enduro news
© Bob Mullins   

Ardua

RAF Ardua Enduro
Bagshot - 29 January 2012

We were very lucky in Team RAFMSA asking us to go to their in house enduro (RD1 of RAF Championships) on the Saturday 28th and the same course would be used on Sunday so we had a good reccy of the course on the quad and got familiar with the terrain and what a great course the RAF set out with a very long special test which I am all for as you can still make a mistake and recover, a great hard easy route up a climb which in the end became the opposite, the conditions were loamy and woody but still grip to be found, course length was 7.5 miles and from the feedback in the pits no-one said a bad word about course except that it was testing which is how its meant to be, the times were well thought out as not that many made a clean sheet.

Was great to catch up with certain folk like Team Eddy riders Lee Edmondson(KTM) and my good friend Rich Ely (KTM), it was also Teamsnapper rider Si Bekens (Teamsnapper KTM) first time out after recovering from illness and of course all our RAF friends.

CHAMPIONSHIP CLASS

What can I say about Lee Edmondson that has not been said before, he made the special test (04.04/04.03) his own with a style that anyone would be envious of and Bagshot really suited the Team Eddy KTM rider and he was not really troubled by anyone all day, 2nd place Rich Ely also on a Team Eddy KTM who looks like he has found a bike and team that he has gelled with and believe me when I say he will get better but the important thing is he looked happy and comfortable, 3rd went to Midwest Husaberg rider Tyson M Jones whom again since being on 2 stroke he has found something extra for a spectators view seeing him riding with team mate Aaron Smith(Midwest/Teamsnapper Husaberg) who were swapping positions many times, sadly Aaron was unable to finish due to clutch problem, Julian Harvey (KTM) had a cracking ride for 4th and very consistent in the special tests, 5th went to KTM mounted and southern enduro icon Rob Carey who as ever rides so text book style he makes it look easy, 6th went to Teamsnapper/ET James KTM rider Dan Lawry who rode a lot better than he did the previous week and his aim at present is to get some miles on his new steed and get up to bike fitness but sadly he boiled the new machine and had to nurse the KTM home.Sadly Si Beken's Teamsnapper KTM blew its rear shock and he looked like he was riding a buckerooing donkey.... however he has gone out this week and bought a new KTM EXC 250 so look out...

EXPERT CLASS

Moto Ward/Teamsnapper Yamaha rider is very nearly a Championship rider and on today’s ride he showed why the Champ boys should be worried especially with best special test time in class with a 04.19, very much a thinker out there and looks around for different lines just to try and make seconds but he was pushed to the limit by Honda rider Rudy Austin who was very focused and determined and with a 2nd best special test time of 04.19.6 it really shows how close these boys were, 3rd went to KTM mounted Gareth Hughes who rode so much better than he did the previous week and was looking faster and faster as the day wore on and am sure he will get faster as the season goes on was also good to see top Champ rider Jack Turner supporting Gareth from the sidelines, John Bishop (KTM) clinched 4th spot with a very consistent ride with very good test times, 5th Husaberg rider Robert Taylor whom is only on his 2nd outing on the baby 125 Berg but looked happier this week than he did at previous event, Drew Slevin (Teamsnapper Yamaha) had a baptism of fire as it was his first time card event and he was not well on the day, but there were plenty of positives to come out for Drew as he good special test times and he had to pull out something from inside just to get a finish as he was riding on auto pilot and was sick in his helmet and what he pulled from inside was the will to finish and not give up which is very similar to his Dad's (Warren Slevin ex BEC rider) attitude, Good friends Tony Williamson and James Foxley both had DNF's although Tony did post the 3rd best special test times in class which must be good consolation.

VETERAN CLASS

I mentioned to Ian Mitchell (KTM) after the event how confident and good he looked especially as Ian is a proper enduro rider and has very high level of concentration and not meaning to be disrespectful but never looks that quick but always gets results but this event was different he looked more aggressive and confident and you could not ask for nicer guy to win the class he also posted fastest special test times, 2nd went to Teamsnapper good friend Shaun Skinner (Yamaha) who rode the perfect race and looked like he could of upped his game if needed, 3rd went to James Brown (Yamaha) whom I don't know but he knows how to ride and ride well although he was pushed by 4th spot Dan Goodwin (KTM) who looked visibly fast and actually had him down for top 3 a very focused rider, Paul Armstrong , Teamsnapper Gas Gas was going well until he blew the radiator on his steed which I understand has caused more internal damage which I hope he fixes before the Snowrun this weekend.

Other Notables .... Manny Bernardez Teamsnapper Yamaha finished 10th , Tim Harvey KTM 11th, Stephen Brooman KTM 12th, Teamsnapper/Stainger Glass Husqvarna rider Chris Stanger had more bad luck with starter problems and DNF.

CLUBMAN CLASS

What a weekend for Team Eddy KTM as Brad Freeman the teenager with balls won this class in style and doing expert times in the tests, this youngster will have a bright future in this sport especially under the wing of Team Eddy, 2nd place went to my friend and top bloke Steve White (Teamsnapper KTM) who looked comfortable throughout the event and looked like he was over pushing himself but that’s probably down to laid back style of riding, 3rd went another good friend Tristan Robinson (Nick Robinson M/Cycles/Maxima oils/Teamsnapper Gas Gas) whom (Dare I say it) never looked that comfortable but looks can be deceiving and a cracking result, 4th went to Dan Lewis (KTM) whom had cracking test times and was his usual entertaining self over any jump or drop off, 5th went to Liam Thomas (KTM) who had a nightmare last lap by shearing the teeth off his front sprocket and really struggled at the end so well done Liam,

Other notables Andrew Gilden (KTM) 7th, Aaron Dibnah (Team Dibby KTM) 8th, John Brown (Whiteways Cafe KTM) 9th, Martin Biles (Honda) 12th, Barry Keeys (KTM) 13th,David Keeble (KTM) 14th, George Thompson (Gas Gas) 16th, Rick Gardner (KTM) 18th, Marc Morris (KTM) 21st, sadly disqualified but I don't know why was KTM mounted and good rider Dan Brundell along with Andy Parr (KTM), Teamsnapper KTM rider Richard Morgan only managed 1 lap before retiring due to bike problem as did James De Merist (Husqvarna) and Darren Giggs (Gas Gas).

SPORTSMAN CLASS

A superb ride from winner Neal O'Sheen (KTM) whose times were that of mid table clubman so a lot to be proud of Neal, 2nd went to Big John Anderson (KTM) who always looks as steady as a rock and more importantly very very rarely finishes out of top 5, 3rd went to Andy Playne (KTM) who had the most amazing first special test time but somehow blew his 2nd test with an off I presume, 4th went to Thomas Harbon on an old DRZ Suzuki so I take my hat off to you Thomas as that is one heavy beast, 5th went to TM mounted Matthew O'Hare who had quite a female fan club cheering him on,

Other Notables... Chris Welch (Teamsnapper KTM) 7th whose bike looked like it has been fighting with Mike Tyson Chris is so determined to win the sportsman class at PMCRC that is well within his reach and you can tell he has upped his game simply by seeing how many he falls off ....... well done Chris. PMCRC riders Jim Ayling and Darren Newton finished 10th and 11th, Dean Llewhellyn/Tich Marshfield/Kevin Miller/Sam Keeys all had DNF's.

What a superb day that we really enjoyed, thanks to all Teamsnapper riders and to the RAF for not only asking us to be official photographers but for making us feel important and part of your team.