A RAGA RAMPAGE
As a 16-year-old, Adam Raga had competed in his first FIM World Championship round in France in 1998, scoring his first points on day two with a 15th place. Over the next few years he would mix the European Championship rounds with the World Championship as the motorcycle trials manufacturers valued both titles. In the year 2000 the Raga ‘rampage’ began in earnest as he won the European Championship and moved into the top ten positions in the world with a strong ninth place at the close of the season.
ROUND 5: SPAIN, VALDEMANCO. 17TH SEPTEMBER, ENTRY: 44 RIDERS
With the FIM World Championship over the week before and with Adam finishing ninth he rounded off the year with yet another superb riding display to take the
UEM European Championship. The biggest loser down in fifth positon was Sam Connor, who also dropped down to fourth in the final championship positions. Michael Phillipson gained valuable championship points in eighth followed by Ben Hemingway in tenth as the younger of the two Hemingway brothers took his highest placed finish in the championship of sixth overall.
RESULTS: 1: Adam Raga (Gas Gas-ESP) 2; 2: Josep Manzano (Sherco-ESP) 9; 3: Dario Re Delle Gandine (Montesa-ITA) 12; 4: Stefano Dellio (Montesa-ITA) 16; 5: Sam Connor (Montesa-GBR) 21; 8: Michael Phillipson (Beta-GBR) 28; 10: Ben Hemingway (Beta-GBR) 31; 13: Ian Austermuhle (Beta-GBR) 38; 24: Dan Thorpe (Gas Gas-GBR) 63; 37: Sean Robinson (Sherco-GBR) 118.
2000: UEM EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP FIVE ROUNDS
RESULTS: 1: Adam Raga (Gas Gas-ESP) 82; 2: Josep Manzano (Sherco-ESP) 74; 3: Dario Re Delle Gandine (Montesa-ITA) 73;
4: Sam Connor (Montesa-GBR) 71; 5: Stefano Dellio (MontesaITA) 49; 6: Ben Hemingway (Beta-GBR) 34; 7: Gregory Eyries (Sherco-FRA) 34; 8: Anders Nilsson (Gas Gas-SWE) 30; 9: Sergio Leon (Montesa-ESP) 28; 10: Maria Saez Josep (Montesa-ESP) 26; 11: Andreas Lettenbichler (Sherco-GER) 22; 12: Fabio Lenzi (Gas Gas-ITA) 20; 13: Ian Austermuhle (Beta-GBR) 17; 14: Alex Van Den Broek (Montesa-NED) 17; 15: Jordi Garcia (Beta-ITA)
10; 16: Michael Phillipson (Beta-GBR) 10; 17: Jussi Haapanen (Beta-FIN) 10; 18: Michael Vukcevic (Sherco-BEL) 9; 19: Jonas Riedel (Beta-SWE) 6; 20: Martin Crosswaite (Scorpa-GBR) 6; 21: Martin Krousterek (Beta-CZE) 6; 22: Jan Cardinaels (MontesaBEL) 6; 23: Pavel Balas (Gas Gas-CZE) 5; 24: Israel Escalera (Gas Gas-ESP) 5; 25: Carsten Stranghoner (Sherco-GER) 3; 26: Jiri Svoboda (Montesa-CZE) 2.