The popular Kleinhau circuit in Germany was the venue for the IMBA European Motocross Masters event which also featured the final round of the IMBA Ladies, Vets Over 45’s and Vets Over 57’s series. Making the journey and representing Team Great Britain were Kathryn Booth, Simon Lane, Mike Allport and Richard Main all producing some outstanding results and finishing their respective campaigns in style.
Words and Images by Mike Wood
Rain on Friday night and Saturday morning threatened to make conditions particularly difficult for timed qualifying. Gradually, though, that heavy track dried out to become a very raceable strip, only for a heavy hailstorm to then wreak havoc just as the all-important IMBA racing was about to commence! So, the opening motos was a battle of survival, but Kathryn dug deep to score a great 3rd in the first IMBA Ladies clash, a result copied by Simon Lane in the Vets Over 45’s whilst Mike Allport and Richard Main scored 5th and 6th respectively in the Vets Over 57’s.
For day two of action, there was to be a vast improvement in weather conditions, allowing the IMBA titles to be decided in dry, fast and highly competitive motos. Flying the GB flag in the Ladies, Kathryn unfortunately picked up a puncture in Sunday’s first outing, meaning a 12th-place finish. Recovering in style, though, she then took a great 2nd in her last moto, which meant 3rd overall and a fantastic silver medal position in the IMBA Ladies series. Taking the title in this class was none other than German superstar and three times FIM World Women’s motocross champion Steffi Laier. So Kathryn’s final runner-up position was a super achievement and a fair reward for her consistency throughout the 2024 IMBA Championship. In what was a four-round series, Kathryn had already scored 3rd in Gouy en Artois, France, 3rd in Holten, Holland and 5th in Ohlenberg, Germany.
Simon Lane was also to go on and earn an eventual silver medal finish in the IMBA Vets Over 45’s. In all three moto’s at Kleinhau he took 3rd behind Jurgen Kuppers and Didier Ghaye. It was Belgian Ghaye who was crowned Champion just 36 points better off than Lane. It’s certainly been a good season for the Gloucestershire-based Brit, as he has already been crowned the 2024 AMCA British Championship Vets Over 50’s winner.
Having started at Kleinhau with a 5th spot in the mud, Mike Allport remained composed throughout to score a further 4/5 placings. That meant a bronze medal for the Suzuki-mounted gallant Brit. Earlier in the IMBA series, Allport had also enjoyed briefly wearing the coveted yellow Championship leader’s race shirt.
Having had some past very memorable moments at Kleinhau, Richard Main would certainly have enjoyed returning to the German venue. Starting with that already mentioned 6th, the East Midlands based rider then went 6/10 for 6th overall and 5th in the IMBA series. Well done to all of the Brits on their great results in 2024!
