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'07 British Enduro Championship - round 5:
Natterjack Enduro
Bolter pushed
Edmondson on day1.
Fast Eddy Edmondson Blitz's
Both Days to Win
Ex. World Champ Paul Edmondson was given a
good run for his money on day 1 by Daryl Bolter and scarped the days win by
one second. But on day 2 he stamped his authority on the pack winning the
day by a clear nine seconds from Euan McConnell .
Bolter wins '07 Enduro 1 BEC title
Husky Sport Husqvarna rider Daryl Bolter has well and truly put his disappointing, injury ruined '06 season behind him by adding the '07 Enduro 1 British Enduro Championship title to the Senior E1 European Enduro Championship he claimed one week ago in Poland. Placing a close second to Paul Edmondson in the opening day's overall results at the fifth and final round of the '07 BEC series, the Natterjack Enduro, Bolter claimed his second British Enduro 1 championship in style by claiming victory in the E1 class on both days. Joining Bolter in bringing Husqvarna's successful '07 BEC campaign to a close MPS Racing Husqvarna's Si Wakely claimed fifth overall aboard his WR250, just one week after he claimed the Junior E2/3 European Enduro Championship title.
Marking the end of the five-round '07 British Enduro Championship the Natterjack Enduro provided plenty of end-of-season drama as a tight and technical enduro test and a spectacular motocross test ensured close racing action during each of the two days of competition. For Bolter it was an event at which he needed to do well. Having been forced to miss the Rhayader Enduro due to a broken collarbone the WR125 mounted rider was well aware that he could afford no mistakes if he was to claim his second E1 BEC title. Starting day one well Daryl performed strongly during each of the six tests and as well as comfortably topping the E1 class he came within less than half a second of beating overall day one winner Paul Edmondson.
Knowing that securing the E1 BEC title was more important than trying to better his day one result Bolter matched speed with consistency and put in another great performance and claimed third overall behind Edmondson and E3 class rider Euan McConnell on day two, as well as claiming the all important E1 class win.
Although claiming sixth overall and finishing as the third placed E2 class rider on day one, MPS Husqvarna's Si Wakely was a little disappointed that he wasn't able to finish inside the overall top three at the final round of the BEC series. Fresh from claiming his first European Enduro Championship Si saw a troubled opening enduro test on day one hamper his result despite some impressive times on the sandy motocross test. On day two Si improved his overall result by one position finishing in fifth and just six seconds behind newly crowned overall '07 BEC winner Tom Sagar.
Si Wakely on the Natterjack MX
test.
Daryl Bolter: "Obviously it's great to win my second Enduro 1 British Enduro Championship on a 125. Having had such a bad season last year with all my injuries I've been surprised how quickly I've been able to re-find my form. Unfortunately breaking my collarbone and having to miss the Rhayader stopped me from getting a better position in the overall BEC series but considering how well Greg Evans has ridden this year winning the E1 title is a fantastic achievement. In '06 I had things a lot easier as far as the E1 championship was concerned, but this year Greg has pushed me every step of the way.
"This weekend has gone really well. Greg took a few seconds out of me on the first test, which made me think I was going to have to fight all the way to the end of the event. But I got my head down and things went really well. I started fast and seemed to get faster and faster. I put in some really good enduro tests and at the end of the day I topped the E1 class quite comfortably and was less than half a second behind Paul Edmondson in the overall results.
"On Sunday I was just riding sensibly. I tried to put in a good opening test and then just made sure that I didn't make any mistakes. I'm well chuffed that I've been able to win both a European and British championship in the same season."
Si Wakely: "The first day didn't go that well to be honest. I was good on the motocross test, although I fell on the second lap, but what really messed me up was the enduro test. I messed up loads of corners on the first lap and then fell near the end. I lost a lot of time that lap and was way back in the results and had to fight to work my way up the results.
"The second day was better. Maybe it's because of racing in the final round of the European championship last weekend, or just because it's the end of the season, but I felt tired. I still rode pretty well on the motocross test. My final enduro test was also quite good so the event ended well.
"Winning the European title is great, as well as having a good British championship season. Everyone involved in the MPS Husqvarna team has worked really hard, I can't thank them enough."
McConnell finishes as runner-up at BEC final
Electraction TM UK rider Euan McConnell has brought his participation in the '07 British Enduro Championship to an impressive close with an overall runner-up result behind Paul Edmondson at the REME organised Natterjack Enduro. Securing the '07 Enduro 3 BEC title at the penultimate round of the series three weeks ago, Euan produced some of his best form this year to top the E3 class on both days aboard his 300cc TM. In addition to McConnell's impressive result Veteran class rider Adrian Lappin claimed two day wins aboard his 450cc TM while Cornish youngster Jamie Paget performed well in the Expert class coming home ninth on day one and eighth on day two.
McConnell raised his game on
day2.
Despite having already claimed the '07 Enduro 3 championship, and having been unable to properly prepare for the Natterjack event due to his training bike having been sent to Chile for this year's ISDE, Euan performed well on both days claiming fourth overall on day one and second overall on day two to claim the overall runner-up position at the end of the two-day competition. Despite not expecting too much ahead of the first day's competition Euan topped the opening special tests having ridden a little bit too aggressively and having had several near misses. Opting to calm things down a bit ahead of the five remaining tests Euan began to steadily improve his pace test after test and finished the day fourth, just seven seconds behind round four winner Tom Sagar and comfortably ahead in the E3 class.
Realising that his pace on day one wasn't far off that of winner Paul Edmondson Euan opted to attack day two with the intention of making life difficult for the former four-time world champion. Fourth overall on the opening test Euan then placed third on test two before continuing to get faster with each passing test. Come the end of the day the Scott placed just nine seconds adrift of Edmondson and comfortably ahead of third place rider Daryl Bolter.
Euan's Enduro 1 class TM team-mate Tim Lewis failed to finish either day of the Natterjack due to having fractured his sternum at the Rhayader Enduro. Hoping that he would be ok Tim found things simply too painful on day one and despite an increased amount of pain killers on day two he decided to withdraw from the event four tests into the day.
Euan McConnell: "My practice bike is on its way to Chile for the ISDE, which meant that I had to go to Ireland last weekend to prepare for the Natterjack and wasn't able to ride in any sand. Because of that I wasn't expecting too much on day one but I won the opening test, which was a nice surprise. I was riding way over my head though so I backed it down a bit after that. I struggled on the enduro test because it's so tight and twisty and not well suited to bigger rider - I really struggled getting my bike around some of the tightest corners. I managed to pick my pace up as the day went on and towards the end of the day I wasn't too far off the pace. Fourth overall was pretty good.
"I had a real good go at trying to win on day two. I managed to stay upright on all the tests for the first time ever and my bike worked perfectly. I wasn't able to beat Edmondson but second is a great end to the season. I'm fairly happy with the way my British season's gone. It's hard not competing in a full international championship because by the time the BEC started this year several riders already had quite a few overseas events under their belts. Despite playing catch up things have got better and better and the year has ended with two really good results."
2007 Metzeler British Enduro Championship
Natterjack Enduro - day 1
Championship class (overall)
1. Paul Edmondson (Suzuki) 1795.45; 2. Daryl Bolter (Husky Sport Husqvarna) 1796.07; 3. Tom Sagar (KTM) 1802.37; 4. Euan McConnell (TM) 1809.93; 5. Jason Thomas (Suzuki) 1824.83; 6. Si Wakely (MPS Racing Husqvarna) 1838.34; 7. Greg Evans (KTM) 1846.61; 8. Edward Jones (KTM) 1874.91; 9. Ricky Mair (Suzuki) 1886.36; 10. Paul Bolton (Honda) 1891.1
2007 Metzeler British Enduro Championship
Natterjack Enduro - day 2
Championship class (overall)
1. Paul Edmondson (Suzuki) 1715.63; 2. Euan McConnell (TM) 1724.93; 3. Daryl Bolter (Husky Sport Husqvarna) 1743.98; 4. Tom Sagar (KTM) 1752.13; 5. Si Wakely (Husqvarna) 1758.47; 6. Jason Thomas (Suzuki) 1783.18; 7. Greg Evans (KTM) 1804.97; 8. Edward Jones (KTM) 1809.02; 9. Ricky Mair (Suzuki) 1827.84; 10. Robert Jones (Yamaha) 1836.13
Photos: Jonty Edmunds
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