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All content © Bob Mullins | |||
 
ITS DAN AGAIN . ! Another win at the weekend sees last years champion Dan Johnson with one hand on the trophy again for 2024. In this, the penultimate round of the Lincolnshire Enduro Clubs 8th season, the Leicestershire rider had a full laps advantage over his nearest rival at the race end. However, that hardly tells the whole story. Another previous champion and riding a borrowed bike, Jack Rowland was well on his way to his 6th win of the year when yet again, a "mechanical" robbed him of what looked like his 3rd victory on the bounce. Whilst he managed to coax the bike to a finish and avoid a "dnf.", Dan took advantage of more bad luck for the Bawtry lad and took this, his 2nd win of the campaign. Dan's race win wasn't without its own issues though. His own bike spluttered at the race start with electrical gremlins, and was lucky to get to the start line at all ! Lucas Travers came home in the runner up spot. Himself and Josh Hamilton, were separated by a little over 3 minutes when the finish flag fell. Dan now has a 6 point lead going into the last round, with Lucas in 2nd place and then Jack another 6 points adrift of that. Taking place once again at Ingleby, the Back Office Pro sponsored event was run in reverse from the last race there, but with extra mileage shoehorned in. It is now the fastest race in the clubs calender, taking over from where perhaps Dembleby left off ! Two days of torrential rain in the days previous threw the event into doubt at one point but the club pulled out all the stops out to ensure the race took place at what now seems to be a "riders favourite " ! Running over a 7 mile course, the main "stoppers" on the day were probably the ditch crossings that become uglier/deeper as the race progressed. Other than that and a small forested area to negotiate, it was fast fast fast all the way. (In Dan Johnson's case, nigh on 100mph fast !).
In the Clubman class, and with a full lap victory over his nearest challengers, Nicholas King took his 5th win of the year. Unofficially, (given that he cant now be caught) and with one round to go, he is the 2024 Champion. There is movement slightly down the table however. Darren Wells didn't feature heavily in the race itself but still lays in 2nd overall for the year, whilst there has been changes for the Bronze medal overall. With a runner up spot at Ingleby, James Palmer moves into that spot demoting Alex Cumberland, who didn't score points at the event. Bobby Barrows was 3rd on the day.
LEC wishes to say thank you to all marshall's, first aiders, time keepers, scrutineers, food stalls, and everyone else on the day who gave their valuable time. With places still to be secured in all classes, the next and final round for the year is on October 27th, at Ashby Puerorum. Details of that and other useful info is here for members . . https://www.facebook.com/groups/LincolnshireEnduroClub And for non members . . . https://lincolnshireenduro.wixsite.com/lec2016 Report by Martin Southwick. Photos by Dave Stow . .Winner Dan Johnson (No.151)...Alan Vissian (No.33) on his way to the Over 50's class win, and (No.146), David Westwood. |
Anyone thinking that the "aged classes" would be easy, think again.
The ever popular/fast Over 50's class produced the closest finish of the day.
Alan Vissian took his 2nd win of the year, but it was close. Andy Jackson pushed
Alan hard all the way to the chequered flag and whilst some of Andy's lap times
were marginally faster, he had to succumb to a 70 second deficit at 3 hours. On
the same lap but a further 3 minutes adrift was champion elect Gareth Lodge. He
now leads the title chase by over 10 points. Staying with the "mature"
classes, another rider with his 6th wins under his belt this year is Andy Myers
in the Over 40's. His 5 minute win over 2nd placed lad Lee Hattersley was his
3rd on the trot, and that surely sees him champion elect for the year. Richard
Price came home in 3rd on Sunday, albeit a lap down on the front pairing. Lee's
runner up spot sees him pretty much secure the "Silver" place for 2024
whilst Chris Belford lies in 3rd place overall. The closest class probably all
year has been the one in the Over 60's. It has been a constant between Kevin
Bartle Sr and Mark Peckitt. Kevin has had a couple of wins this year but Mark
has just had the edge throughout, and this 5th victory of the year sees him eke
out another vital point towards the years spoils. Paul Oates was 3rd home on the
day and cements a similar position overall going into the last round
The biggest win of the day came in the Sportsman 4T division. What could be
seen as a slow start for the year has turned on its head for winner Charlie
Edwards. Picking up "Nul Points" in the first 2 rounds, this is his
5th win on the bounce. This two lap win takes him into 3rd overall for 2024. By
just 4 points, and with a runner up spot on Sunday, Ross Pearson still leads the
way for the title. With his 4th runner up place in the year, Paige Felipes keeps
the pressure on Ross. Perhaps a similar scenario can be witnessed in the
Sportsman 2T class. Jodie Lambley further stretches out his lead overall with
another win this time out, his 4th of the campaign. Christian Humphrey didn't
put any points on the table this time out and is leapfrogged by Jake Wilson (3rd
on Sunday/2nd overall) and Tom Fiddies. (5th on Sunday...now laying 3rd for the
year). Warren Myles came home 3rd on the day. Kyle Ardito took the win in the
Slam bike class, thus eating into Neils Tapper's lead, whilst Sean Avison took
another victory in the Trail/Classic bike group. Andrew Malkinson was runner up.
Hats off to the 3 beginners taking part, all of who finished.