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Natterjack 2004 |
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| Edmondson
tops final round of the '04 BEC Reports
& photo by Jonty Edmunds
Paul Edmondson: "It's been a good weekend for me but a difficult one in some ways. With the race sandwiched between two world rounds it meant that I had to borrow a bike because my race bike and pretty much everything else needed is on its way to Germany. The event turned out to be really good practice for me and without the pressure to perform I feel that I rode well. "It was clear to see that the organisers had put a huge amount of effort into the event's motocross test and it was easily up to either European or World Championship standard. The event had got itself a bit of a reputation for being boring to ride but I really enjoyed it. "I didn't have any problems on either day and I was watching what I was doing because of racing in Germany this weekend. It's always nice to end the season with a win, it's just a shame that the series wasn't all round s to count. I'm looking forward to next year's championship now, and hopefully if that is all rounds to count, there'll be great racing all season and a stronger Championship class entry at the Natterjack." Si Wakely: "Saturday was really good because I got fourth overall. The day started badly because I fell twice when the test was flat - it was hard on a 125 because it felt as if my 125 kept sinking. I managed to pull the time back with some good runs through the cross-country test so, yeah, it ended up being a really good day. "I had a bit of a disaster on day two. I fell on both the first and second motocross tests, and lost a lot of time with my second crash. My front wheel washed out on one of the hills, which meant that I took ages getting going again. My last couple of tests I managed to pull some time back but I lost too much early in the day. Despite that I'm really happy with my weekend." Results - Day one: Championship class overall 1. Paul Edmondson (Honda Racing Fast Eddy) 1806.91 seconds; 2. Daryl Bolter 1847.55; 3. Edward Jones 1876.85; 4. Simon Wakely (Honda Racing Fast Eddy) 1879.07; 5. Jamie Lewis 1884.87; 6. Dylan Jones 1891.21; 7. Ryan Voase 1894.57; 8. Wayne Braybrook 1895.55; 9. Chris Hay 1899.71; 10. Tim Lewis 1903.51; 11. Chris Hockey 1915.26; 12. Richard Hay 1918.65; 13. Steve Hunt 1937.83; 14. Andrew Edwards 1943.22; 15. Chris Tett 1952.02; 16. Rowan Jones 1953.69; 17. Kev Murray 1954.92; 18. Richard Roper 1974.87; 19. Gareth Edmunds 2023.67; 20. Robert Jones 2031.47; Results - Day two: Championship class overall 1. Paul Edmondson (Honda Racing Fast Eddy) 1500.88; 2. Daryl Bolter 1557.8; 3. Ryan Voase 1566.63; 4. Edward Jones 1568.6; 5. Tim Lewis 1575.92; 6. Wayne Braybrook 1587.54; 7. Jamie Lewis 1590.43; 8. Chris Hay 1600.67; 9. Andrew Edwards 1610.09; 10. Chris Hockey 1610.32; 11. Robert Jones 1611.82; 12. Dylan Jones 1612.01; 13. Simon Wakely (Honda Racing Fast Eddy) 1625.87; 14. Richard Hay 1628.29; 15. Chris Tett 1630.07; 16. Kev Murray 1631.51; 17. Steve Hunt 1638.4; 18. Richard Roper 1681.35; 19. Gareth Edmunds 1721.3; 20. Chris Hoper 1854.37 D3-Racing KTM Results Service In the absence of '04 overall British Enduro Champion David Knight, who had to travel to Germany to take part in an important tyre test prior to the final round of this years World Enduro Championship, Welshman Edward Jones was left to fly the D3-Racing KTM flag at the final round of the British Enduro Championship where he claimed strong third and fourth place finishes in the event's overall results. Having already secured the runner-up spot in the Over 175cc two-stroke class with consistent finishes at the Breckland, Hafren and Crychan Enduros, Ed placed second in the Over 175cc class on day one despite being frustrated at having been unable to finish as runner-up in the overall results. After recording a good result at the end of the first day, despite feeling as if he could have ridden better, day two started badly for Edward as a broken clutch plate hampered his performance on the opening test. Posting a test time well over 10 seconds slower than his two later runs through the motocross tests, Edward found himself pushed into fourth overall and third in the Over 175cc class. Had it not been for his problem Edward would likely have placed second overall. Despite his disappointment Ed claimed third overall in the REME organised event, an event that brought the '04 BEC series to a positive close. Edward and the D3-Racing KTM team's next event is the final round of the World Enduro Championship in Germany, this coming weekend. Edward Jones: "It's been a fairly eventful weekend for me. I wasn't happy with the way I rode on day one but got a pretty good result, which I was a little bit surprised with to be honest. I felt that I should have beaten Daryl, but third still wasn't a bad result. The frustrating thing is that rode much better on day two but because of a problem with my bike my result is one position worse. "I broke a clutch plate in the first test on day two, which is one of those things, and had a few mobile chicanes to deal with, which lost me some time. I'm happy with the way I've ridden - it would have been nice to have got the result I feel I should have got if it hadn't been for the problems, but I guess that's racing. Having said that I've finished the year second in the 250cc two-stroke class behind Edmondson, which I'm really pleased with." Husky Sport Enduro Racing team Husqvarna rider Daryl Bolter brought his first season as a Championship class rider to a winning close at the REME organised Natterjack Enduro when he claimed the title of 125cc British Enduro Champion after topping the eighth litre class and finishing as overall runner-up to Paul Edmondson on both days. Entering the event as one of several riders all capable of winning the eighth litre title, Bolter showed exactly why he produced one of the stand-out British performances at the International Six days Enduro in Poland as he claimed the title in the best possible way - with two convincing class wins. Knowing that a win on day one would ease the pressure and allow him to start day two needing just a top three class finish to secure the championship, Daryl started the day a little too keen to win and struggled to find his rhythm. Once into his stride there was no stopping the former motocross rider as he topped the 125cc class by 32 seconds. Wanting to clinch the title with a win on day two, but not wanting to risk anything, Daryl again managed to claim the overall runner-up spot as well as comfortably topping the eighth litre class. For Husky Sport's Over 175cc class rider Chris Hockey the Natterjack proved to be a frustrating but enjoyable event as the Eastern Centre rider placed in 11th and 10th in the overall classification. Breaking his rear brake lever on the cross-country test on day one, and then taking a wrong turn and crashing soon after on the motocross test early on day two, Chris finished the event a little disappointed but pleased to have finished third in the competitive Over 175cc British Enduro Championship. Daryl Bolter: "It's been a great weekend for me. I knew coming into the event that there were four riders in the 125cc class that could quite easily walk away with the championship so I knew that I'd have to be on top of my game. Having ridden well at the six days I knew that I could get the win but I was a bit nervous. I guess that it was because I knew that there was a lot at stake because I never normally get nervous. "Day one started well but I was erratic as hell on the first test. I just wanted to win on Saturday so that the pressure would be off me on Sunday, which worked out just as I'd hoped. I settled down a little bit more on day two and rode within myself. I didn't want to ride on the limit because I wanted to walk away from the event with the title. Finishing as runner-up on both days to Paul Edmondson was awesome. I couldn't have asked for a better weekend really. "It's been a great season for me really, the only thing that spoiled it a bit was breaking my wrist at the European Enduro Championship round in Italy. Winning the 125cc British Enduro Championship, the Welsh Two Day Enduro, getting a gold medal at my first ISDE and winning a test there, as well as placing sixth in the European championship, it really has been a great year. I want to try and build on that now and try and compete in more international events next year. I'm really looking forward to next season." Chris Hockey: "Day one was going pretty well until I broke my rear brake lever off on a rock on the cross-country test, which cost me loads of time. Apart from that the rest of the day was really good. Day two started really well because I was fourth on the first test. On the second test I followed the same line out of one of the corners but it went off the track and I had to turn around and come back down the hill. Then I started to push too hard and crashed, which spoiled that test and cost me heaps of time. I was really happy with my tests when I didn't have any problems. I'm just disappointed not to have finished a little higher each day but pleased to be third in the 250cc two-stroke championship" Wayne Braybrook – Honda Racing Team Sandiford Having already secured the 250/4 stroke class the trip to the Natterjack was one of pure desire to ride. Wayne won the event in 2002 aboard a 450 /4 stroke Honda and with that true combination of an MX test and a full Enduro Test, the event is always well worth the effort. Beaten on the first day by Top MX rider Jamie Lewis after a couple of crashes mid MX test. Wayne was determined to prove that Enduros are a combination of more than one discipline and a couple of storming Cross Country Tests on Day 2 resumed normal service with Wayne heading home the smaller capacity 4 strokes once again and 7th overall in the combined standings for the event. Our Expert Rider, Justin Wilson finished off his year extremely well and enjoyed both days immensely. Placed 2nd 250cc/ 4 stroke rider behind class winner Tom Sagar really gave him a boost to aim even higher for 2005 BEC round 4 press release from Team Charfield KTM (Gary Clarke and Flipper Kingston) Not wanting to seem ungrateful to the ACU for allowing BEC riders to drop one weekend from their Championship scores, the team skipped the Crychan and moved straight on to the Natterjack. As usual, this meant digging around in the garage to find a ten-year old trials tyre for the rear. Skillful logistical planning helped the team to arrive at Longmoor camp at exactly the same time as last year. Sadly, last year's event was in September, when there was enough daylight left to walk the special tests. An early start on Saturday meant that at least the major hazards on the Enduro Test could be viewed on foot before the race. And with no more time left, the team decided that the MX test all looks the same from the seat of the bike, anyway. Cementing his place as the team's number 2 rider, Paul 'Flipper' Kingston posted a slug-like 9'21'' opening MX test. This lead to enquiries about the new 'bucket and spade' award for those riders whose test times can only be explained by the desire to repeatedly stop and build a sandcastle. On the day 2, Flipper again lived up to his sobriquet by drowning the bike in a foot of water. Attempting to cross a ditch near the start area, Flipper lay down for a rest, taking the bike with him and filling the airbox and carb with muddy water. (photo attached) That put paid to his weekend and made it a clean sweep of DNFs in this year's championship. Gary had a better weekend. Fortunately, the organisers agreed that it was unsporting to mark noise-tested riders down as late, when they'd been told to add a five minute delay after being stopped for a test. The published results for Saturday were corrected, leaving Gary with a 125 class points finish and a Clubman Gold Medal. Once again, the Natterjack proved to be the best organised and most enjoyable BEC round bar none. A fast, flowing course and impeccable organisation make it the undoubted event of the year. Results. Photos More photos available from Andy Yates
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Honda
Racing Fast Eddy rider Paul Edmondson claimed victory on both days at
the final round of the British Enduro Championship, the REME organised
Natterjack Enduro, bringing the HRFE team's first season of domestic
competition to a close in the best possible way. With the final round of
the World Enduro Championship taking place in Germany this coming Friday
and Saturday, Edmondson was careful not to 'do anything stupid' and
jeopardise the runner-up spot he holds in Enduro 2 class of the WEC
series. Claiming victory on both days ahead of British Junior Trophy
team rider Daryl Bolter, Edmondson finished 40 seconds ahead on day one
and just under one-minute ahead on day two. For the HRFE team's 125cc
class rider Simon Wakely the weekend proved to be a mixed one in terms
of results as the youngster finished in fourth overall on day one and in
13th overall on day two following crashes on the opening two special
tests. With the event marking not only the end of Simon's first season
with the Fast Eddy Honda squad, it also marked the end of his first full
season as a Championship class rider. Having found things difficult at
the opening round of the BEC back in March, Bolter again proved at the
Natterjack that he is now a Championship rider to be reckoned with,
despite being the youngest rider in the class.