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The KTM Tough One ’06 - January 21, Nantmawr Quarry, nr Oswestry

Challenging and enjoyable for the riders, exciting and entertaining for spectators The tough get going at The KTM Tough One ’06

Factory KTM rider David Knight claimed his second consecutive win at the KTM sponsored The Tough One extreme, sprint hare scramble race staged inside the challenging Nantmawr Quarry venue near Oswestry on January 21. Finishing one complete lap ahead of his nearest competitor David collected the £500.00 prize for being the rider leading the race at the one-hour mark as well as collecting £1000.00 for winning the race. Despite having to scramble up a steep hill before then running to his bike and chase after the 30 Premier class riders that were already working their way around the course Knighter was soon in amongst the thick of the action taking the lead prior to half race distance before then comfortably topping the race. Joining David on the podium in the Premier class was Honda mounted Wayne Braybrook in second and TM’s Euan McConnell in third. Fourth went to reigning British Trials Champion Graham Jarvis aboard his Sherco.

But it was the one-hour Clubman race that got the days proceedings under way as 30 brave competitors took to the track in the hope of qualifying through into the main The KTM Tough One ’06 event. Under clear skies the majority of the riders soon found the going tough as the numerous log sections and the boulder garden caught out many riders. Completing seven laps KTM mounted Jim Wright from North Yorkshire eventually topped the race ahead of young Honda rider Jez Bailey with Gav Thornton claiming third. With another seven riders qualifying for the afternoon’s main event only six riders failed to finish the race.

With the sun starting to set the Premier class riders, including special ‘European guest rider’ vladimere Schweitzer the former Soviet enduro champion, took to the start of what proved to be an extremely challenging race. Former World Enduro Champion Paul Edmondson took a commanding early lead and collected £250.00 for being the rider leading the race at the end of the first lap. But unable to break away from fellow Honda rider Wayne Braybrook the pair circulated side-by-side for several laps while David Knight seethed his way passed rider after rider. With Braybrook briefly taking the lead before Edmondson moved back in front after a mistake, shortly after the half hour mark David Knight passed both riders to lead the race. As dusk turned into night David’s lead extended at the rate of 30 seconds a lap and it wasn’t long before he was lapping the Premier class tail enders as he proved once again just how fast a rider he is in ‘extreme’ conditions.

Shortly after the one-hour mark Paul Edmondson withdrew from the event leaving David and Wayne followed by Juan Knight, Euan McConnell and Graham Jarvis. During the dieing stages of the race McConnell took control of the third place position while Jarvis moved to fourth with Ed Jones fifth and Juan Knight rounding out the top six. Claiming the exact same finishing positions at the chequered flag each of the riders commented how much they had enjoyed the event, especially competing in the dark.

At the head of the Expert class former mountain bike national champion Rob Warner claimed the £500.00 winner’s prize having clocked up 14 laps aboard his Yamaha to finish ahead of young Honda rider Ashley Woods with Rob’s brother Rich Warner finishing in third. Rob was the only Expert rider to finish on 14 laps and placed mid-pack in the Premier class. Of the Clubman riders that qualified into The KTM Tough One ’06 main event three riders finished. Paddy Langan aboard his KTM topped the class with Gav Thornton and Colin McNee claiming second and third.

Steve Ireland (Race director): “I’m over the moon with the way The KTM Tough One ’06 ran. The whole day was brilliant – the weather was good, the number of spectators was notably up on last year, the racing was great and David Knight and the rest of competitors in the main event were fantastic to watch. Running the event into the dark was something that hadn’t been done before in the UK so I was a little unsure exactly how the riders and spectators would react to it. Judging by the numbers of people that congratulate me after the event I know that it was a success.

“Once the flood lights came on and the quarry was illuminated the race really started. Several riders commented that they thought the course was going to be too easy but I don’t think anyone that finished would say that. Seeing Paul Edmondson stuck under his bike on the Root Of All Evil hill made me realise how difficult it was in places, and what a spectacle it was for the public. The event was always about rider and spectator enjoyment and I think that is exactly what the riders and the public got.

“I’d like to say a huge thank you to KTM UK for supporting the event along with BF Goodridge, Beta and everyone else that helped make The KTM Tough One ’06 happen. A huge thank you must also go to everyone who came to watch the race and all the riders that took up the challenge of competing, especially the Clubman. The event will be back again next year - bigger, better, but not too much tougher.”

Shaun Sisterson (KTM UK Ltd Marketing Manager): “KTM are delighted to have been directly involved in such an awesome event. The course was exciting and the atmosphere electric at all the spectator points around the circuit. I take my hat off to Steve Ireland and his WOR team for not only putting on what is a very specialist event but also for his professional organization. The event was exactly what it was billed as being – challenging and enjoyable for the riders and exciting and entertaining for the spectators. It was a great show. For KTM having David win the event was the icing on the cake. David showed once again just how talented and entertaining a rider he is.”

Team Sandiford Honda Racing Press Release

Wayne bags 2nd Overall and proves his ability at these Tough Events

Greatly looking forward to this UK “Extreme Event” and with weeks of preparation having gone into same, Wayne arrived at Nantmawr Quarry, fit and raring to go.

A fantastic start and a great first lap on Honda Racing Paul Edmondson’s tail provided spectacular watching. Pipped to the line at the end of the first lap, Wayne pulled though to the front to lead for the next 4 laps.

A couple of tangles with Clubman riders, both resulting in the chain derailing from his Honda Racing Team Sandiford CRF250X and Edmondson once again took the lead. Both were then hauled in by World Enduro Champion David Knight, playing catch-up after his “Handicap” of running to his bike halfway up the Quarry Road.

Wayne placed 3rd then for a couple of laps, Lapping in around 6 and a Half minutes, but as dark drew in Paul unfortunately had a problem on the “Hill of Evil” and Wayne went through to take a comfortable 2nd place being the only rider not to be lapped by David until right at the flag.

Said Wayne at the finish “ I love these hard events, the harder the better, my little CRF250X did me proud, but she now needs some TLC before she gets loaded up for Hells Gate in Italy on the 11th of February. She was perfect for in the quarry, I could boss her around, admittedly she did lose some speed to the 2 strokes on the top field, but I’m more than happy. Hats off to David though and certainly for both of us it has been the perfect preparation for the UK assault of Hells Gate in a few weeks time. Congratulations to Steve and the entire Wirral Team, it’s been brilliant.

Results – Premier class

1. David Knight (KTM) 17 laps; 2. Wayne Braybrook (Honda) 16 laps; 3. Euan McConnell (TM) 16 laps; 4. Graham Jarvis (Sherco) 16 laps; 5. Ed Jones (KTM) 15 laps; 6. Juan Knight (Gas Gas) 15 laps; 7. Jason Thomas (KTM) 15 laps; 8. Mark Jackson (KTM) 14 laps; 9. Daryl Bolter (Husqvarna) 14; 10. Tom Sagar (Honda) 14 laps; 11. Rowan Jones (Yamaha) 14 laps; 12. Ben Hemmingway (Beta) 14 laps; 13. Paul Bolton (Beta) 14 laps; 14. Dylan Jones (Yamaha) 13 laps; 15. Lee Edmondson (Honda) 13 laps; 16. Craig Bounds (Gas Gas) 13 laps; 17. Andrew Edwards (KTM) 13 laps; 18. Richard Hay (KTM) 12 laps; 19. Justin Wilson (Honda) 12 laps; 20. Si Wakely (Honda) 12 laps; 21. Rob Wrayford (KTM) 12 laps; 22. Rob Jones (Yamaha) 11 laps; DNF – Paul Edmondson (Honda), Ady Smith (KTM), Tim Foreman (KTM), Andrew Cripps (Gas Gas)

Results – Expert class

1. Rob Warner (Yamaha) 14 laps; 2. Ashley Woods (Honda) 13 laps; 3. Rich Warner (KTM) 13 laps; 4. Chris Dustow (Honda) 13 laps; 5. James Gammons (KTM) 12 laps; 6. Simon Comer (KTM) 12 laps; 7. Steve Dustow (KTM) 12 laps; 8. William Midgley (KTM) 12 laps; 9. Ben Begbie (Gas Gas) 12 laps; 10. Shane Lewis (Gas Gas) 12 laps; 11. Mick Irving (KTM) 12 laps; 12. Jason Crossland (Honda) 11 laps; 13. Stephen Ethelston (Gas Gas) 11 laps; 14. William Jones (Suzuki) 11 laps; 15. Jason Turner (Kawasaki) 10 laps; 16. Luke Lusher (Honda) 10 laps; 17. Wayne Mundell (KTM) 10 laps; 18. Ben Newbould (KTM) 10 laps; 19. Tom Knill (Gas Gas) 9 laps; 20. Carl McIlroy (Yamaha) 9 laps; 21. Martin Lewis (KTM) 9 laps; 22. Adam Smith (Husaberg) 7 laps; 23. Nick Ward (Gas Gas) 7 laps; 24. Ben Haigh (KTM) 6 laps; 25. Anthony Sutton (KTM) 6 laps, DNF - Keiran Hankin (Honda), Darren Wheeler (Yamaha), Ian Mundell (KTM), Stuart Harper (Gas Gas), Allan Hopwood (KTM), Andrew Hackett (Honda), Chris Roberts (KTM), Jason McAffery (KTM), Anthony Dean (Yamaha)

Results – Clubman class (main event)

1. Paddy Langan (KTM) 6 laps; 2. Gav Thornton (KTM) 6 laps; 3. Colin McNee (Gas Gas) 5 laps, DNF – Paul Disney (Honda), Jim Wright (KTM), Steve Martin (Honda), Scott Dommett (Gas Gas), Stu Hughes (Yamaha), Gary Benniman (Husaberg), Jez Bailey (KTM)

Results – Clubman class (one-hour qualifying race)

1. Jim Wright (KTM) 7 laps; 2. Jez Bailey (Honda) 7 laps; 3. Gav Thornton (KTM) 7 laps; 4. Stu Hughes (Yamaha) 7 laps; 5. Paddy Langan (KTM) 7 laps; 6. Steve Martin (Honda) 6 laps; 7. Phil Disney (Honda) 6 laps; 8. Scott Dommett (Gas Gas) 6 laps; 9. Colin McNee (Gas Gas) 6 laps; 10. Gary Benniman (Husaberg) 6 laps; 11. Ben Clarke (KTM) 6 laps; 12. Mark Pickard (Gas Gas) 6 laps; 13. Rbin Edwards (KTM) 5 laps; 14. Shaun Dayman (KTM) 5 laps; 15. Bradley King (Kawasaki) 5 laps; 16. Richard Blunt (Gas Gas) 5 laps; 17. Paul McSorely (Honda) 5 laps; 18. Jim Buchanan (KTM) 4 laps; 19. Alun Davies (Suzuki) 4 laps; 20. Paul Knibb (KTM) 4 laps; 21. Paul Mitchell (Honda) 4 laps; 22. Stephen Parry (KTM) 3 laps; 23. Nicholas Browne (KTM) 3 laps; 24. Nigel Hutchinson (KTM) 3 laps, DNF – Steve Barnett (Yamaha), Simon Douglas (Honda), Rik Thompson (KTM), Ali King (Yamaha), Rick Thompson (KTM), Myles Harris (KTM)