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enduro
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Paul Bolton |
 Extreme
Lagares….emerging as one of the big players on the extreme enduro scene? Review by Lisa and Paul Bolton Extreme Lagares in Portugal seemed like an interesting prospect. It popped onto our radar last year as Jarvis championed there, in what was new territory for international extreme enduro. Arriving into Lagares we followed the cobbled road to the hill top paddock. Akin to a local race, without fuss and frivolity, this appeared to be a relatively non-commercial venture. As locals arrived to set up camp, we met with the other Brit riders Dougie Lampkin and Dan Hemmingway as well as our international competitors like Andreas Lettenbichler, Xavi Gallindo, Melcior Faja and 2011 Junior Trials World Champion Alfredo Gomez. With us Brits new to the race this year, we tracked down the organisers who were only too happy to help - they were a group of 5 motorcycle enthusiasts who had grown this race gradually over the past 7 years. It was difficult to track them down as they seemed to be doing the job of 5000 - setting tracks, preparing the prologue, organising signing on etc etc. The evening began with a powerful drum beat as the procession of riders followed a van-mounted band down from the paddock, through the residential streets and into the prologue arena, created from a floodlit stubble field. This was perfect for the ever growing crowds of spectators who could see every jump, berm, log, tyre and tunnel! Starting with the amateurs, there were thrills and lots of spills to entertain us all. Riders set off in twos but at different points on the cleverly designed track, similar to a WEC special stage. Following this was the XL group and finally the Pros. The top 5 times of the evening were delivered by 1st Galindo, 2nd Bolton, 3rd Lampkin, 4th Gomez and 5th Letti in the qualifier.. These riders went into an adrenaline fuelled head-to-head final after midnight, which was the spectacle of the evening - the results of which would determine the order of departure for Sunday's main race. As Sunday morning arrived, riders set off in pairs each minute. First to leave the arena was winner of the prologue final Galindo alongside 2nd place finalist Gomez. This was followed on minute two by 3rd and 4th place finalists Lampkin and Letti and on minute 3 by Bolton and Hemmingway. We set off on what we were told was the 'easier half' of the figure of eight course. After 10-15 minutes riding we dropped off the dusty trails and into a glass-bottomed river, which went on for what seemed like forever - wheel spinning, pushing and writhing, it got the lungs working hard! Out of the stream and onto some fast and flowing single trails. But this was no time to relax as it was a mixture of loose gravel and hard bedrock. Then finishing the so called 'easy loop', we were at the beginning of the hard loop. We started on what appeared to be a nice flowing stream bed, when walking it the day before. It was nothing like it when riding it! We were in the stream bed for a good distance, climbing through sections with waterfalls, rocks and over dams. Luckily there was plenty of traction to make you feel that your efforts were rewarded with real progress. This led onto fast, single trails - through hill top villages, under grapevines and through back gardens of on looking villagers who were cheering excitedly. After blasting down more single trails we descended into a river bed of monstrous rocks - each as big as a sprinter van. We hopped between the awesomely grippy rocks. Thankfully there was something that resembled a natural line through and over them. Eventually at the bottom we dropped beneath the village, through a tunnel and into the stream following fairy lights all the way to the other side. Here I passed Letti and got the hammer down into more streams and dusty hill climbs, which led us back to the prologue arena. Lap one complete! By this point I was feeling remarkably good and in 4th Place, knowing what I had to do in the final lap. Taken in isolation the sections were not so difficult, but in a race perspective when each section comes one after the other, the intensity is through the roof. I think every rider will agree that it was extremely difficult to race hard. Unfortunately on lap two, a rock got the better of my clutch casing, losing all of the oil (Déjà vu Erzberg 2011!) This resulted in me having to stop to pump the clutch up as it was disappearing, getting so hot. I limped the bike into the paddock where I added some 2 stroke oil to get some lubrication back into the clutch. This was a good testament to a KTM clutch as it ran for at least 25 minutes without oil - I was trying not to use it but this was difficult up stream beds! I had lost 4th place but managed to retain 5th. Well done to Doug for his well deserved win….wish my legs were as long as his! To the 5 modest organisers who proclaimed…. "we are amateurs at this" - I do believe that they have moulded an extreme race from real grass roots. No it was not seamless nor perfectly orchestrated but the organisers were keen to gain constructive feedback to make it even better next year. They were keen to please the visiting riders as well as keeping the locals entertained in what appeared to be the highlight of the year! Yet to attract an international audience, it had sourced sponsors to provide an enviable prize pot. Well given another 12 months, and the so many things that they have got right, taking on feedback this could be very much a world player on the Extreme Enduro Scene. Extreme Lagares 2011 Results
Once the sun had risen we could see the breath taking scenery and vast open plains of grass and desert. We arrived in the capital city of Masuru, where we would call home for the next week. We immediately went to look at the 'round the houses' race in the van. We drove around the track because it is on public roads and probably the nearest thing I will do to the TT but on knobble tyres! It was a massive eye opener once we were actually on the bike - flat out in top gear around long sweeping corners, sliding sideways on the nobblies. Once the first lap was out of the way, I started to relax and started to enjoy the race. I felt like I had just stolen a bike and was on a getaway from the cops! I finished 12th, one place behind Chris Birch. The riders then went in one big convoy up in the mountains, to the start of the time trial, where the course was downloaded onto the GPS and we set off in number order. I wasn't expecting anything that was about to come…it was 5th and 6th gear for 80 kilometers. It was the fastest, scariest thing I had ever done and you couldn't predict any of the terrain - unlike anything I had ever ridden before. At one point I had a word with myself to slow down as I was riding way out of my comfort zone. Arriving safely at the finish, I was placed a disappointing 17th - but I was in one piece, unlike some others. Day two began with a delay, as the start time was put back due to uncrossable rivers. After a little bit of re-routing, it comprised of a day in the mountains, with a mix of some fast sections at the beginning and some hard technical sections at the end. It was the longest day - around 230 kilometers with some very tricky terrain. I rode the whole course on a similar time to the leaders, but as I had started with a time penalty for being in 17th position on day one, I ended up with only 8th on day two. Overall it was a fantastically organised event, world class riding and amazing scenery. After serving my apprenticeship this year, I will be back to see what I can do next year, as it is part of the World Extreme Enduro Championship. Thanks to Daryl Curtis and the Brother Broadlink team, KTM South Africa and everyone who helped me. Cheers guys! Enduro Scott Trial Challenge by Paul Bolton
After the first few field crossings, I felt like it might have been a bad idea. I was slipping and sliding all over, due to the weight of the enduro bike, with less than new trials tyres on! However in the sections, the trials tyres definitely proved themselves. Yet at some points, they gave me so much grip, that the steering became really heavy…which started to take its toll by the time the afternoon came. I had forgotten about some of the treacherous sections, many of which are not seen by spectators. They proved to be very interesting! I was really chuffed to get some cleans on some difficult sections, but then again, some of the more straightforward sections required me to sit down and paddle! With regards to the moor crossings, some of these were awesome on my enduro bike, but in other more technical parts, a trials bike was far more suited to nipping through the gaps and over the obstacles. Although I could sit on the seat and RELAXXXXX, whereas the trials riders had to stand up and endure the pain!
I was aware that as a charity rider I would not qualify for a finishing position or any awards – they were the last things on my mind! However it was really nice to be included in the results showing that I finished in 77th position, half an hour clear of the time limit. I was also presented with the ‘Best Endeavour’ award which was a big surprise. Thanks to everyone who made it possible, I would like to say I enjoyed it….but at least I raised a load of money for a worthy cause!!!!!! Many thanks to Richmond Motorcycle Club for allowing me to undertake this one-off charity challenge and of course Eurotek for letting me put my enduro bike through such gruelling conditions! But most importantly a big thank you to all of those who have generously donated. So far we have raised £725 (£900 with Gift aid added) for the North West Air Ambulance. It provides a vital service throughout Lancashire, Cumbria and Merseyside where it has saved many lives, including that of a close family friend. So it’s not too late to donate! The charity receives no central government or lottery funding, relying entirely on public donations. If you would like to donate, just click on www.justgiving.com/PaulBoltonScottTrialChallenge
After a long and interesting drive to Romania, we arrived at the prologue course, which was still under construction. After the diggers and axe-wielding men worked their magic through the dark hours, what had looked like a few logs and tyres, became an endurocross rider's dream. Taking on a different set up to last year, due to the multitude of injuries on the very wet and technical course, the organisers decided to have a straight run over the obstacles, along the main street in Sibiu. Thousands of spectators looked on, as each rider had two timed runs from one end to the other. Their best time was used as a qualifying time, where the fastest 16 went through to the semi-finals in two heats of 8 riders. As the semis commenced, a rider got wedged in the logs in front of Paul which trapped him in the logs too. Nightmare, but hey that's endurocross! The two finals followed. The main final for the top 4 from each of the heats and the second class final for the numpties who follow people into mistakes! The main final was won by Xavier Galindos-Arbones, 2nd place Andreas Lettenbilcher and a well deserved 3rd went to Brit Graham Jarvis. Paul won the second-class final by a mile, but with the new format this year, he was still left with a six minute penalty which would carry through to the first day. Much controversy was caused by this system, whereby every rider (apart from the prologue winner) would be left with a proportional penalty, added to the first mountain stage.
Day three and the race moved from Petrosani back in the direction of Sibiu. The day was unlucky for Graham Jarvis, who suffered technical problems with his bike, forcing him to retire. It was also an unfortunate day for race leader Xavier Galindos-Arbones, who crashed out and broke his leg. Nevertheless in a turn of fate, Paul clocked up the fastest time of the day and won the day. Although this was fantastic news, it had a significant disadvantage. On the final day of the rally, the day of reckoning, A.K.A navigation day, Paul would set off as first man away. This effectively means no tracks to follow in times when the GPS has no coverage (in dense forests and deep valleys) and also when you reach a section, even some of the officials are unsure of the race route until a rider has successfully been through. As predicted, the final day was a GPS nightmare for most riders, with Pro, Expert and Hobby routes switching and changing. Paul and Chris Birch (NZ) realised that they had taken the wrong route and missed a check point. In order to ensure a finish, they decided to back track and correct their mistakes - Paul adding an extra 75km to his already lengthy day! Paul's parents and I waited and waited at the finish, on the roof of the six storey derelict hospital. Eventually Paul arrived and raced up the staircases and along the corridors of the aptly named Crazy Biker House. When he reached the roof, I hitched a backy over the spine of the roof, through the red bull finish and (to my surprise), down the steep wood slatted decent. I don't think I would get away with this in many places in the world! That just summarises the Red Bull Romaniacs Rally…it's a crazy race where just about anything can happen and unexpected things become the norm! Paul finished in 5th place overall (a little gutted about his
final day fiasco which cost him 3rd place). Neigh bother! He
conquered Romaniacs with a mega finish in the Pro Class, amongst
mainly factory supported riders. Not bad for a full time mechanic and
sweeper driver from Lancashire! However, he couldn't have done it
without the support of Jacko at Eurotek, Martin from FatCat Motoparc,
Nick at Touratech for mega GPS, Si, Sander and Jayne of Renault
Specialist Breakers and Dom at Kriega. Thanks guys. And not to forget
the fastest, most efficient support crew in Romania - Mum, Dad and
me!
Bolts brings it back for the Brits What an exhilarating weekend. The setting itself was enough to leave me awestruck. Blue skies, beaming sunshine and snow capped mountains, surrounded the towering iron ore mountain that is Erzberg. The initial two days of the 'iron road' prologue were enough to attract 1500 competitors from 32 different nations, with 32,000 spectators. Overlooking the prologue course was what the Brit lads refer to as 'Mad Max' hill. It was a landscape strewn with tents and campers, booming music and bustling with bike fanatics. Here spectators watched in anticipation as competitors on a myriad of bikes (from the ordinary to the ridiculous) roared, crashed and back-fired up the seemingly endless zigzag of fire roads, from the base to the pinnacle of the mount. Their aim: to qualify amongst the fastest 500 riders, to guarantee entry into Sunday's main event, the 'Red Bull Hare Scramble'. More specifically, the elite riders were to strive for a top 50 ranking, to gain a much sought after front row starting position. The endurocross, which took place over 3 days, developed into somewhat of a showdown, with the top riders all trying to set the fastest time. The pyramid logs, steep inclines and descents, rock gardens and dumper truck body were all designed to cause maximum carnage. On days 1 and 2 the battle was on between Blazusiac and Lettenbichler. However in the morning of day 3, Paul Bolton set the fastest time of the event. The commentator enticed Taddy to return in the afternoon to reclaim his crown, which he did, by just 0.2 seconds. With sights firmly focussed on the following days main race, Paul decided not to compete in the evening endurocross final, despite lying in second place during qualifying.
I was lucky enough to hitch a ride and so was mobile throughout the race- tracking Bolts down at every opportunity. In one of the first sections, new to the Erzberg course, Paul took the high line to overtake Chris Birch who was trying to free his bike from a tree. Paul tackled the notorious 'Dynamite' section, trials style, impressing many with a near feet-up ride!! Then the riders were to negotiate some freshly blasted rock sections, with no lines appearing. Back into the forest in a new difficult section, Bolts clinched another place, passing Cyril Despres. The 'Staircase' proved no problems for Bolton. However the exit was a new very steep, tight, wooded section. There was no chance of getting a run up for the hills, as the handlebars were too wide to fit through the gaps in the trees. Pushing time!!! Then it was back out into the sunlight for a cool down along the maze of fire roads- with some lucky gambles about which direction to take. A much needed fuel stop followed, before the no assistance zone that is 'Carl's Diner'. The new entrance to the Diner was of a World Trials section standard. It was feet up, push the bike, roll the bike, do whatever you can, to get past the bike swallowing holes!!! Here Bolts had Salminen in his sights. Then half way across the 'Diner', Salminen slid down off the track and Paul made his move, putting him in 3rd place. Another new decent, designed to make the course more difficult, took its toll. The Honda 250 slid down into some sharp rocks, trapping Paul's knee beneath the bike. Bolts thought his race was over and he screamed, in his words, "like a baby!!". A marshal noticed that Bolton had entered the section but not returned and thankfully went in to inspect. He found Paul and lifted the bike off him. In pain, but aware that Salminen was on his tail, he mounted his bike and battled on, using copious amounts of energy drink as a painkiller. Then to the dreaded no assistance zone 'Jurisdiction Ditch' with Salminen, Kyle Redmond and Despres in close pursuit. Paul got back into the rhythm, knowing that otherwise his crash might cost him dearly. At the last hill climb, which resembled the Hell's Gate finale 'Hell's Peak', Bolton made it almost to the top without assistance. The final stint was accomplished with ropes and manpower. Glad to reach the top, it was a final decent to the Erzberg arena. I just made it to the finishing line to see Paul arrive in 3rd place in an amazing 1 hour 38 minutes. I felt like I'd competed myself, racing around on a bike with my dust smeared face, gritty eyes and adrenaline pumping! A rift of interviews and autographs followed with Paul taking it in his usual laid back stride. We stayed in the arena to congratulate the finishers, cheering in the Brit boys: Mark Jackson in 10th Place, Ed Jones in 14th place, first timers Martin Craven (17th), Andrew Reeves (19th) and Rob Wrayford (27th). We all felt for Biff Smith who reached the finish line just minutes after the 4 hour deadline. Although he was not awarded a finish, there were 6 British finishers. Well done lads! Bolts would like to extend his thanks to all that helped him out in Austria, as well as beforehand in preparation for this amazing event. He couldn't have done it on his own. I'm not too sure what Paul is most thrilled about - achieving 3rd in one of the world's most infamous extreme enduros, or his success being cheekily acknowledged by the legendary Juha Salminen, who pinched Bolts' bottom as he rode past in the finishing arena!! Mega memories of a wicked weekend…roll on next year!
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2010
"BABOONS" LESOTHO SUN 
After a long flight I arrived in Johannesburg, where I was picked
up by Daryl Curtis, who had helped me arrange a bike out there
through KTM South Africa. We collected the bikes from the KTM factory
and then went to test them along with Chris Birch. My bike felt
really good, so it was time to get the bikes washed off and get
everything ready for the Roof. Wednesday was the first of many early
starts. We left Jo'burg at 3.45 am in the dark and drove to the
Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, known literally as the Roof of Africa as
it has the highest lowlands in the world - 1,400 metres at it lowest
point and over 5,000 meters at its highest.
On day three I Started in 8th place on the road, I lost a couple
of positions initially due to navigation errors of my own fault, but
then we started to climb high into the mountains. The only spectators
were the shepherds and the airborne helicopter. The extreme altitude
was really noticeable and it effected me by absolutely zapping my
energy. The pace of riding on the technical sections was slower than
I had expected, but everyone was feeling the absence of an ability to
push on, due to the combined effects of the heat and altitude. At
decontrol, I drank and ate as much as I could get my hands on, which
enabled me to recoup and push really hard on the technical parts and
the fast bits between. I realised that I was starting to claw back
positions, passing Lionel Seydoux, Simo Kirssi and Daryl Curtis. I
was closing the gap on Lettenbichler up the new section aptly named
Push Me Please, which was located at an altitude of 3,600metres. Just
when we thought we had completed the hardest part, the downhill that
followed was treacherous - really steep and littered with boulders!
178 kilometers of off road racing from this mornings start, I arrived
at Bushman's climb, the last obstacle between me and the finish line.
I got to the finish in 4th place.
I have survived the Scott Trial and live to tell the tale of
man-handling my Eurotek KTM 250 exc around this notoriously difficult
time and observation trial. I have only just uncovered the forums on
trials central, where unbeknown to me, weeks of debate had ensued
prior to this prestigious event. I had certainly set some tongues
wagging!
It was really encouraging to see and hear spectators who had
waited in the driving rain to see me (the last man away) and no doubt
try to prove their personal predictions. At one point, Lisa, my
fiancée, considered setting up a betting post! There were so many
contrasting opinions and varied predictions about whether I would
emerge from the moor crossings to conquer another section. Many
trials enthusiasts proclaimed that it was impossible and even if I
did manage to cross the finish line, it would not be within the time
limit.
Romaniacs
conquered - Third time lucky! By Lisa
Butterworth (Paul Bolton's better half)
Day
one of the mountain rally is always a big learning curve for most
riders. However, Paul sussed his GPS and actually found the start
this year! The first mountain stage is renowned for being the most
difficult day (having cause Paul injuries in both of his Romaniacs
assaults, in the past two years). Nevertheless, third time lucky and
the day went well. Paul used it as a training day - staying safe and
injury free, without getting lost!
Helicopters whirred above, swooping down into the quarry, film
crews were frantic and thousands of on-lookers took their positions
waiting for the spectacle to unfold. The 'Red Bull Hare Scramble' was
about to begin. Despite earning a place on the front row, Paul had a
poor initial start. However, he came from 16th position on leaving
the start line to 5th position, in a mere minute. On the 2nd row was
fellow Brit and Bolts' bud Andrew Reeves, who took the hole shot,
leading his peers all of the way out of the quarry.
