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a Bird on the wireEMG/Kia Eastern Centre Championship - Round 1 Report by Richard Snowden Today, Sunday 6 March saw Round 1 of the 2011 EMG/Kia sponsored Eastern Centre Championship Enduro series kick off with the Iken hare and Hounds season opener on a bright but very chilly March day... A full house of 155 riders tackled the sandy terrain At Iken - mostly a fast open circuit that was expected to suit the motocross boys - and there were plenty of them getting some much needed pre event practice in - however the boys with enduro experience gradually made their presence felt as the 3 hour race gradually took its toll on the fast starters... Aston Bird 450 Gateway Kawasaki felt he could have done better after the first round of the BEC - the Muntjac last weekend and was keen to make a good showing today - even though he finished a creditable 16th overall and sixth in the E2's. At the end of the first lap it was clear that he was in determined mood - already 6 seconds clear of motocross and enduro star Jason Morland with Tom Braddock in third some 11 seconds down on Bird. At the end of the first hour Bird had not been challenged - he was now 1 minute 36 clear of Julian Harvey with Tom Braddock still holding third but now being chased by Chris Hockey who was pacing himself and gradually moving up the field as the race wore on. After 2 hours Bird was still controlling the event comfortably from the front, now 1 minute 41 clear but enduro specialists Hockey and Jamie Roper were in the 2nd and 3rd positions with Harvey just hitting problems and about to retire from fourth at the 2 hour point. At the end of the gruelling 3 hours Aston Bird was the only rider to cross the finish line before the 3 hours and clock up a full 20 laps. Chris Hockey had to be content with 19 laps counting - although his 20th lap after the 3 hour deadline was actually his fastest of the day... Jamie Roper held on to third and Jason Morland moved back up to fourth with Tom Braddock picking up fifth place on the 250 Kawasaki. In the expert class Andy Mason led at both the hour and 2 hour stage but was finally beaten into fourth and a lap down by Peter Clark who finished 2 minutes clear of Steven Lewis, with Phil Maltby the only other expert on 18 laps in third. In the Clubman class Ben Alexander took an 8 second victory from Lee Saunders with Clive Stevens a further 28 seconds back - but ahead of his son David who finished fourth. Steven Cone took the Sportsman honours from Scott Rannochan. An excellent start to what promises to be a competitive 2011 enduro season in the Eastern Centre - the second round is scheduled for Foxborough on 8 May and will be run by Sudbury MCC - don't miss it... Photo: Enduro News Library |