British bulldog Brad Anderson (Verde Substance KTM) won the opening EMX300 moto at the MXGP of GB at Matterley Basin this afternoon and in doing so reduced an eight-point deficit into a 17-point championship lead after series leader Mike Kras (GL12 Racing KTM) suffered a DNF.
Defending champion Anderson almost didn’t race after injuring his knee in timed training but the tough North Easterner lived up to his hardman reputation in the 25-minute plus two lap race.
“In practice I thought I’d torn my ACL,” he said, “and went out for my sighting lap and said that I didn’t think I’d be able to ride but I got out the gate in second and the adrenalin kicked in. I’m over the moon to get the win.”
Manuel Iacopi (Yamaha) took the holeshot but after swapping passes a couple of times with the Italian it was Anderson – who took the overall last time out in Russia – who established the lead ahead of Kras.
The pair played cat and mouse for most of the race but with just minutes left on the clock the tall Dutchman was sidelined with a suspected mechanical issue.
The Czech Republic’s Vaclav Kovar (Gas Gas) inherited second and closed Anderson down in the last few laps but the two-time British MX1 champion held on to the flag.
Britain’s Ash Wilde (RMJ Academy Husqvarna UK) took third from Iacopi and Estonian Andero Lusbo (Husqvarna).
It was a good race for the Brits with Ben Putnam (Yamaha) in seventh, Ash Greedy (KTM) ninth and Jamie Skuse (Yamaha) rounding out the top 10.
EMX300 kicks off Sunday’s programme with race two at 8.40am.
