Results:
2002
Runner-up 2002 Clubman BEC
3rd 2002 Hawkstone Fast Eddy (Expert 125)
1st Clubman at Ian MacKenzie memorial enduro - Scottish Enduro Championship
2003
7th September
2nd Overall – 1st 125cc
Orkney Motorcycle Club
Rob Mitchell Memorial Beach Race
Once again the O.M.C held a fantastic event which brought up some of Scotland’s top motocrossers and enduro riders to the Orkney Isles.
A decent start saw me lying in about 7th for the majority of the race aboard a YZ 125. The bigger bikes had a massive advantage on the long straights but I managed to get all back over the rest of the sandy course.
In the final hour, I moved up to 2nd and stayed there until the end. John Soutar Jnr aboard a Suzuki RM 250 took top honour.
I would like to thank John Mackenzie (CHEDDAR), Kenny Sutherland, Jackie Reid and Peter Mitchell for the help and entertainment over the weekend. I would also like to give a big thank you to John Keldy for letting me use his bike!
14th September
13th Pro class – 2nd 125cc
Hawkstone Fast Eddy
Shrewsbury
The final round of the Fast Eddy Race Series was held at Hawkstone Park near Shrewsbury.
For the event I borrowed a KTM SX 125 from John MacKenzie. I started badly and fell on the first lap at a pile up. I rode as hard as I could and was in 15th by the end of the first lap.
Throughout the race, I caught and passed a lot of Championship Class Enduro riders and made it into the top ten. The small tank on the SX meant I had to stop 4 times for fuel. This relegated me back to 13th behind Andy Cripps.
My fastest lap was 7th fastest lap of the day and so I was happy with my performance.
David "Knighter" Knight wiped the floor with his competitors to win the Pro Class Series.
20th/21st September
2nd Expert overall – 1st 250cc
Natterjack Enduro
As I wait anxiously for my 04 Gas Gas 125 to arrive, I have to borrow bikes for events which I am not at all happy about.
John Shirt Jnr bravely gave me a shot of his 04 Gas Gas EC 250 for the Natterjack Enduro.
Having never ridden the 250cc before, I was a little rusty to say the least. I crashed on the first test of the weekend and this put me 15 seconds down on the leader from the start.
I tried hard and won the next MX test and cross country tests to put myself 2nd at the end of Saturday, 4 seconds behind James Gammons. Unfortunately, the cross-country tests were scrapped and I was relegated to 3rd and 10 seconds behind the leader.
Sunday was a different day and I put in some good MX test times to put me at the top of the Experts and times that would have been 8th in the Championship Class. My Cross country times were poor and falling twice on the final motocross test meant I ended the weekend 2nd Expert losing out on the win by 1.03 seconds!
I am dissappointed at not winning the event but feel that I done well jumping onto a foreign bike and finishing as high as I did.
Congratulations to Chris Hay KTM 125, 2003 BRITISH 125CC CHAMPION ! A BIG THANK YOU, TO ALL PEOPLE INVOLVED IN ALL EVENTS, ESEPCIALLY, MY DAD, CLIVE THORSBY, VIC NOBLE, JOHN SHIRT JNR, JOHN LITTLE AND JIMMY
Carlsberg don't make enduros, but if they did it would probably be the John Banks!
I had been looking forward to the Banks as I felt it was time to redeem myself after a terrible season in 2003. I enjoy the events the Diss club hold as the challenge is not only among the riders on the test but also against the course in the final few laps.
Last year I rode the Banks in the Experts for the first time and was 2nd after the special tests behind Derrick Edmondson but lost 2 minutes on the final lap, this relegated me to 6th.
Although I am remaining in the Experts for next year, I decided to enter the Championship class, as part of my training for next season.
My first test went well, 10th overall, 4th 125 with only 0.52 seconds separating me and class leader Daryl Bolter. A lap later it was time for the second and final special test. Everything was going ace, no major mistakes until the final corner when I went over the top of a berm and out off the ropes, I had to u-turn and rejoin the test . This mistake must have cost me at least 5 seconds. If I hadn't made that mistake, I would have maybe been lying 4th overall after the tests. Unfortunatly I was in 11th.
It was now down to staying on time for the remainder of the day. I had to use my 1-minute allowance on the two final laps but stayed clean on time.
This was a major personal acheivement for me as it was my first outing in the Championship Class and the Banks is said to be one of the toughest events - time wise - all year.
Well worth the 11 hour drive!
This was my final major event of the year, and so from now to Breckland I have to get training so as to Blitz the Expert Class next season!
A big congratulations to Paul Chatham who finished 5th in the Clubman Class on his first attempt and also to Chris Stewart who was 7th Expert after the test but sadly had mechanical problems on the going.
I would like to thank my Mum and Dad, Clive Thorsby, John Shirt Jnr and Vic Noble and Charlie MacKenzie (www.scottishenduros.co.uk) for all their help this season!
Ricky
2003
2nd Expert Rnd 1 BEC Breckland
Trentham Gardens Fast Eddy 6th AprilI was hoping my second visit to "the gardens" would be more of a success than my first. It turned out to be worse.
It was my first Pro Class Fast Eddy so I was really nervous. I got a decent start behind Richard Hay but then got stuck behind a fallen Jason Fraser. I managed to get going and into a decent position and then had a topper of a crash shortly before the time control. I don’t know what exactly happened but I think the back-end flew up and threw me over the bars. A bit dazed I got up to see that my headlight had smashed and my £120 to replace transponder was barely hanging on. I decided the best idea was to get into the pits and find soemone with tape to prevent my transponder from falling off. I did so and was way back amongst the 4 stroke Experts.
As I tried desperately to fight my way through the Experts I kept trying to pass people in ridiculous places and falling off. I felt that every time I got into a smooth rhythm, I would hit the deck and be back to square one. This carried on throughout the race and so I tired after a short period of time and lost confidence and motivation.
We all have bad days but I am annoyed that I rode like and old granny that cost £45 to enter and was a hell of a long drive. I must apologise to my Dad, Clive Thorsby, Jonny Wardle and Vic Noble for my poor performance but I would like to thank everyone who encouraged me throughout the race as their support is greatly appreciated.
This weekend I’m going to Wales for an Under 23 training day and then a Hare ‘n’ Hound in Herefordshire. Then the following weekend to Round 1 of the Scottish Enduro Champs at Pathhead.
It won’t be all plain sailing for the Derek Little this year!
See you then.
Ricky Mair
20th April 2002 – Rnd 1 Scottish Enduro Champs – Pathhead
Ipone Husqvarna had a "wild card" entry for round 1 of the Scottish Champs, his name…. Timo "the flying Finn" Hautamaki.
After a mad frenzy trying to get Timo to the line for his start time, I was off into the green hills of Pathhead.
The first test wasn’t timed so I got some tips from Chris Hay and took my time round the what was then a well-marked test. I liked the wide mx type corners and I had a plan to take it easy on the tricky bits to avoid any unnecessary falls.
I enjoyed the going but the wee Husky was struggling on the soft patches, with me squealing the guts out of it.
When the first test came around I was trying not to get too excited, as my strategy was to be smooth and stay on. I maintained the strategy throughout the day and I was thought I was going quick enough until Crawford Carrick Anderson started breathing down my neck. At this point I knew that an event was not the time or place to try and change your riding style, leave that for winter.
At the end of the day I was placed 6th which I was quite disappointed with as I had hoped for a top 3 finish. But I know what went wrong and hopefully I can rectify it this weekend at Lossiemouth.
Thanks to Timo Hautamaki for the lift, Chris Hay for the help and I wish Derek Little a speedy recovery.
Ricky Mair
Lossiemouth Rnd3 – Scottish Champs
| I was really looking forward to the Lossiemouth Enduro as John Little and Grampian M.C.C have a reputation of organising great events. Arriving late, (as usual), Jeff McLeary and myself only got a brief look at the special test. This was to prove crucial as the test was timed on the first lap. My lack of knowledge of the test sent me onto Lossiemouth beach when I wasn’t supposed to. I came flying up at straight and instead of following the course into the forest, I carried on and over a sand dune onto the beach….Doh! I managed to back track and get back on the course but I wasn’t a happy chappy at the end. My second test felt good. Still angered form the lap before I gave it everything I had and didn’t make too many mistakes. Unfortunately, my other tests didn’t go to plan and my aggressiveness resulted in multiple wee mistakes, and I dropped it in the final test. I have thoroughly enjoyed the Scottish special tests but the have come as a shock to me, being familiar with motocross and the motocross type tests of the British Champs. But I ain’t complaining! I think I’m getting used to them, just need to try and make fewer mistakes, as they are extremely costly. I hope I proved on my fastest test that I am not just some motocrosser that can only ride flat out. I would like to thank my dad for helping me on Sunday and for moaning at me at the refueling. Cheers Jim! Thanks also to the Grampian M.C.C for organising a great event. Exams are on the brink so its time to stop thinking of bikes and get revising! Ricky Mair |
 |
| 19th / 20th July 2003 Rnd 2 British Champ Enduro – Hafren What a disaster! My first enduro back from injury but I still expected to do a lot better than I done. Fall off galore all weekend as I only managed to stay on in 2 out of the 9 special tests. I can only put my fall offs down to being too aggressive and trying to hard on the slippery grass and stumpy X-country test. I finished Saturday 27th and Sunday 16th giving me a 17th over the weekend. This means that I scored no championship points over the weekend and am relegated from 2nd to 5th in the Championship. My fastest special test was on the MX test where I was 3rd overall and 2nd 125cc behind Daryl Bolter. A mechanical failure as I rode back to the pits after watching the Knighters on the grass, meant my engine has been sent away to NTB in York and I won’t have it back until Eppynt. Pretty gutted about the whole weekend but I am used to being the underdog and am up for KICKING ASS at Eppynt!
Highland MX – 27th July 2003 As I don’t have a bike I decided not to go to the Scottish Enduro and instead borrowed a KTM 525 to compete in a local Motocross. Got a 1st, 3rd and 4th aboard the big Katoom and won the day overall. Struggled as the Ardeseir circuit got bumpy as I tried to hang onto the big 4 stroke. Might need to ask Shirty about Gasser 250F! Ricky |