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enduro
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London Fire Brigade |
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  Bolter Extinguishes all in final LFB SPRINT ENDURO 06-05-2012 CHAWTON PARK FOUR MARKS HAMPSHIRE London Fire Brigade had gone all out in preparation for their stand alone race format and with the help of Docklands/ Extreme rider Chris Salt (Kriega KTM) and the end result was a 4+ mile course scattered with obstacles varying from jumping 8ft deep ditches, jumbo tyres to ride over, logs in abundance and 2 cars to ride over and many more hazards and of course the well known resident MX circuit, combined with a wood that was like an ice skating rink and required the upmost skill over the 4 x 4 ruts, visible roots and deep bomb holes but thankfully the LFB team had put in an open grassy field that was top gear and helped clean off the tyres and give the riders a sort of respite, a very well thought out circuit that did have easy/hard routes but the easy routes were well penalised with time penalties. The format was simple 3hours in the morning and ride as many laps as you want with each timed, top 15 in each class (Championship/Expert and Clubman) go into the afternoon heats, where top 5 qualify for final that is 2 laps for Championship and Experts and 1 lap for Clubman. The day kicked off and first out on circuit was the Isle of Wight Teamsnapper rider Jack Ayres on his KTM then as the minutes ticked away the course became busier and busier and due to each lap being timed there was always a good gap between riders which no doubt helped all, Brad Armstrong (Teamsnapper KTM) tried the hard route over the cars but then quickly realised that the fastest route was to take easy route and keep momentum going also not sure whether Brad was not confident in qualifying for the final but between him and James DeMerist (Husqvarna) they did many laps which was great to see as both love their time on their bikes, not sure what James does sometimes as whenever in my view he looks so damn near perfect yet he just misses out at the sharp end but 100% committed, Chris Stanger (Stainger Glass, Teamsnapper NOT orange bike) decided today was about fun and did not take too seriously although you would have thought different in the way he jumped off the car sideways as he saw a slower rider pass him by going the easy route and although did qualify handsomely for the final he was too damn lazy to be bothered but then again Chris is coming on 50 yrs of age which did surprise a few other riders as most believed Chris was well into his 60's. Paul Hearn (RAF Honda) did sign on and was visibly seen by many and his bike was in parc ferme but sadly due to Paul's allergic reaction to soft wet mud he was unable to race and we all wish him a speedy recovery as later went to hospital as got hands dirty whilst putting bike back in van so the RAF mantle was left to Nathan (Jack) Daniels (RAF/Teamsnapper Yamaha)who is still getting back to bike fitness did the RAF proud and always great to see young Connor cheering his Dad along, Malcolm Coles (Finch Cycles/TS Yamaha) started steady and was finding his feet and got well into the qualifying zone when he had an off that looked like a broken arm but still stayed and watched the finals, The REME was represented by Tony Cotty (KTM)and Dan Beaven (KTM) and Dan was his usual confident self and posting very consistent top times so was enjoying himself, Tony is a great rider and rides in 2 British championships currently but sadly his undoing as always is Teamsnapper Cameras or to be more precise me as when he spots me he either drops it, overshoots it, misses it, loops it, or simply just crashes and today over the pallets and then very skillfully ......... or luckily saves a big one over the cars but still qualifies and gets good start and from what I saw Joey D braked very early and Tony had nowhere to go and had nasty looking fall which ended his day, Was great to Steve (Doppy) (KTM) Dopson not only back in the country but having a ride on Daryl Bolter KTM of which Doppy loved and I understand that he is returning to the UK and will be yet again a regular on the scene and very much welcomed as well. My school mate from yesteryear Warren Slevin decided to go into the Woods of Doom to watch his son Drew on the Teamsnapper Yamaha and luckily he did as the 8 ft ditch was slightly mistimed by Drew due to hazardous run up and ended half in and half out the ditch and if Daddykins had not been there well we would still be looking for the young Drew in the dark wet ditches of the Woods of Doom, Drew qualified ok and was a credit to his Dad and TS in the finals. Tom Moore and Chris Welch (Team Psycho) and without 3rd team member who is still on remand had a very mixed day with both seen and photographed dancing on the car obstacle and when questioned later they were not only quite surprised they had been seen but also surprised I did not know about their entry into Britain's Got Talent contest apparently they were practising their Morris Dancing and due to the odd nature of these two guys I felt it was not my place to tell them that Morris dancing was not about shaking your stuff over two old motor cars, although good to see Tom back after injury and Chris to qualify for finals. Not sure what happened to Jack Hooper (Honda) as had quick hello to me as he balanced on the pallets (Cracking Photo) so am thinking bike problem, was great to meet David Biles (KTM) who very kindly wore a Teamsnapper race shirt of which we were very thankful and hopefully bring him better luck next time and of course his regular sparring partner Mark Kirby(KTM) who both really don't care about conditions as long they have fun and young Josh Kirby (KTM)who despite his teenage years beat some very experienced riders in reaching the final but sadly clutch had expired in the qualifier but enjoyed his day nether less, another rider having clutch problems was my good friend Manny on the Teamsnapper Yamaha but still stayed to the very end and thoroughly enjoyed the day's proceedings, Daniel Lucas (DL Joinery Honda) had a mishap very early on and damaged his back but stayed on to support his good friend Dom Wilson (Honda) who had a cracking day by making the final, Paul (Burnie) Burnett on the John Deere KTM when on the bike was riding well and visibly enjoying but a puncture did sour his day, Tom Harbon (Suzuki) the ex road racer getting better on the rough stuff week after week and regular rider Matt Hubbard (Halycon Books KTM)although makes hard work for himself sometimes never gives up and always willing to try the hard routes, Father and son team Marc and Myles Morley Freer (Teamsnapper/Bike Tech/Marla Blinds Gas Gas)who both rode well with Marc making the final, fair play to Myles for doing some of the hard routes including the cars, great to see BSEC regular Stephanie Rowe (AJP) out there and quite openly admitted it was hard work especially in the Woods of Doom but as with Stephanie she just digs in and gets on with it, My ex riding buddy Chris Davey (Teamsnapper KTM) was having fun and to be honest surprised me when he went over the cars but retired early after coming off and damaging ribs and when I spoke to him later he said he did not realise there was an easy route, which did make me chuckle, was nice to have quick chat with the very laid back Simon Soanes about previous event at slab but his son Thomas (Teamsnapper Gas Gas) was not a happy bunny in these conditions and his frustration was plain to see but hopefully enjoyed, Teamsnapper rider Andy Marriner whom I had not seen for a while and still never got to chat properly had a great time and always game on and that was evident early on and won't let an obstacle beat him, a great ride Andy. Regular Southern rider Darren Perry (Jemca Lexus Husaberg) looked very comfortable everywhere except in the Wood of Doom where I just felt the top heavy Husaberg was a bit of a handful on that slippery surface especially at slow speed, Carshalton MCC rider Dave Ford (Gas Gas) made no time getting used to the track and his times were very consistent and from my angle his Achilles heel was the Wood of Doom, Carl Mexter (KTM) I have no idea what happened to Carl as saw him once early on in a bit of trouble and never saw again so hoping all is good, Jack Claridge (KTM) whom I know nothing about and still don't but hopefully enjoyed his day and hopefully see again in the SEEC rounds, Paul Gentle (KTM) managed not only to miss Kaka (Private Joke) but rode damn well all day and even at the end was still buzzing and sure he gained some experience from it as well as to try and "Don't forget your race kit next time lol". John Weller (Kawasaki) whom I was told it was his first enduro, well if that is true then fair play John as you rode your socks off making the final and love the bbbaaarrrpppp of that Kawasaki, Phil Davies (Teamsnapper KTM) made most of the championship riders look like pussies the way he JUMPED the cars each lap and was having a ball despite his son Elliot not riding until he landed awkwardly damaging his ankle but running at the sharp end all day, Kingston MCC rider Matt Coyne (Teamsnapper KTM) said to me in the morning try and make me look good in your pictures, well Matt I did not need to as you did Teamsnapper proud as well as the Coyne Clan with some great skills and balls over some of them obstacles especially the cars. Championship Final Experts Final No denying the ability and skill level of Darren Osborne (P&H KTM) who seems to tell his steed what to do and it appears that it dutifully obeys each and every command and took the race win, although chasing hard Jack Ayres (Teamsnapper KTM) from the Isle of Wight was visibly grinning from ear to ear to come over the line in 2nd , and in 3rd with his son yelling him on from the sidelines Marc Morley Freer whom had worked his socks off throughout the day and even lost his seat in qualifying much to the crowds amusement. My rider of the day went to Tom Moss (Family Moss Yamaha) who seemed to come from behind all day and had fair amount of bad luck but to have such a big off in the final not only damaging the bike but must have been winded himself at the very least and in last place and to get 2nd place in only one and a half laps at that standard had me shouting and cheering as unseen by Kaka before of which I thank you. (CD Disc of all photos plus print and Hoodie on way to you next week) My moment of the day was nothing short of spectacular as Aaron Smith (Midwest/Teamsnapper Husaberg) hit the finishing line jump in qualifier with one lap to go chasing down Si Wakely (Midwest Husaberg) but Aaron being Aaron (In My Opinion) saw the camera and was a bit transfixed and jumped very high at a very high speed landed past his braking point and not only over shot the bend but missed a deep trench and totally lost control without losing bike completely as Shaun his dad and marshalls running frantically getting him back up and straight when over the jump comes the Moto-Ward Teamsnapper Yamaha of Max Varney and as Max banks his steed into the turn Aaron comes leaping from sidelines which makes Max goes wide very nearly taking Aaron out and then the pair full chat for last lap with what I can only imagine what they were both thinking as they battled for 3rd place. Conclusion Many riders have contacted me today via email/text/facebook to express their thanks to Zade Alassad and crew of which I won't mention as will miss someone out accidently and don't want to offend but you know who you all are and never have had such feedback from an event and you only have to read the forums and various facebook pages what a successful event and day it was, so from Teamsnapper and all the riders/supporters/helpers etc etc a massive WELL DONE and THANKS for not only putting together one hell of an event that was a spectacle but for making the Enduro Community better for it. Rich T (Teamsnapper) Photos www.teamsnapper.co.uk
Well there we have it, the first ever LFBMCC Sprint event was run on Sunday the 5th Sept and has generated overwhelmingly positive feedback from the Press, spectators but mostly from the riders who were able to enter this last minute event... With morning qualifying getting underway at 10am sharp, riders set off to ride, for the first time, a course they'd been walking since Saturday afternoon.
Almost imediately riders hurled their bikes up the sheer, overgrown sides of two tabletops, caught their breaths along a short grass stretch then it was into the Colosseum! with huge tracker tyres to be tackled and two cars to be jumped before getting into the real enduro part of the track...where the work begins!!
With 5 minutes of the morning session left, it was a flurry of rev's as riders took to the track to make sure of their qualifying position! After all it was only the top 15 who go through to the final heats... plus points are awarded to those top 15 in order of qualifying position!! And so the afternoon heats got under way after a short break for lunch... A LeMans start saw riders run to the bike and take off for a points scoring ride! With one heat per class then the grand final (for which they score double points!), riders really had to dig deep to finish well. Richard Ely dominated the Championship class on a borrowed KTM, Max
Varney gained his first win in the Expert class aboard his 125cc Yamaha
while Darren Osbourne took a convincing victory in the Clubmans on a KTM... For Results check out: www.lfb-enduro.com - Video
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The
starting marshal drops their hand and competitors blast off the line one
at a time at 10 second intervals, pitching into a sharp left puts the bike
on the hard pack MX track, bouncing off the berm of a right hand turn puts
them over a tabletop and down the long straight. Next it's into another
right berm then off the MX track and into the EnduroCross straight, Half
buried Aircraft tyres (said to be off Concord!) followed by a sea of truck
tyres and straight into the oil drum triple jump which puts them right
onto the railway sleeper steps back onto the MX track...
Into
the gnarly, root infested woods... with two big Chalk pits several water
crossings, calamity cavity and countless deep 4x4 ruts and the only
respite being the root covered clay areas in between, it took a proper
enduro die-hard to put in a good time in the woods!