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Riders Profile |
  Name:
Neil Chatham
DOB: 15/06/90 Hometown: Gullane, East Lothian Class: Clubman Bike: Honda CR125 Club: Melville Motor Club Contact: neil4646@hotmail.co.uk
Report & photos by Campbell Chatham The Chatham family made their way down to Ellesmere for the seventh round of the Putoline Fast Eddy Cross Country Championship. The decision to travel down was due to the cancellation of the Scottish Championship Enduro at Beattock. This was the first Fast Eddy that Paul or Neil had entered. Neil entered the Clubman 125 two stroke, 250 four stroke class which was a two hour race starting at 10.00am. The weather was perfect with sunny spells and no rain. Neil's start was less than perfect and he set off mid pack, after two laps Neil was in 5th place and pushing hard for 4th. Following the refuel he moved up to fourth, in the last half an hour the leader fell and the rider ahead had clutch problems, the remaining rider ahead was within sight. Neil pushed on and overtook to take the lead with two laps remaining and finished 20 seconds ahead. Despite starting in the third wave off the grid Neil was also 7th overall in the Clubman class.
Since turning 16 in June Neil has won the E1 Clubman Class at the two-day Otterburn Enduro and he has had several podium finishes in the Scottish Clubman Enduro Championship. Paul Chatham did not have such a good day, having picked up his bike just the day before the event, following some engine work, he was forced to retire at the halfway point with a misfire. The fault was later traced to a faulty spark plug cap. Sponsors & products: Honda UK Shell Lubricants Forth One Mickey Oates Motorcycles Glasgow Bikesport Newcastle AA Audio Rush Racing Talon Wheels One Industries Helmets FMF Exhausts Danger UK Graphics Fox Clothing Alpinestar Boots Scott Goggles NGK Michelin Tyres DP Brakes DID Chains History I have been involved with bikes all my life, my Mum went on the back of a motorbike while she was pregnant with me, so I started early. My first bike was a QR50 Honda when I was 4 and I terrified my Dad with the jumps I could do on it. I did not start racing until foot and mouth closed our practise track in 2001. I rode an XR80 in my first motocross, my first motocross bike was a CR85 and I won my first small wheel race at Dumfries in 2003. I have taken part in training at Everts race school in Spain four times since 2002 and the experience I have gained there has helped me to develop to the stage I am at now. My intention is to compete in the British and Scottish Clubman Enduro Championships. My brother Paul, is one of the youngest Scottish Clubman Champions ever, my Dad was Scottish Expert Champion in 1983. I would like to win a British Championship that has so far eluded my Dad and my brother. In 2006 I could not compete until I was 16 in June, I missed the first half of the season. I finished 2006 with a Clubman overall win on the second day at the Natterjack, which must be one of the worst weather conditions ever at a British Championship. I also won the last round of the Scottish Clubman Enduro Championship at Aberdeen and I won the Clubman Class outright at the Melville 3 hour Hare and Hound at Lochhouses. I also managed to win the Clubman 2-stroke class at the Fast Eddy Pultoline Cross Country Championship at Ellesmere. In 2007 I have had mixed fortunes so far as an electrical fault caused a DNF at the Mountjack, I had set the fastest time for a Clubman in the first special test. I have moved up to the Super Clubman Class and finished 3rd and 7th at the 2nd and 3rd round of the Fast Eddy Pultoline Cross Country Championships. I finished second in the first round of the Melville Cross Country Championship Hare and Hound. My best result so far, and the most important, was winning the Clubman Class outright at the first round of the Scottish Clubman Enduro Championship at Elgin. I now lead the Clubman Championship overall and the E1 class. My ambition is to become part of a manufacturer team and represent my country at international events like the European Enduro Championships and the ISDE. Results 2007 2nd Clubman Melville 3 hour Hare and Hound Lochhouses DNF (Electrical Fault) National Diss Mountjack Enduro (Fastest Clubman 1st Test) 3rd Super Clubman Pultoline Cross Country Championship Round 2 7th Super Clubman Pultoline Cross Country Championship Round 3 1st E1 1st Overall Scottish Clubman Championship Lossiemouth Elgin 2006 15th Overall Clubman Melville Scottish Championship Enduro Glengap Dumfries 1st E1 3rd Overall Clubman North Yorkshire Enduro Championship 2 day Otterburn 2nd E1 4th Overall Day One Clubman Scottish Championship Yarrowford Selkirk 2nd E1 3rd Overall Day Two Clubman Scottish Championship Yarrowford Selkirk 2nd E1 3rd Overall Clubman Enduro Scottish Championship Monoughty Elgin 1st E1 7th Overall Putoline Fast Eddy Cross Country Championship Ellesmere 8th E1 15th Overall British Clubman Enduro Championship Rhayader Wales 10th E1 21st Overall British Clubman Enduro Championship Rhayader Wales 4th E1 8th Overall British Clubman Enduro Championship Natterjack 1st E1 1st Overall British Clubman Enduro Championship Natterjack 3rd Overall Scottish Clubman Enduro Championship Selkirk 1st Overall Scottish Clubman Enduro Championship Aberdeen 1st Clubman Melville 3 hour Hare and Hound Lochhouses
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Fast
Eddy Class Win For Neil Chatham
'That
was the dream result for me, I thought I had blown it at the start and
there was a lot of traffic during the first couple of laps' said Neil
after wards. ' I did not realise that I was so high up near the end until
my Dad pointed at the guy in front and indicated that he was the leader. I
am absolutely delighted to take a win at such a prestigious event, the
Fast Eddy Team must have worked really hard to put this brilliant event
together'.