LEARNING CURVE FOR YOUNGSTERS

GREAT Britain paid the price for conceding a 5-1 in their last qualifying heat against eventual winners Poland to go from the verge of a rostrum place to ending up seventh in the first round of the European 250cc Pairs in Krsko, Slovenia.

The meeting took place on Sunday afternoon after being re-scheduled when thunderstorms force the postponement on Saturday evening.

The competition was made up of two groups of five teams, and unfortunately it seemed that GB were drawn in the toughest group alongside Poland, Sweden and the home nation.

William Cairns was in good form, scoring nine points from his four rides including two wins, whilst for Cooper Rushen it was a tough GB debut – but having crashed in his first race, he went on to score three points which included a maximum heat win over a combined Hungarian/Polish team.

The first round was won by Poland, with Denmark second and Sweden third.

The series moves on to Motala in Sweden on July 16 and to Prague in the Czech Republic and Bydgoszcz in Poland for Rounds 3 and 4 later in August.