Reports by Jonty
Edmunds.Knighter
untouchable in Scotland
Reigning FIM Enduro
3 World Champion David Knight continued his unbeaten run of results in 06 by adding
victory at the second round of the British Enduro Championship, the Grampian MCC organised
Lossiemouth Enduro staged in Scotland. Placing comfortably ahead of Paul Edmondson and
Jake Stapleton on both days of the event aboard his D3-Racing KTM, Knighter finished well
over two minutes ahead of his nearest competitor on day one and close to two minutes ahead
on day two. Adding victory on both days in Scotland to his winning ride at round one of
the series in Norfolk David extended his lead in the overall British Enduro Championship
standings with four rounds remaining.
With eight hours in
the saddle and nine special tests on day one of the Lossiemouth Enduro the opening day
proved to be a demanding one. For David it also proved to be an extremely good one as he
topped each of the days special tests to claim close to a three minutes winning
margin. Revelling in the sandy conditions and clearly enjoying himself on both special
tests David remained unbeaten during the day performing arguably better than he ever has
in a BEC event.
Day two was very much
the same as day one for David. Topping the opening special test by 11 seconds he then
posted a time 23 seconds quicker than any other rider on the days second test before
winning each of the remaining five tests. With his D3-Racing KTM performing faultlessly
David was full of praise for the Grampian MCC event, commenting that the special tests
were some of the best he has ever ridden. With the sixth and seventh tests on day two run
back-to-back the event was brought to a spectacular close where David once again proved
his consistency posting identical times on both test.
Davids next
events will be the second and third rounds of the 06 World Enduro Championship,
which take place in Portugal on May 6/7 and Spain on May 13/14
David Knight:
The Lossiemouth Enduro was one of, if not the, best enduro Ive ever ridden in
it was great fun. Its great that the BEC has returned to Scotland and I just
hope that the Grampian club will run the event as a British championship event next year.
The special tests were world class. Both were completely different to each other and fun
to ride. The Lossiemouth test was really difficult in places because the sand was so soft
but getting to race on the beach was awesome. The Woodside test near the start of the
event had everything single track, a full motocross test, flat turns and woodland.
The check times were spot on as well.
Day one went
really well. I knew I was going to enjoy the tests because the Lossiemouth Forest test is
very similar in places to my training area on the Isle of Man. It was a tiring day though
- I cant remember the last time I rode for eight hours. I was glad to see the end of
the first day because riding for that long in the sand takes it out of you.
I didnt
have any problems all weekend, apart from hitting a tree on one of the tests, which nearly
knocked me clean off my bike. The back-to-back tests at the end of the second day were
great, the atmosphere was like the final motocross at the six days because so many of the
Expert and Clubman riders were watching. All in all it was a great weekend.
Edmondson wins Enduro 2 class in
Scotland
PAR
Homes Honda Racing Fast Eddy rider Paul Edmondson claimed two more Enduro 2 class wins in
the 06 British Enduro Championship when the four-time world champion finished ahead
of Jake Stapleton and Euan McConnell at the Grampian MCC organised Lossiemouth Enduro in
Scotland. In winning the E2 class Paul placed second in the overall results to David
Knight on both days, just as he did at the opening round of the series.
Determined
to remain as the rider to beat in the Enduro 2 class Paul started cautiously on day one in
Scotland before steadily increasing his speed with each passing lap. Posting the fastest
E2 times on all but one of the nine special tests on the opening day, Edmondson eventually
placed over one-minute ahead of his nearest class rival.
On
day two Paul again performed well despite not winning the E2 class by as much as he did on
day one. Making no real mistakes on any of the days seven special tests, Paul opened
up a sizeable E2 class lead early in the day and then maintained his advantage to win by
24 seconds. In winning the E2 class on both days, as well as having topped the E2 class at
the opening round of the 06 BEC series, Paul remains unbeaten so far this season in
the Enduro 2 British Enduro Championship.
Paul
Edmondson: Although I wasnt able to get a close to David Knight on either day
of the event as I hoped I would Im more than happy with the way the second round of
the British championship went for me. Staying at the top of the Enduro 2 class is my main
goal and I was able to do that quite comfortably this weekend, which Im really
pleased with. I didnt have any real dramas on either day although I was a little
slow to get going on day one. Both of the events special tests were first class, the
club did a really great job of running their first BEC event. Day one was really tiring
though as eight hours of riding in sandy conditions was really tough.
Day two was very much the same as day one for me I started steadily
and then felt more comfortable as the day went on. I pushed hard on the test and felt that
I rode well. There are some fast young riders in the E2 class so Im pleased that I
was able to finish ahead of them, like I did at the first round of the championship.
Stapleton and Mcconnel perform well at BEC Lossiemouth Enduro
Electraction TM UK
riders Jake Stapleton and Euan McConnell repeated their good results from the opening
round of the 06 British Enduro Championship at the second round of the BEC series,
the Grampian MCC organised Lossiemouth Enduro staged in Scotland, where the pair placed as
runner-up and in third position respectively in the competitive Enduro 2 class.
Finishing behind
reigning British Enduro Champion Paul Edmondson in the E2 class at the opening round of
the series both Stapleton and McConnell were keen to go one better in Scotland and claim
the top E2 spot. Frustratingly for both riders they again placed behind the former
four-time world champion but again showed to have good speed and consistency and posted
some impressive special test times during the event.
Finishing in third
position overall and as runner-up in the Enduro 2 class on both days Jake Stapleton
started the event steadily finding the deep sand of the Lossiemouth Forest test difficult
to master. Performing better with each passing lap Jake finished day one behind Edmondson,
just as he had at the opening round of the series held in late February. On day two Jake
again started steadily before increasing his speed and, like all riders, enjoyed the
events special tests. Remaining upright on the special tests all weekend Jake
claimed the E2 class runner-up spot again on day two making it three second place finishes
in the E2 class of the 06 British Enduro Championship so far this season.
Competing in his
home round of the BEC Euan McConnell saw his result affected by a carburetion problem,
which was later traced to a worn needle. Despite being unable to get to the bottom of the
problem during the event Euan performed well and placed as third best E2 class rider
despite failing to finish as close to his team-mate Jake as he had hoped. Finding it
difficult to get to grips with the sandy beach side special test all weekend, on day two
Euan wasnt able to reproduce his speed from day one yet still managed to claim third
in the E2 class.
Jake Stapleton:
It was a good weekend for me really and pretty uneventful, which I guess is a good
thing. I felt a bit tight on the sandy test in the forest early on day one and made lots
of small mistakes, which cost me some time. I got into it a bit better towards the end of
the day though and felt good on the test with the motocross track in it. My bike was
working really well and I felt that my riding was good as well. I just need to be faster
at the start of the day. Im ok after a lap but I need to work on being faster right
from the start.
Day
two was very much the same as day one I started steadily and then got faster. I
felt really good towards the end of the day. I was tired towards the end of the second
day, but I think most riders were after the eight-hour first day. All in all it was a
great weekend.
Euan McConnell:
It was a great event but my result was spoiled a bit by a problem with my
bikes jetting. We tried everything to fix it, even changing the ignition, but we
couldnt fix it during the event. After the race we put a new needle in the bike,
which was exactly the same and with the clip in the same position and the bike was
perfect. I guess its just one of those things.
Trying to work out what the problem was distracted me a bit during the race
and I didnt really get to grips with the sandy test, which cost me some time. I was
pretty happy with the way things went on day one really though and I felt that I was
riding well enough. The test close to the start of the event was awesome, I really enjoyed
it and felt good on it. I wanted to be a little closer to Jake but I guess considering the
carburetion problem I had Im happy enough with third in the E2 class.
My speed dropped off a bit on day two but I still managed to finish third in
the E2 class so Im happy with that. I guess the carburetion problem is just one of
those things that can happen. Im learning more about four-stroke jetting all the
time and am really enjoying riding the bike.
Ricky Mair and Wyn Hughes fly the Husqvarna flag in Scotland
With Daryl Bolter,
Husky Sport Husqvarnas number one rider in this years British Enduro
Championship, still unable to compete due to having recently had surgery to repair a
broken Scaphoid, MPS Husqvarna rider Ricky Mair finished the second round of the 06
BEC series, the Grampian MCC organised Lossiemouth Enduro, as the best placed Husqvarna
rider. Competing in a round of the British Enduro Championship in his homeland for the
first time ever Ricky placed 10th in the overall Championship class results on
both days, his best ever BEC result.
Determined to make
up for the disappointment of having not finished the opening round of the 06 BEC
series Ricky missed placing third in the Enduro 1 class by just six seconds on day one
after producing some impressively quick special test times aboard his WR125. On day two
Ricky dropped just one place in the E1 class to finish fifth despite again putting in a
spirited, and highly entertaining, performance. Also scoring valuable championship points
in Scotland was Husqvarna rider Chris Hockey. Winner of the E1 class at the opening round
of the season, Chris placed seventh in class on both days aboard his 250cc four-stroke.
The second round of
the British Enduro Championship saw former Championship class front-runner and Husky Sport
Husqvarna team manager Wyn Hughes return to BEC competition having opted to complete
just for fun aboard a WR250. More than a little race rusty Wyn showed the
Expert class youngsters that he still knows how to perform in the sand and finished as
best Enduro 2 class rider and second overall Expert on day one before topping the overall
Expert class results on day two.
Jonty
Edmunds Photography
Brodawel
Llanbister
Llandrindod Wells
Powys
Wales, GB
LD1 6TH
T: 0044 (0)7779 091014
E: jonty.edmunds@attglobal.net / jontyedmunds@journalist.com
Skype: jonty.edmunds