For the team the National Championships began one month ago with Martin Gluth. The German Champs were a major goal of the season for Martin where he hoped for a top 5 position. It wasn’t to be on the day, with Martin not quite able to stick with the moves and follow the wheels he hoped to. However, amongst a class field, his seventh place finish was still to be proud of.
The official National Championships weekend started for us in Israel with reigning Champion, Shlomi. After illness forced him out of racing and off training for a couple of weeks, this year’s title was harder to come by. Shlomi is incredibly proud of his Blue and White Israeli Champion’s kit and he was ready to give it absolutely everything to be able to wear it for another year. His passion paid off and we won our first National title as Novus OMX Pro Team.
With spirits high in the team, next day it was time for Cherie to take on the South African Championships. It was a great shame that injury stopped Mariske from riding and trying to defend a title that has been hers for the last two years, however it was a great delight to see Cherie step up into the limelight, take the title and keep those gold and green stripes in the team. For someone who is still so new to elite racing, and who suffered horribly with the nerves that came with expectation, Cherie delivered a perfect performance. Five days later it might just be starting to sink in!
Two races, two jerseys. Number three of the weekend was going to be a tougher ask. Martin Gujan lined up with not only the best riders in Switzerland, but many of the best riders in the World. The fast course and furious pace left Guschi suffering in the early stages of the race. As others capitulated in the later laps, Guschi could find his rhythm again and he rode to a strong seventh place finish.
Isla was unfortunately not able to race in the U23 British Champs as she is still recovering from a crash three weeks ago that left her with a broken collarbone and fractured vertebrae. She would have for sure been a title contender.
So, two seventh places and two titles: Not bad! We are thrilled to retain two National Champion’s jerseys within the team and will showcase them with pride for the next year.
#weareOMX
