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Debbie does Rhayader
A crew's eye view +
the official report
The 2007 Rhayader 2 Day British
Enduro Championship.
Special test action at
Rhayader.
Report & Photos - Debbie Tucker &
Jonty Edmonds
1st:
Jonty Edmonds official
report...
'07 British Enduro Championship Rnd 4: Rhayader Enduro.
Euan McConnell is the '07 Enduro 3 class British Enduro Champion. Topping the E3 class on both days of the fourth round of the '07 BEC series, the Rhayader Enduro staged in Mid Wales, Euan secured the E3 title following two solid performances aboard his 300cc TM. Finishing in fourth overall and as the highest placing E3 class rider on day one Euan claimed an impressive overall runner-up result on day two, finishing just four seconds behind event winner Tom Sagar.
Si Wakely on the test
With dry and dusty conditions at the Rhayader Enduro contrasting massively to the rain and mud of the opening two rounds of the '07 BEC series, this year's Rhayader Enduro proved to be a little easier than expected despite several tight checks on day one. Producing his best form of the championship to date Euan placed in fourth overall on day one, comfortably ahead of fifth placed rider Ed Jones and only eight seconds adrift of third place finisher Si Wakely. Making no major mistakes on any of the three timed tests a slightly off the pace final test stopped Euan placing higher.
Current European Enduro Championship Junior E2 class leader Si Wakely produced Husqvarna's best result, finishing third overall in the Championship class on day one and in fourth overall on day two. Producing two solid results Si claimed a deserved third place finish in the event's combined overall results. Disappointingly for Husqvarna Husky Sport Enduro 1 class rider Daryl Bolter was unable to compete following an injury sustained to his right shoulder at the recent WEC GP of Slovakia.
Euan McConnell 2007 Enduro 3 class British Enduro
Champion
With the Rhayader Enduro the penultimate round of the '07 BEC series MPS Racing Husqvarna's Si Wakely hoped to continue his recent run of good form but knew that just like last year competition would be fierce at the top of the Championship class in the Mid Wales event. But day one started well for Wakely as he recorded the second fastest time on the opening day's first test before going on to post the fastest time on test two. With the majority of Championship class riders staying on time during the day despite several tight checks the third and final test of the day didn't go quite as well as the first two for Si and he posted the third quickest time, which placed him in third overall at the end of the day.
With Daryl Bolter unable to compete it was left to Husky Sport's Chris Hockey to fly the Husky flag in the E1 class. Following a steady opening test Chris performed well on tests two and three to claim a solid seventh overall aboard his TE250 and as runner-up in the E1 class.
On day two the hillside special test once again decided the Championship class finishing order and determined to improve on his day one result Euan started the day well finishing as runner-up to day one winner Tom Sagar on the fist test. Going on to again finish second behind Tom on the day's second test Euan, competing as one of the last riders in the Championship class, then finished as runner-up on the last test to Paul Edmondson and in doing so claimed a well deserved overall runner-up result, as well as comfortably topping the E3 class.
Also producing impressive results for TM at the Rhayader Enduro were Expert class riders Jamie Paget and Gordon Clarke. Despite Gordon throwing away the overall runner-up spot on day one after clocking in one-minute early to claim an eventual finishing position of 15th, Jamie finished just 19 seconds behind class winner Gethin Price in fifth. On day two Jamie rode superbly and topped the overall Expert class while Gordon topped the E3 class with third overall.
Wakely wasn't able to perform quiet as well as he did on day one despite never being too far behind eventual event winner Tom Sagar. Third quickest on the opening test Si was then bumped down one spot on the second test to fourth. With little to separate the top five Championship class riders Si recorded the fifth fastest time on the event's final test to place fourth overall on day two and third in the competitive Enduro 2 class.
Although putting in three extremely consistent tests on the second day's competition at the Rhayader Enduro Chris Hockey was unable to repeat his E1 class runner-up spot from day one and finished fifth in class.
Chris Hockey in the
marshes
Euan McConnell: "I really enjoyed the Rhayader Enduro. The checks in the various different forests were drier than they've been for a long time so they weren't anywhere near as difficult as they could have been, and even though the check times were pretty tight on day one they weren't quite tight enough to change the results at the top of the Championship class.
"I didn't really have any problem during the event. The opening test on day one was incredibly slippery but I rode pretty well. The only two mistakes I made were riding between the time check at the end of each lap and the start of the special test - I crashed twice there during the weekend.
"I didn't have any bad tests on day one but none of them were quite as quick as I'd have liked. I was just a few seconds too slow on each one. The second day was much better though - I was on the pace from the start of the day and put in three consistent tests."
Daryl Bolter: "I knew that the chances of me racing were slim but I hoped that I'd be ok to ride as things have been going really well for me this year in the BEC. I tried to ride on the Thursday before the event but there was no way I'd be able to finish the race. The shoulder that I injured in Slovakia was just too painful. I tried riding on the Thursday before the race but I couldn't hold on properly over breaking bumps."
Si Wakely: "The event went pretty well, I'm happy with the way I rode. It was really close at the top of the Championship class on both days. I was pleased with my third place result on day one. Although it was really slippery I had a good opening test finishing second to Paul Edmondson and then a great second test, which I won. My third test was a little bit slow though. But I'm still pleased with third overall.
"The going wasn't too difficult, although you had to push on and not make any mistakes on the tight checks. The second day was pretty similar to the first for me. I had two good tests and then my third test wasn't quite as quick. I needed a really good final test to get third again but Tom, Euan and Paul were all really quick and I ended up fourth. Finishing third overall is great though."
Jonty
2nd: Debbie's crew's
eye report...
Enduro wife, mom & support crew - Debbie Tucker writes...
What a great weekend we had, Mark and Richard both rode (Debbies husband and son). Rich started at 9.21 and Mark at 9.22 am each day and it was straight into the motocross test. Rich seems to handle the test well especially the whoops and jumps etc., but the tight corners seemed to catch them both out - and both decided that they need much more practice on a motocross track to get their times closer to the top clubmen riders and the test also gave them the desire to learn to ride rutts better, - then off they shot into the Welsh hills for what they said was a very enjoyable ride.
But a couple of checks were tight and Rich dropped 2 mins on the second tight check, as after the test his back brake failed, so he had to be a bit careful. We bled the brake it on fuel stop 1, but it didn't seem any better. So we drove back to the main pit area, as we had the brake fluid and a syringe that he would need to make a better job of it.
Rich finally got the brake working again and was clean on time after that. He thouroughly enjoyed the ride during the day, especially as he was wearing a neck brace for the first time and didn't get any pains in his neck. Which has been a problem for him on the longer enduros, so that was well worth the money, - blisters still a problem though. But as he is currently training to become a bricklayer, soon soft hands will be a thing of the past!
Mark stayed clean on time all day, his 07 KTM going like a dream. Sadly he was not able to get Metzler, Michelin or Pirelli tyres - as they seem to be in short supply, and the Bridgestone he used were taking a hammering.
After fuelling for the last time at fuel stop 1, we headed back to base to wait for them both to come home. It was a beautiful day now, after the mornings very heavy and wet hill fog had cleared. This made the special test for the championship and expert riders extremly hard - as it looked like riding on glass. But also the sun was low and hence visibility toward it very poor.
The morning mist rolling down from the hills
A quick thanks to the guys who pulled me out of the ditch I drove into at fuel check 2 (someone had to do it )!
Day 2, a lovely day from the out set. But the MX special test track was drying fast in the sun and berms were really full of very loose dust. Both Mark and Rich made the test in reasonable times this time, but of course father and son being a minute apart meant serious competition and Rich just had to beat his dad! He did this just, but later in the day on the last test, Rich was trying too hard and those corners got him everytime - he copped it twice, so mark had the better of him then.
Only one lap to do on day 2 and the course was the opposite way round, plus the tight checks were a little tighter. But both said that it seemed easier that way round, so neither dropped any time all day. Which of course meant that Richard had beaten Mark by one place. - Not a bad effort for his first full 2 day.
Being such a short day for their class meant that we were able to pack up camp and watch the championship riders do their final test then make our way home by 8.00pm, re-living both days events all the way!
It was a super weekend and of course now we're planning the next one ;o)
Debbie
RHAYADER RESULTS
'07 Metzeler British Enduro Championship
Rhayader Enduro - day 1 (overall)
1. Tom Sagar (KTM) 1659.76
2. Paul Edmondson (Suzuki) 1661.28
3. Si Wakely (Husqvarna) 1668.27
4. Euan McConnell (Electraction TM UK) 1676.99
5. Ed Jones (KTM) 1713.62
6. Paul Bolton (Honda) 1719.36
7. Chris Hockey (Husqvarna) 1737.52
8. Ashley Wood (Honda) 1745.05
9. Greg Evans (KTM) 1760.75
10. Lee Edmondson (Honda) 1787.43
'07 Metzeler British Enduro Championship
Rhayader Enduro - day 2 (overall)
1. Tom Sagar (KTM) 1627.34
2. Euan McConnell (Electraction TM UK) 1631.43
3. Paul Edmondson (Suzuki) 1631.90
4. Si Wakely (Husqvarna) 1638.21
5. Jason Thomas (Yamaha) 1643.77
6. Greg Evans (KTM) 1660.07
7. Ed Jones (KTM) 1689.09
8. Darren Wheeler (Yamaha) 1700.63
9. Lee Edmondson (Honda) 1701.73
10. Chris Hockey (Husqvarna) 1719.52
Photos: Jonty Edmunds & Debbie Tucker.
See more of Debbies fabulous photos: www.photoboxgallery.com/enduro
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