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David Knight is the 2007 Tough One
Results Main Race
Trial Clubman
The 1hr clubman qualifier began at 10am. The riders were flagged away by Steve Ireland in a Le Mans start with a 100 yard uphill dash to their machines to warm them up. There was a lot of bravado but the course soon took it's toll & by the time they emerged from the back of the truck many riders looked like dazed asylum seekers. As the clock neared 11 there was definite signs of lingering in the work area just before the finishing line but Tom Sagar’s father Paul (left) slipped through & put in a 4th lap to finish the overall winner. He declined the offer to compete in the main event. Kevin Harris was 2nd & Gareth Hopkins was 3rd. Carl Webster rode over the finish line & Steve Ireland. This was a simple case of tiredness & not an expression of criticism (feedback). Steve delayed the flag for two riders who had "buddied up" to make it to the line. They deserved it. At 12
David Knight, Paul Edmondson, Anders Eriksson
& Kari Tiainen (4 riders with 20 World Championships between them) presented
trophies to the winners of the 2006 Motul GB Hare Scramble Championship. In a pre-amble
David announced that he would be competing at Le Touquet. He would have preferred Hell's
Gate but KTM had asked & he found it hard to say no. David was also asked about his plans for
the GNCC season in America & specifically where in the US he would be based. Without hesitation
the proud Manxman confirmed he would be based in the Isle of Man.
As
the first of the afternoon showers blew in from the west Steve (left) &
Wayne battled it out. The lead swung but a late splash & dash cost Wayne
precious seconds & Steve took the win with some big air (see below). It
was very close at the top with 7 riders posting 8 laps. Ben Hemingway was 3rd, Alex Wigg was
4th & Dan Hemingway was 5th. Lee Sampson was unlucky to DNF with 7 laps.
By 4.30pm the skies had darkened &
the quarry was blasted by a hail storm. The organisers launched a maroons warn spectators to
descend from the rim of the quarry. The floor of the truck trailer became very slick & rock
faces echoed to the thuds of bikes & riders slamming into the bulkhead but like the event as a
whole there were no significant injuries. Although the Tough One is not an ACU event, ISDE team
manager - Andrew "Dusty" Martin - was an interested spectator. Anders Ericksson's 9 hour journey
from Gatwick to Geriant's farm was good preparation & he clearly wasn't going to put up with any
more traffic jams. Anders & Kari Tiainen last rode together in Wales in 1999 at WTRA's World Round
when they split the 500cc class. Despite his MX background Greg Evans was circulating in the top ten.
With the last of the natural light failing the floodlights roared into action & transformed the quarry into a magical
landscape. Steve Dustow
traveled from Cornwall to win the Expert
class with 10 laps ahead of Lincoln Brewster. Gavin Houson was 3rd, Shane
Lewis was 4th & John Pearson was 5th. Bradley King dropped time
with a broken chain. DVD AVAILABLE FROM MATT HALL ENDURO EXTREME
07973132746 PHOTO'S AVAILABLE FROM Aspect
Event Photography
WOR Events' Steve Ireland: "Where do I start... ? Seeing the car park full was great and made all the hard work worth it. The event has grown year on year since it started in '05 and judging by all the great feedback
I've had this year's event was without question the best, despite the on and off
bad weather. The whole day went perfectly, every race started bang on time, with no problems or injuries. We made a big effort to improve on last year's event and I feel we achieved that. Having Anders Eriksson and Kari Tiainen agree to come to a WOR Events race, and
compete alongside David Knight, was just magic. The three of them were nothing but the professional superstars they are all day, working with them was a pleasure.
David's performance was fantastic, absolutely amazing. There
was such a positive vibe in the quarry that it really did feel like an international event. Trying something new with the Speed Trial is a risk, but I have no doubts that it worked. Riders and spectators enjoyed it and it added to the day's entertainment.
I'd like to thank each and every one of my WOR Events team for all the work they put in before and during the event, everyone who entered the trials race, the Nantmawr Quarry land owners, Trials & Motocross News for their behind the scenes help, and the companies that supported the event, Michelin, Gas Gas, Motul and Trail Tech, and of course all the spectators for helping to make it such a memorable day."
Wayne Braybrook (Team GAS GAS UK) has just finished 2nd at "The Tough One" behind World Enduro Champion David Knight ! Only these two riders made 14 laps with Fast Eddy finishing 3rd on 13 laps. As the whole World knows DK is the best in the World at this kind of event and i personally think that Wayne Braybrook is the unofficial second best Extreme Enduro Rider in the World right now because he has yet again proved that he can push Knighter. In the previous two years of The Tough One David has had a handicap before the start of The Tough One. The first year he started by having to fit his wheels and boots etc before he chased down the rest of the field and last year he had to run up one of the quarry hills before he started his race. This year Knighter would not accept a handicap and started with everyone else! Although he is 'the best' in these Extreme races he also knows that Wayne Braybrook can challenge him. Wayne has finished 2nd to David for the past two years at the 'Hells Gate' event in Italy and more recently finished 2nd at the 'Last Man Standing' event in Texas. With the 'Le Mans' style start, a 300 metre run to the bikes saw Wayne lead the event around the first lap with Knighter in hot pursuit. At the 'roof of all evil' and both riders taking different lines Knighter grabbed the lead, then circulated around the first 2/3 laps virtually together. Both Knigher and Wayne had an awesome set of lights supplied by Trail Tech which is a 'must have' for these events and on the second lap Wayne lost one of his smaller lights that he has for 'dusk' conditions in a mad scramble through a tougher section of the course, either by pushing and shoving or an 'over zealous' spectator which possibly unsettled him slightly with Wayne shouting to his Team that his light had gone. However we knew that his main 8" light was ok because he had not yet pulled off the lense guard that is designed to protect the glass so we were not unduly worried. Both riders charged through the rest of the field and David started to edge the gap between himself and Wayne and eventually won by 8 minutes at the flag. However only David and Wayne made 14 laps... I have to thank our Mechanic 'Factory Kev' for preparing an awesome EC300 for this event and Roy Kerr from TrailTech for providing the lights etc. Wayne's bike is basically a standard EC300 with slightly firmer suspension and other personal settings. Congrats also to (KB Racing supported) Paul Bolton who finished 6th and Rowland Morris (WOR GG) who finished 9th both aboard GG EC300s For those of you that went to the race will agree that it was an awesome experience to watch these riders and congratulations go to Steve Ireland and the WOR Team for achieving what is now THE major Enduro event of the year in the UK and i hope that Steve can find the 'Title Sponsor' that it deserves. The cost and logistical nightmare of running this event is immense and i know that it needs and deserves some major financial support for it to continue. Without this support i think you 'may' have seen the last Tough One... For full results and more reports checkout www.enduronews.com and www.worevents.com Next Event---- Extreme Race, 'Hells Gate' in Italy ! Checkout www.hellsgate.it D3-Racing results service
Wirral off Roads the Tough One marks the start of the 2007 Enduro and cross-country season, and for the massive crowd who witnessed it I am sure all will agree it was a fantastic start. Steve Ireland and his team as usual did a fantastic job and the Tough One was without doubt one of the very best staged off-road races in the UK and if not the World. Steve had suggested that this might be the last Tough One, I hope he re-considers because this format of racing and quality of event is exactly what the riders and spectators want and is why off-road racing is so exciting, nobody could disagree that it wasn?t superb value for money and very cheap
considering you are `watching the worlds best competing for 2 hours on a grueling floodlight course and with the other races on the day made for a brilliant day out, compare it to other sports and their entrance fees !!!.
The Tough One attracted a quality field including overseas champions Anders Erickson from Sweden and Kari Tianen from Finland, The world 2 best extreme riders David Knight and Wayne Braybrook along with multi world enduro champ Paul Edmondson, besides these guys we had all the regular UK front runners and our very own European champ Tom Sagar. Kari Tianen had just returned from the Warmth of the Dakar to be greeted by the contrasting cold wet weather of England and rode a 400 KTM loaned by KTM UK and prepared by D3-Racing, Tom Sagar who will ride a 450EXC in regular enduro?s choose to ride a specially prepared D3-Racing 2 stroke 250 EXC for this event.
Approximately 80 riders lined up for the Le-mans type start just before 4.00pm, they were faced with a few hundred metre?s up hill jog in motocross boots !!! (Steve really knows how to make these boys suffer). Steve Ireland gave the starting orders and the sprint or crawl for some started, up front it was Braybrook, Knight and surprisingly young Sagar who reached their bikes first and this was the order for the first lap of the race. The first lap was completed in just under 8 minutes with Knight holding a bike lengths lead over Wayne and a further 20 seconds down was Sagar and Edmondson, these 4 riders had already pulled out a big lead on the first lap. A huge log pile marked the end of the lap and the lap scoring section, it claimed both Wayne and David who got stuck and tangled with each other, Sagar was the only rider to go through feet up trials style and made it look easy, however it wasn?t and the remaining field of riders had nightmares in this section despite several marshals pushing them through. It was a great spectator section but very difficult with all the mud and water coming on to the logs. After a few laps the log section was `removed as the rest of the course was challenging enough. For the first hour Knight and Braybrook battled hard, exchanging positions, a further 2 minutes back local boy Sagar battled with Edmondson. For the front runners the course didn?t prove too much of an issue, the biggest challenge for these guys was to get around and over take the back markers who blocked some of the more difficult stages. Chasing the front runners at the half way stage were amongst others Euan McConnel, Glen Kearney, Ady Smith, Carl Tiley, Anders Erickson and Kari Tianen but now the extra challenge of total darkness had arrived. Knight started to pull out a healthy lead and Tom had a few small issues which meant that Eddy pulled a small gap on him. The first 4 riders all finished in order of their half way positions, for Tom it was a big improvement on his last years `position at the Tough one and a superb start to his new season and was only beaten by his more experienced opponents.
Tom Sagar " I really enjoyed the event it was way better than last years but I would I have liked to have seen a few harder sections to make it really tough, my KTM 250 was awesome and its so much easier riding a properly prepared Enduro bike as opposed to a converted motocrosser. I felt I was riding good enough for third but I had to make a few unscheduled pit stops to change gloves and I broke my main headlamp with about 40 minutes to go but apart from this I am really happy and confident for the forthcoming season."
David Knight Results Service Knighter wins '07 The Tough One Red Bull KTM Off Road Team?s two-time World Enduro Champion David Knight claimed his first race win of the ?07 season by dominating the third running of the WOR Events The Tough One race. Already a two-time winner of Britain?s premier extreme hare scramble race Knighter made it three wins from three starts with another impressive victory at the Nantmawr Quarry circuit. Finishing alongside David on the podium were Wayne Braybrook and Paul Edmondson in second and third places respectively.
Starting the race with the rest of the Pro class competitors, and not being handicapped at the start as he had in previous years, David arrived at his bike in second position following the 300 meter Le Mans style run-to-your-bike start. Despite having ridden just a handful of times since his emphatic victory at the ?06 edition of the Red Bull Last Man Standing event in Texas due to arm and stomach surgery at the end of last season, David quickly settled into his rhythm and passed Braybrook for the lead. Not realising it David then dropped back to second, briefly, before moving back into the lead only to get tangled up with a lapped rider and dropping to second again. Making a third pass for the lead Knighter made it stick and was never headed during the remainder of the race.
With a torrential hail storm turning the skies black a full 20 minutes earlier than most expected it to get dark Knighter settled into a comfortably pace and started clocking up the laps and pulling away from his rivals. Aware that he had a sizeable lead David maintained his speed and further extended his lead. During the closing stages of the race the weather again turned bad with the podium presentations interrupted by a second hail storm.
David's next event will be the Genoa Indoor Enduro in Genoa, Italy on February 3
David Knight: ?What a wild race. Starting the race with all the other Pro class competitors was a first for me having had to climb hills and build my bike before getting going in previous years. The run to our bikes went well though. I was just behind Wayne Braybrook getting to my bike so I followed him for a while before passing him. I had a pit signal that said I had a one-minute lead and the next thing I knew I bashed into Wayne in the rocks. He must have taken a different line when I was stuck behind a rider and passed me without me knowing.
?On the second lap I hit a lapped rider and Wayne passed me again. I passed him for a third time shortly after that and then got my head down and settled down a bit. Because I?ve not really been on a bike since the Red Bull Last Man Standing race I felt a bit slow early on, but I felt happier towards the end of the race. I was a bit tired at the finish, but it was pretty tough.?
MPS Racing used WOR Tough One to introduce their new
team for 2007. This being the first event to bring the whole team together, all the riders
were keen to put in 100% effort, so the week before found them bolting lights to
bikes and helmets, and then out riding in the woods trying to find the best set
up. Each rider using different systems to suit their riding, but all putting
considerable effort into their preparation. The morning of the event the bikes
were all lined up in front of the transporter, looking immaculate and well
prepared. Steve Ireland had found us a perfect place to set up camp, and the new
team which included for this weekend seven times world champion Anders Eriksson,
created a lot of interest. The weather and mood was good and all the riders were
keen to get started, just before the start the heavens opened, but nothing could
dampen their enthusiasm, Si and Lee set off on foot (Le Mans style start) by
running 250meters up the hill, to their waiting machines. Gavin and Edd set off
2 minutes behind. Lee had a good start, and came through the first lap in the
top ten, Si approximately five places behind him. Gavin and Edd were caught in
the fight for position on the tight track, but with two hours of riding a head
of them time could, and was made up. After three laps, Lee was hit by another
rider while holding a top six position the collision damage his rear brake,
after repairs on the course he continued for another lap, but unfortunately he
had to retire, as the course was too extreme to continue with no rear break. As
darkness fell Si, Gavin and Edd were still going strong. Gavin came in for a pit
stop and changed helmets for one with two lights mounted on it, and Edd came in
for clean, dry gloves; by the half way stage 25% of the field had retired. After
two hours the checkered flag came out with Si finishing in 15th place, out of 25
starters in the Pro class, Gavin finishing in a excellent 3rd position, with Edd
just behind him in a splendid 8th place, having dropping several places after a
spectacular crash on a steep down hill. For our first team event we were
delighted, everybody from riders to supporters had given 110%. The Husqvarna's
had performed faultlessly, bring on the next event. Gavin and Edd DBT Ellerton
Bank, 28 Jan 07 with Si and Lee attending the WEC preview in San Remo, followed
by the Snow Run 4th Feb 07, for all Team Members, including Mick and Gavin's Dad
Mark. Many thanks to every one who assisted us at the event, especially our
three main sponsors Mick Carter from Husky Sport, Nick Turner from Motul Oil and
Rob Sartin from Talon Engineering, which goes without saying we couldn't compete
without you. Steve Colley (Team GAS GAS UK) has won the 1 hour Trials 'Sprint' Race at
Saturdays TOUGH ONE - GasGas UK The event was a 1 hour sprint race on Trials bikes around the exact same
course as the Tough One which took place a few hours after. Only the rock
section was made harder to try and slow the Trials boys (and girl, well done
Becky!) down and to give the spectators a real spectacle. There were no
'observed sections' like in the infamous 'Scott Trial' so it was all down to
speed. The idea was simply to try something new and all the riders and spectators i
spoke to thought it was awesome! The 'Le Mans' style start saw GGUK rider Alexz Wigg (only 17 years old) leave
the rest and kick his Gasser into life to lead around the first lap until Steve
Colley (35!) and Wayne Braybrook (36!) catch and pass him. Towards the end of
the first lap Steve yelled to me that he had no back brake! With no outside
assistance allowed in the pit area and only a 1 hour race Steve had no choice
but to carry on regardless. At the finish we diagnosed a broken hose so 'fairplay'
to Steve for winning with this problem... Wayne Braybrook (GGUK) finished 2nd after deciding only to ride this race to
get a feel for the Tough One main event later on in the day. Wayne was setting a
blistering pace and i was worried that he was using too much energy for the main
event....however he pushed on and had, which Wayne quotes, "the biggest
crash i have ever had on a Trials bike" ! He cartwheeled destroying the
rear mudguard and flattening the bars which he had to come into the pits and
reposition.. Wayne then carried on in a comfortable 2nd place, eventually finishing only
1min 22seconds behind Steve. Ben Hemingway (BETA) finished 3rd and Alexz Wigg (GGUK) finished 4th ! Alexz
went really well and at the finish had the biggest smile of them all! GGUK Teamsters Ross Danby and Craig Robinson were 8th and 10th respectively. Feedback Hi Bob, Hope it's OK to use your site to pass on my congratulations to
Steve Ireland and his team for such a fantastic event, the "Tough One"
over the weekend. The time money and effort that must have gone into setting up
this event must have been phenomenal. I hope financially that the event was a
success as it is truly deserved. This event deserves TV coverage and support to ensure future
events of this calibre in the UK. Well done! Carl Webster
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Nantmawr Quarry is a majestic amphitheatre &
the perfect arena for showman Steve Ireland to set a gladiatorial event
of epic proportions. The 3km course circled the rim of the quarry before
dropping onto the quarry floor & through a battlefield of natural & man made obstacles.
There were 3 huge climbs, a lattice of truck tyres & the Rockery – a tank
trap of washing machine sized boulders. The Rockery was red flagged which meant
there was no outside assistance. When the riders thought that things
couldn't get any harder - they did. There was a steeplechase over felled logs
leading into a truck trailer & exiting over a car. The weather was perfect with pale winter sunshine but that would change.
At 1pm the
Steve Ireland flagged away the riders in the inaugural 1hr Tough One Trials Sprint. The
official narrowed the course at the Rockery
to include only the biggest rocks. It challenged the best riders & on the first lap the field
made their way across it with
all the style & elegance of a mass land crab migration. Manxman Steve Colley
& Sandiford's Wayne Braybrook made the smoothest progress.
The main event started at 4pm to the strains of the National anthem.
David Knight led the first lap but Wayne Braybrook had learnt a lot from his earlier ride
& kept the Knighter in sight.
David was not wearing his familiar kit but his smooth & rapid progress though the
field made him unmistakable. Contesting 3rd were Paul Edmondson on his new Maximum
Solutions Honda & Tom Sagar on his new D3 Racing KTM. 1998 British Enduro Champion Ady Smith
couldn't resist the challenge & joined in with a late entry. 
The constant commentary was excellent - both well informed ("Ady
Smith was 42 yesterday") & encouraging ("Come on Lardy Boy"). Lee Edmondson lost time when he had to bleed his brakes. The Knighter extended his
lead & began to pick off the back markers. By the end of the 2hr race he had completed 14 laps &
lapped everyone up to 3rd place. Wayne Braybrook was 2nd & Paul Edmondson was 3rd.
Tom Sagar finished 4th & Euan McConnell
was 5th. Downhill mountain bike champion - Rob Warner - strode through the field in his size 13 boots to finish 11th.
Carl
Tiley (left) was circulating in the top ten until his chain guide was damaged. Kari Tiainen crossed the finish line
at the height of the ice storm & asked for a cold beer. How tough does it have to be to phase these
guys.
The
event was a huge success and all the spectators and riders thoroughly enjoyed
the event.