May 20th, 2019.


Flying a lone flag for the UK, PAR Homes Zip Racing Yamaha’s Harry Walker took two solid fifth place finishes, and fifth overall, at the opening round of the FIM affiliated 2019 EMX Quad European Championship, in front of a 20,000-strong crowd, last weekend.

The 20-year-old, who finished third overall last year, travelled out to the new purpose-built circuit at Bucha, Ukraine with dad Stuart, for a mere 3000-mile round trip. Qualifying started well but the over-watered track caused a few upsets, particularly when last year’s runner-up Christopher Tveraen spun out, collecting Walker in the process and halting his qualifying charge. Finding himself in last place, Walker had a fight on his hands to work his way through and did well to qualify in ninth.

Walker was away in fourth in the opening moto and was soon battling behind the Czech Republic’s Zdenek Polàcek, who was in second. Trying to go around the outside of the Czech rider pushed the Brit into the loose surface and over the berm. He righted himself and his quad and carried on to fifth. In the second race, he was up to fourth, which would have given him the third overall, but another small hiccup saw him once again crossing the finish line in fifth.

“Qualifying ninth, meant I was on a back foot all weekend really as that was my gate pick,” said Walker. “It was hot, really hot, around 34 degrees before the second race and, whilst the track was good, they watered the life out of it - you couldn’t go off-line without getting really wet, which reduced it to one line. Kevin Saar was on another level out front, but racing was tight in the pack behind him, and lap times similar. It was close and hard to pass, and luck played a big part as anyone from second to sixth could have finished in the runner-up slot.

“I’m never ready to settle for anything other than a win, however, fifth is a solid result. We took away some points, and there are still three rounds to go. We have a couple of upgrades to try now, and I’ve got all to play for. I’m determined to be on the podium at the next round at Estonia on the 8th and 9th of June.”

Walker and his PAR Homes Zip Racing Yamaha team are now facing a quick turnaround to get across the Irish Sea for the British QX Championship double-header in Northern Ireland at Tandragee and Tinker Hill this bank-holiday weekend.

Results
Race 1
1. Kevin Saar (EST), 2. Zdenek Polàcek (CZE), 3. Roman Gwiazda (POL), 4. Patrick Turrini (ITA), 5. Harry Walker (GBR).

Race 2
1. Kevin Saar, 2. Valerijs Kuzmins (LAT), 3. Christopher Tveraen (NOR), 4. Patrick Turrini, 5. Harry Walker

Championship
1. Kevin Saar (Honda ) 50, 2. Valerijs Kuzmins (Husqvarna) 37, 3. Patrick Turrini (Yamaha) 36, 4. Zdenek Polàcek (Husqvarna) 36, 5. Harry Walker (Yamaha) 32.