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Electraction TM UK |
 '07 British Enduro Championship - round 5: Natterjack Enduro, 29-30.9.2007
McConnell finishes as runner-up at BEC final Electraction TM UK rider Euan McConnell has brought his participation in the '07 British Enduro Championship to an impressive close with an overall runner-up result behind Paul Edmondson at the REME organised Natterjack Enduro. Securing the '07 Enduro 3 BEC title at the penultimate round of the series three weeks ago, Euan produced some of his best form this year to top the E3 class on both days aboard his 300cc TM. In addition to McConnell's impressive result Veteran class rider Adrian Lappin claimed two day wins aboard his 450cc TM while Cornish youngster Jamie Paget performed well in the Expert class coming home ninth on day one and eighth on day two. Despite having already claimed the '07 Enduro 3 championship, and having been unable to properly prepare for the Natterjack event due to his training bike having been sent to Chile for this year's ISDE, Euan performed well on both days claiming fourth overall on day one and second overall on day two to claim the overall runner-up position at the end of the two-day competition. Despite not expecting too much ahead of the first day's competition Euan topped the opening special tests having ridden a little bit too aggressively and having had several near misses. Opting to calm things down a bit ahead of the five remaining tests Euan began to steadily improve his pace test after test and finished the day fourth, just seven seconds behind round four winner Tom Sagar and comfortably ahead in the E3 class. Realising that his pace on day one wasn't far off that of winner Paul Edmondson Euan opted to attack day two with the intention of making life difficult for the former four-time world champion. Fourth overall on the opening test Euan then placed third on test two before continuing to get faster with each passing test. Come the end of the day the Scott placed just nine seconds adrift of Edmondson and comfortably ahead of third place rider Daryl Bolter. Euan's Enduro 1 class TM team-mate Tim Lewis failed to finish either day of the Natterjack due to having fractured his sternum at the Rhayader Enduro. Hoping that he would be ok Tim found things simply too painful on day one and despite an increased amount of pain killers on day two he decided to withdraw from the event four tests into the day. Euan McConnell: "My practice bike is on its way to Chile for the ISDE, which meant that I had to go to Ireland last weekend to prepare for the Natterjack and wasn't able to ride in any sand. Because of that I wasn't expecting too much on day one but I won the opening test, which was a nice surprise. I was riding way over my head though so I backed it down a bit after that. I struggled on the enduro test because it's so tight and twisty and not well suited to bigger rider - I really struggled getting my bike around some of the tightest corners. I managed to pick my pace up as the day went on and towards the end of the day I wasn't too far off the pace. Fourth overall was pretty good. "I had a real good go at trying to win on day two. I managed to stay upright on all the tests for the first time ever and my bike worked perfectly. I wasn't able to beat Edmondson but second is a great end to the season. I'm fairly happy with the way my British season's gone. It's hard not competing in a full international championship because by the time the BEC started this year several riders already had quite a few overseas events under their belts. Despite playing catch up things have got better and better and the year has ended with two really good results." 2007 Metzeler British Enduro Championship Natterjack Enduro - day 1 Championship class (overall) 1. Paul Edmondson (Suzuki) 1795.45; 2. Daryl Bolter (Husqvarna) 1796.07; 3. Tom Sagar (KTM) 1802.37; 4. Euan McConnell (Electraction TM UK) 1809.93; 5. Jason Thomas (Suzuki) 1824.83; 6. Si Wakely (Husqvarna) 1838.34; 7. Greg Evans (KTM) 1846.61; 8. Edward Jones (KTM) 1874.91; 9. Ricky Mair (Suzuki) 1886.36; 10. Paul Bolton (Honda) 1891.1 2007 Metzeler British Enduro Championship Natterjack Enduro - day 2 Championship class (overall) 1. Paul Edmondson (Suzuki) 1715.63; 2. Euan McConnell (Electraction TM UK) 1724.93; 3. Daryl Bolter (Husqvarna) 1743.98; 4. Tom Sagar (KTM) 1752.13; 5. Si Wakely (Husqvarna) 1758.47; 6. Jason Thomas (Suzuki) 1783.18; 7. Greg Evans (KTM) 1804.97; 8. Edward Jones (KTM) 1809.02; 9. Ricky Mair (Suzuki) 1827.84; 10. Robert Jones (Yamaha) 1836.13
Double E3 victory for McConnell at Crychan Electraction TM UK rider Euan McConnell continued his winning ways in the Enduro 3 class of the ’07 British Enduro Championship by finishing as the highest placed E3 class rider on both days at the third round of the BEC series, the WTRA organised Crychan Enduro. With E3 class victories secured on both days of the Hafren and Tywi enduros Euan claimed his highest overall result at the Crychan by finishing in a strong runner-up position on day one, just 11 seconds behind winner Tom Sagar. On day two McConnell finished comfortably ahead in the E3 class and in fourth overall. In the Enduro 1 class Tim Lewis claimed third on day one before being forced to retire on day two due to a loss of radiator coolant. On day one McConnell, like all riders, found himself in the unfamiliar position of being timed on the enduro test having been unable to walk it prior to the event. Not feeling 100 per cent confident as a result of not being entirely sure where he was going the Scott performed well on each of the three timed tests and placed as overall runner-up and comfortably ahead of the second placed E3 class rider Chris Tett. In doing so Euan claimed his best result of the season so far. Knowing a little better where he was going on the second day Euan again rode consistently topping the E3 class for the sixth time this season. Electraction TM UK’s Enduro 1 class rider Tim Lewis had a mixed weekend aboard his 125 finishing in a strong third in the E1 class on day one but then failing to finish day two after his bike lost its coolant. Placing just 20 seconds behind E1 class runner-up Greg Evans on day one Tim rode safely and consistently on each of the day’s three tests. On day two a good start was followed by disappointment as two jubilee clips failed, which resulted in a loss of radiator coolant, forcing Tim to retire. In the Expert class Cornishman Jamie Paget continued to perform well aboard his 250cc TM finishing in fourth in the Enduro 2 class and seventh overall on day one before improving to second in E2 and in sixth overall on day two. But TM’s best result in the Expert class came on day two when Irishman Gordon Clarke topped both the E3 and overall results aboard his TM300. Euan McConnell: “I was hoping that the check times were going to be really tight on the first day, but they weren’t so it was all down to the test. I struggled with my lines on the tests, on both days really. It was hard not knowing exactly where you could and couldn’t go because we couldn’t walk the test. I wasn’t too far behind Tom at the end of the first day and considering that I didn’t feel overly comfortable on the test I’m pleased with the result. “The second day seemed to be much tighter on times but again quite a few riders went clean on time. The last check of the day was good, but it was pretty short so one mistake was easily the difference between cleaning it or not. I didn’t make any mistakes so I was able to clean it. I improved on the test as the day went on but I still wasn’t overly confident in places. I was eight seconds away from finishing second again, which is a bit disappointing, but two more Enduro 3 class wins is good.” Tim Lewis: “The first day went well finishing in third in the Enduro 1 class but two of my bike’s radiator jubilee clips broke on the second day so I was unable to finish. I really enjoyed the event and ninth overall on the first day was pretty good. The second day started well but right at the end of the day I had to stop because my bike was getting too hot.” ’07 Metzeler British Enduro Championship - Crychan Enduro – day 1 (overall) 1. Tom Sagar (KTM) 1241.2 2. Euan McConnell (Electraction TM UK) 1254.28 3. Jason Thomas (Yamaha) 1255.35 4 Paul Edmondson (Suzuki) 1256.64 5. Daryl Bolter (Husqvarna) 1272.1 6. Si Wakely (Husqvarna) 1292.38 7. Greg Evans (KTM) 1301.07 8. Paul Bolton (Honda) 1313.74 9. Tim Lewis (Electraction TM UK) 1323.87 10. Ollie Moyce (Yamaha) 1332.18 ’07 Metzeler British Enduro Championship - Crychan Enduro – day 2 (overall) 1. Tom Sagar (KTM) 1630.94 2. Paul Edmondson (Suzuki) 1672.09 3. Daryl Bolter (Husqvarna) 1674.33 4. Euan McConnell (Electraction TM UK) 1680.51 5. Si Wakely (Husqvarna) 1747.59 6. Greg Evans (KTM) 1800.84 7. Ed Jones (KTM) 1869.56 8. Ashley Wood (Honda) 1870.09 9. Rob Jones (Yamaha) 1871.57 10. Andrew Edwards (KTM) 1893.88 |
Electraction
TM UK ’07 British Enduro Championship – round 3: Crychan Enduro,
Llandovery, Wales, 11-12.8.2007