Harry Dale came within touching distance of becoming EMX85 European Champion at Loket on Sunday, only to be denied the title on countback after one of the closest finishes in the championship’s history.
Images courtesy of Infront Moto Racing
The British youngster produced a superb victory in the opening race of the 2026 EMX85 European Championship Final, but a battling sixth-place finish in race two left him tied on 40 points with three other riders. Latvia’s Patriks Cirulis claimed the European crown thanks to the tie-break rule after winning the second moto, with Robin Mooses taking the silver medal and Martins Cirulis completing the podium.
Dale looked every inch a title contender in the opening race. After avoiding trouble at the start, he charged through the field, moved into the lead on lap seven and pulled clear to claim victory by more than three seconds while also setting the fastest lap of the race.
Fellow Brit Cohen Jagielski also featured prominently in the opening moto, getting the holeshot and running near the front during the early laps before eventually finishing seventh. In the second moto he finished 18th, ending the weekend with a superb 10th overall.
However, the second and deciding moto proved far more difficult for Dale. Boxed in at the first corner and emerging around 20th place, he mounted an impressive recovery through the field but could only climb to sixth by the chequered flag.
That left four riders level on 40 points overall. With Patriks Cirulis recording a 6-1 scorecard across the two races, the Latvian secured the title ahead of Robin Mooses (3-3), Martins Cirulis (2-4) and Dale (1-6), leaving the Brit just off the overall podium despite winning one of the two races.
The dramatic finale crowned Patriks Cirulis as the 2026 EMX85 European Champion, with Mooses taking silver and Martins Cirulis bronze in an all-Baltic podium.
There were plenty of other Brits in action too, with Jett Gardiner running inside the top ten in moto one until a crash dropped him back to 25th. He bounced back in moto two, charging from 18th to an impressive 13th, securing 19th overall.
Arthur King also enjoyed a solid weekend, scoring points in both motos with finishes of 19th and 17th to claim 20th overall.
It was a tougher weekend for Casey Lister, who qualified 11th but unfortunately suffered two DNFs in the motos.
EMX85 Overall Results
