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2010 Welsh 2 Day Enduro |
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The long hot days of Summer continued as the ETJames 2010 Welsh 2 Day Enduro rolled into Llandrindod Wells like a carnival from some idealised memory of childhood. After weeks of sunshine, the Common was as dry as a bone & it was open for parking. Wednesday is always a busy day but it is also a day meet old friends & this year there was a big twin shock entry for the "old boys" to reminisce over. In the afternoon there was an autograph session and the top riders signed photographs for the children. Scrutineering was brief & to the point. Tyres & noise were checked before the bikes were locked away for the night in the Parc Ferme by the lake. In the evening a blanket of light cloud covered the town and held in the warmth of the day. All around the lake the air was filled with aroma of barbequeing & the murmuring of expectant voices relishing the prospect of the days to come. For many riders the Welsh has become as familiar as the comfortable feel of old pair of boots whilst for others it was a new adventure. This year the course ran clockwise & like clock work. The first 2 sidecars were flagged away from the lakeside by the Mayor of Llandrindod Councillor Gary Price at precisely 8.00am. The first test was at Church Farm, Crossgates - a couple of miles outside the town. It was a wooded cross country test & the riders only ride it once. All the bikes were fitted with transponders. KORR Racing's Daryl Bolter set the fastest time by 2 seconds from Tom Sagar on his Putoline Suzuki Fast Eddy 450. Fellow team mate Lee Edmondson was 3rd. One rider didn't make the test, a loose tyre clamp shredded his moose.
The best team was the Putoline Suzuki Fast Eddy team of Paul Edmondson, Lee Edmondson & Tom Sagar. They also won the One Make award from KTM Uk in 2nd & ET James KTM.were 3rd. Dr Shox was the best Trade team. It consisted of Chris Hockey Tom Sagar & Dylan Jones The best Club team was Edward Jones, Jon Hinam & Gethin Price representing the Wales ISDE A. Hafren A were the runner up & Wales ISDE B were 3rd. The team awards were presented by Selwyn & Andrew of ET James. Sheila Powell presented the best Lady award to Tamsin Jones. Before presenting the Service awards, Ted Bartlett spoke about the Army's decision to discontinue the use of bikes in favour of quads & the Mexican government's plan to impose an inspection tax on bikes going to the ISDE. He made it crystal clear that neither decision had his support. The best Service team was REME A - Steve Hunt, Neil Hawker & Mike Bailey. The best Service rider was Mike Bailey. RAF Enduro B - John White. Ed Hopkin & Stephen MacDonald - took the runner up award. Previous winner & Clerk of the Course Elwyn Price then presented the awards to the Experts. Jonathan Evans was the best E1 from Wayne Price, Mike Bailey won the E2 ahead of Martin Lewis & Danny McCanney won E3 but he was already on his way to another race & Charlie Evans collected the trophy on his behalf. Christian Walton was the runner up. Elwyn finally thanked the small army of Marshals & Officials without whom this tremendous event could not happen - Results Photos Keith Bowen or email number to bob@enduronews.com KORR Racing
Day 2 used a reversed course but with only 2 special tests – so no room for mistakes, Daryl had almost 4 seconds in hand from Day 1 and rode smart and defensively to finish close behind Tom on each test and win the event outright for the 4th time. Daryl Bolter “ Its been a great event, fantastic weather and only the dusty forest tracks making things tricky, everything went according to plan and I just rode at a comfortable pace. Tom Sagar was pushing really hard and also riding very well, so with only a couple of tests each day it was important not to take too much risk or make any mistakes”
With the legendary Welsh Two Day Enduro finishing last Friday afternoon, the Team Putoline Suzuki by www.fasteddyracing.com team reflect on an event of near-misses, with team number one Tom Sagar ending the event in second spot, ahead of his teammates Paul and Lee Edmondson in fourth and fifth. Setting up on Tuesday, Team Putoline Suzuki by www.fasteddyracing.com were ready for action early at the famous event that once held British Championship status, and on the opening day looked in fine form. Pushing hard on his RMX450Z from the start, Sagar trailed leader Daryl Bolter by just two seconds in the first special test, holding his head in the motocross style tests to finish with the same deficit. Overnight, Sagar trailed Bolter by a handful of seconds, sitting comfortably in the runner-up spot. With the conditions remaining fine and dry, Sagar was determined to make up the gap on the second and final day, pushing hard in both special tests to pull back time and win the day. Sadly for the team his efforts would be in vain, as it was not quite enough to break Bolter's overall lead, ending the event second overall. Sagar commented, "The Welsh is a fantastic event that I really enjoy riding, but it's also an important test for us too. Although we didn't get the overall win I'm more than happy with my performance and as ever the RMX proved the perfect tool for the job. We've got the GBXC next and then it's the big one at the BEC, which I need to be in top form for." With teammates Paul and Lee Edmondson ending the event in fourth and fifth overall respectively, team manager, Paul Edmondson was upbeat about his team's performance, commenting, "I think we can take many positives away from this year's event. The bikes ran perfectly, all riders tried hard and importantly stayed out of trouble. As a team we work exceptionally well together and with the British round next month, where we could win a title or two, we're in good shape for it." The team will be out again this weekend at GBXC round three in North Yorkshire. Team Sponsors: Putoline, Suzuki GB PLC, Metzeler, Moose Clothing, Lazer, Smith, Gaerne, DEP, MXM Graphics, Renthal, Talon, Regina, Optima Racing, Fasteddyracing.com, Rygor Commercials.
The Gas Gas UK Enduro Team was out in full force at the recent Welsh Two Day Enduro held in the picturesque town of Llandrindod Wells, Wales with number one rider Ashley Wood taking fifth place in the competitive Championship class.
Team Charfield
On day 1, there was a faint hope of early rain and a few spots on the goggles while riding out to test 1 raised Clarkey’s hopes, but it came to nothing. The whole day was spent in the dry, cursing the profligacy of using (nearly) new tyres when any old shagged-out comp-3 would have done just as well in the conditions. A financial blunder that was partly offset by buying bargain replacement rears at £40 each from Staffordshire’s newest Goldentyre distributor back at the start area.
Day 2 started even hotter and drier and an early crash on check 2 took the wind out of Flipper’s sails and the very nearly the testicles out of his scrotum too. We think he finished second to Clarkey in both tests, but since the results aren’t out yet, we wait to confirm. What we do know is that on the penultimate (fairly tight) check of the day, Flipper excitedly got in front on the going and arrived at the check first. Unable to distinguish between the ‘44’ written on his handlebars and the ‘41’ shown on the check clock, he rushed forward like an Enduro novice and clocked in 3 minutes early. Doh! So, with a day win a-piece the 2010 Charfield Championship is now 5-2 to Clarkey going into the second half of the year. Team Charfield would like to thank the Welsh two day committee for another excellent event. Thanks to all the helpers out on the course and to each and every one of the marshalls (except the one tearing around the fire roads on a quad and creating the worst dust cloud of the whole event). Team Charfield (Gary Clarke and Flipper Kingston)
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The sky was overcast & there was a fine gnat
mist on the riders goggles as they rode south to the first tight check of the
day through the Irfon Forest. The field then climbed the winding Devil's
Staircase to the river crossings on Strata Florida. After weeks of dry weather
the water levels were low but "the Splashes" had some surprisingly
deep holes. Paul "Gadget" Davies & the WTRA course-opening
crew were the first to be surprised but not the last. Jonathan Hayes from
Shrewbury was the first to flash his plug . He patiently dried his KTM 450
out & carried on. Ashley Wood's dad
Trevor rode the Welsh last in
1981. He was competing this year on a CRF230 with it's air cooled motor
but he couldn't resist the temptation to see how she would perform as a
water cooled. Fortunately he had the presence of mind to cut the motor
before it sucked in the water & he went on to finish the day. #237 was
less fortunately. He hydraulic'd his 4T Yamaha. Without a specialist tool
it took the marshal's an hour to extract the plug & get the motor
running. Clubman sidecar driver Holger Schott sent his passenger Juorgen
Hartman ahead to wade through the water & test the deptr.
That's German efficiency for you. The midday refuelling stop at
Pontrhydfendegiad was a welcome relief as the sun had burnt off the cloud
& it was beating down.
After the Tarening the riders had
to negotiate the long road section
to the 2nd test at Cwmythig Hill. The persistent buzzing like a wasp in
the helmet turned out to be Matt Bryant from Newtown ringing the neck of a
Fantic 50. Gareth Young from St Osyth added an extra loop
to ET James Motorcycles in Rhayader for a new clutch banjo & met up with Michael
Stradwick from Carshalton - who was fitting a new pump seal. The 2nd test
was parched.. Daryl Bolter was fastest again but Tom Sagar - who is not
from a MX background - surprised the spectators by finishing less than 2
second behind Daryl. Lee Edmondson was riding with all the enthusiasm of
youth. He
was once again 3rd & Ed Jones was 4th. The sandy soil was treacherous & Tim Foreman was one of many riders who stopped to take a close
look.
On the
course the dust was the biggest problem, particularly on the tight Abbeycwmhir stage,
where there was very little breeze & it hung in
the air. It got worse as the Championship class closed on the Experts just
before the final test. Daryl Bolter, Danny McCanney & Jon Hinam were
some of the riders who overshot the marking. At the holding check at the
end of the day Daryl said that at times the visibility was down to 20
feet. At the final "Abbey" test a good crowd had gathered
to watch the riders weave their way around the grassy slope. The results
for the top riders went with form but Lee Edmondson dropped his bike
within sight of the finish & he lost 10 seconds on the leader's time.
Bradley King had too much time at one check & he got distracted while
waiting for the clock. He missed his minute & it cost him a 60pt
penalty. 
Back in Llandrindod Daryl Bolter was the overnight
leader by 4 seconds from Tom Sagar. Danny McCanney - riding in the
Experts- was 3rd & Edward Jones was 4th. Paul & Lee Edmondson were
5th & 6th.
Simon Evans led the Over 40s from Ian Barnett, Paul Davies, Carl Davies
& Neil Williams. Expert sidecar team of Nigel & Richard Smith went
out when Nigel clipped a gatepost with his knee. In the
hotly contested twin shock class, Andrew Edwards led on a 1980 KTM 350 from Mark Vaughan
on a 250 Husky but Andrew was on some very tired looking shocks. One rider
for whom these bikes were once state of the art was the legendary Herbert
Schek He was a works BMW rider & he has ridden 25 ISDE's & 15
Dakars.
This year he returned to
Llandrindod after a lay off of 3 years to compete in the Welsh at the age
of 77. Alan Ranger was riding a 17 year old TE. Craig Bounds - who is also
building his own Dakar legend - retired
with an electrical problem. Jamie Jenkins removed his front mudguard to
save weight. James Yearley crashed heavily at the Abbey
test. He injured his shoulder but he managed to get to the finish. Mike
Rees' new event facilities business has taking off since he entered in
March & he could only take one day off to give his new KTM a run out. Despite the heat & the dust there were no serious injuries. 
Overnight
the sky above Llandrindod was crystal clear. The temperature dropped a
little & there was a heavy dew on the tents & motorcycle seats in
the morning. The course - marked in green - was a reverse of Day 1.
One of Andrew Edwards; shocks gave up the ghost in "Abbey" &
snapped. Fortunately for him Jason Fraser's SWM had expired & Andrew
count scavenge a shock. It was a couple inches too long but with a bit of
weight on the subframe it squeezed in. Hugh Watkins' pipe fractured. A
passing driver stopped to help & he turned out to be a refridgination
engineer with a boot full of asbestos tape. The other 2 thirds of the
Gwent Police team weren't so lucky. They collided with each other in the
dust at the start of the Strata Florida stage & retired. James
Mitchell couldn't resist a dip in water. Phil Roper's KTM 250F
seemed to be burning as much oil as petrol! but he nursed finish.
Phil Roper's KTM 250F seemed to be burning as much oil as petrol! but he
nursed finish her to the finish. Lee Edmondson (right) not only
kept plug dry but he also kept his feet out of the water. 
The presentation at the Pavilion on Friday evening was
delayed while the results were checked. Daryl Bolter was the overall winner & Tom Sagar was the runner up.
Edward Jones was 3rd & Paul Edmondson was 4th. 6 times winner, in the
early 1990s, Ady Smith proved he has lost very little of his edge after an
absence from competitive enduro of 10 years. He finished in the top 10. Gareth Andrew &
George Edyveen from St Austell won the Expert Sidecars. Alun Davies &
Rhys George were the runners up. Tom Powell & Mike Curnow was the best
Clubman team. Simon Bradford has won the sidecars for 3 years. It was inevitable that
releasing the chair would give him the impetus to win the Clubman solo
class. Shaun Buchan won the Clubman E2 from Team Bananas Leighton Roberts.
Dutch rider Jarno Van Ekris was the best E3 & Stephen Grimshaw was the
runner up. In the Experts Jonathan Evans won the E1 from Wayne Price. Mike
Bailey was the best E2 & Paul Herbert was the runner up. Danny
McCanney took the E3 with a 4th overall & veteran Christian Walton was
the runner up.
This year the famous Welsh 2 day race coincided with a European Enduro
Championship round in Poland so team KORR was divided, Greg went to Poland
to defend his championship lead and Daryl opted to again ride the Welsh
and to try a repeat his win from 2009.
Sagar
reflects on a positive Welsh 2 Day
Gas
Gas UK Enduro Team
For
team mate Daniel McCanney this was his first time at the 'Welsh' and
despite being a little unsure of what to expect he dominated the Expert
class from start to finish, coming home in first place in class after the
two days. Unlike previous the year the weather stayed bone dry throughout
the two days causing the going to be hot, dusty and unforgiving. Wood was
in familiar surroundings living only a few minutes away from the start and
set a good pace early on in the first day placing the third fastest time
on the opening test. The second day missed the first test but ran a near
identical course and again Wood showed his consistency setting test times
to keep him at the sharp end of the results, eventually finishing fifth in
the Championship class overall. It was the eighteen year old McCanney who
stole the show in the Expert class; finishing first on both days he placed
fourth overall in his first attempt at the Welsh and is surely someone to
watch out for in future events.
After missing a year in 2009, Team Charfield were back at the hot, dry
and sunny Welsh for 2010. This time equipped with the extra 50% capacity
of a brace of KTM 300s. Although the bikes passed the noise test with
ease, the decibels measured at midnight in the Disserth campsite were
truly shocking. Never normally surpassed, Flipper Kingston’s penetrating
staccato snore was easily outdone on this occasion by the relentless nasal
baritone emanating from the region of Bob Mullins’ tent. More than 94db
at 1.2m for sure.
The dust was a big problem on the fire roads and this made everyone
extra keen to get away from the check first to get a few precious minutes
on the going with clear air in front of them. In the clubmen class, it’s
usually an easy trick to pull off, but in the over 40’s everyone is
clued up and primed to lunge forward at two seconds before the minute
ticks over. Some were a bit too keen and lucky to get away without being
given an earlier minute for crossing the yellow flags too soon. Leading
both tests 1 and 2 by a couple of seconds, Flipper looked to be in trouble
on the final test of the day as Clarkey pushed past two slower riders at
Abbey Cwmhir and pulled out what looked like a big enough lead to claim
overall victory. It didn’t look so good in the horizontal position,
though, as Clarkey lay down for a rest a couple of corners from the end.
