailing the championship leader Clarke by eleven points coming in, Brian Bogers, stole the holeshot immediately sending both the crowd and pit-lane into turmoil. While most eyes were on the positions of Bogers and Clarke, it was Kemea Yamaha Racing’s Nick Kouwenberg actually stole the show today, launching past Bogers in the rhythm section on the opening lap and sailing smoothly to his second race win of the season. Meanwhile Bogers hung out on his own in second just focusing on clicking off his own laps while behind him an out right ruckus had unfurled.
While Watson begun to fade, his fellow Brit held on strong in fourth despite a late race charge from race one winner KTM Bodo Schmidt Motorsports Calvin Vlaanderen who was on mission after not getting off to the greatest of starts. Coming home in a hard fought sixth CNC Doors KTM’s Steven Clarke lost eleven points on Bogers meaning they would tie for the championship overall. With the tie breaker coming down to race wins over round wins, Clarke known to many of his friends and fans a ‘Clarkie’ or ‘Scuba Steve’ was crowned the 2014 EMX250 Champion.
While Bogers was forced to settle for second overall in the championship, he was able to relish in the overall victory for the round with yesterday’s victor Calvin Vlaanderen mounting the second step. Adam Sterry wrapped up the final round of the season with third for third overall in the championship while race two winner Nick Kouwenberg finished up the weekend in fourth with Brent Van Doninck rounding out the top five.
Download here FIM Europe Press Release 127/2014
