T
HE 2016 EMX300 SERIES was
staged over six rounds spread
across the MXGP season. The
first four rounds were fairly evenly
spaced - but the final races in the Czech
Republic and Belgium presented the riders
with their first back-to-back race weekends.
gave everything they had and I would like to
thank them all.
Coming off a great pair of races at the
British GP, GL12’s riders were carrying
momentum and a fair amount of hope, as
they headed to Loket (in the north-west
Czech Republic). Lewis Gregory was off
the pace in the points after two blank slates
in Latvia and Spain but a third overall in
the UK was a good start for a late charge
up the table. Brad ‘The Ando’ Anderson’s
win at Matterley Basin saw him third in the
championship but only 28 points off the top
spot. Mathematically the title was certainly
within reach but leaders Mike Kras and
Yentel Martens were going to provide stiff
opposition.
Not the way I wanted to end the EMX300
championship but I’m still in one piece.
Track was nice and rough, just didn’t get
the starts and that made things hard from
there on – plus I had some bike issues.
The first day’s racing in Loket went to
plan for the Gloucester outfit with Ando
and Lewis finishing first and second
respectively.
Day two, however, went about as bad as
it could have for the two riders. Gregory
started race two strongly but turning onto
the start/finish straight he was hit by a
jumping rider and left with a damaged wrist
tendon – a season-ending injury. Ando had
a more difficult start – and was making up
for it. But having clawed his way back to
fourth, a blown piston put an end to his
race. A disastrous day and with Kras taking
the overall win, the title had now stretched
beyond Ando’s grasp.
And so on to the MXGP of Belgium and the
notorious sands of Lommel. With Gregory
side-lined, the team’s focus was all on
Ando. In difficult conditions, Brad managed
a seventh and a sixth for sixth overall. This
left The Ando third in the championship
– a disappointment for the team but
an incredibly impressive achievement
considering the calibre of riders and
support they were up against.
The title went to KTM’s deserving Mike
Kras, who rode consistently across the
season – winning at least one of the races
at every round except Belgium. Yentel
Martens rode his Husqvarna to second
place, closing the points right to the end
with the overall win at Lommel.
All of which left a final top-three consisting
of Factory KTM, Factory Husqvarna and
privateer Bob Buchanan’s GL12.
Bob Buchanan
Not where we wanted to be stood at the
end of the season. We had some great
results and some poor ones. Everybody
42 | FreestyleXtreme.com
I am pleased to have been able to help save
the series for next year - maybe we’ll get
enough support to try again.
Brad ‘The Ando’ Anderson
Thanks to everyone for the help: GL12
Yamaha, team boss Bob, mechanic Chris,
Steve our engine tuner and all the crew, big
thanks.
Lewis Gregory
Not the best end to the EMX300
championship. Had a good Saturday
at Loket with a 2nd, mid-pack start in
the 2nd moto and someone decided to
land on me on the first lap. I’ve partially
severed a tendon in the back of my hand
but I’m thankful it’s not any worse. Thanks
to everyone for the kind messages and
support over the weekend.
..........................................................
So will we see GL12 again in 2017? There
was some doubt if the EMX300 would
return, but after discussion (and no doubt
some persuasion from Mr. Buchanan)
organisers Youthstream recently released
the following:
EMX300 to run for 2017
Following the release of the provisional
calendar for the 2017 FIM Motocross World
Championship, which did not include
the European Championship EMX300
as a support class, it was brought to
Youthstream’s attention that a large number
of manufacturers, teams, riders, partners
and fans would like to see the EMX300
championship continue.
Due to its increase in popularity over the last
few years, Youthstream have agreed to add
the European Championship EMX300 class
to the 2017 MXGP calendar.
FIM Europe President Dr. Wolfgang Srb
said, “I am very happy about this solution.
The EMX300 class has developed very well
and it is good for all of the parties involved
that this European class remains within the
FIM Motocross World Championship.”
FreestyleXtreme.com will be doing
what we can to help GL12 make a fresh
challenge for the title, hopefully with all
the support they’ll need. 2016 ended in
disappointment, but it’s difficult to overstate
the achievements of Bob and his crew amid
a field with vastly superior resources. Here’s
to 2017. T