Neil Chatham Secures Italian Job

Red Bull Romaniacs 2010

Team Scotland Les Winthrop and Gavin Johnston having a go in one of the top extreme races. Daily reports from Brian Hill.

Sat 26th Prologue - Heavy rain made the course very difficult. Heats cut to 1 to stop rider injuries. Les was 3rd in his heat - Gav had a shocker. Got back wheel stuck in a truck tire. came in 13th. In the final Gav came good and finished 4th. it was Les who had a bad run. Was leading the final till chain derailed in the logs. Ended 7th.

It was a lottery in the conditions. Chris Birch won the main event. So it's into the mountains tomorrow.

Day 2 done. Gav and Les not having much luck. Les got gastro problems and had a real tough day. In doubt for day 3. Les has smashed his GPS. So both sharing one GPS. Most riders have 2 each.  10 Hours riding.

Day 3. Boys finished 3rd expert team on day 2. Les finished but spent with gastro problems. Les could not start day 3 so ill. So team out of the running.  Gav started to ride the course for a challenge. . Finished well and had a good day. Gav will start day 4 and ride for fun.

Day 4. Gav started again - but Les to sick to start. They had to change the running of the day due to even more heavy rain. Pro to do Expert loop - Experts to do hobby loop. Not Gav - he did the Expert loop and was then waved past by a Pro,  Gerhard Foster,  a very good german Pro  rider. Gavin followed Gerhard up a very difficult stream bed with big rocks,  near the end Gerhard stopped and turned around to Gavin and said something in German.Gavin said sorry I don't understand I'm Scottish ! Gerhard  replied, go past you're faster than me !!

With the GPS altered Gav was quicker and picked up the pace. He finished well - just a pity Les was sidelined with sickness.

It was then onto the RedBull party that night. Followed by the 30 hour drive home.

Well done boys - flying the flag for Scotland.

Inaugural British Enduro Sprint Championship series ends in style in Mid Wales

 Manx ace David Knight claims another double Elite class victory to become Europe’s first enduro sprint champion… 

The final two rounds of Britain’s first ever Enduro Sprint championship took place at Saints Well, near Rhayader, Mid Wales this past weekend where challenging, wet conditions during round five made for a tough day for all competitors. More .....

Scottish Youngsters perform at Enduro Sprint

 Frazer Norrie finished fifth U23 E2 in the inaugural ACU Enduro Sprint Championship. Fraser travelled as far south as Dorset to compete in the championship covering more distance than some from the south have travelled to European events.

 Frazer continues to show a remarkable maturity for a 17 year old finishing with consistent times keeping him well up the leader board at each event. Frazer has decided to concentrate on the British series which will limit his appearances in Scotland although he still leads the Scottish Cross Country Championship.

 MPS Racing Husqvarna’s Neil Chatham made his debut in the Enduro Sprint at the weekend finishing third U23 E1 on Saturday despite damaging his radiator on his last test. On Sunday the Husqvarna developed a misfire ultimately cutting out during the penultimate test which prevented Neil making the final test ending his day.

 Neil will compete in the Hafren British Enduro Championship before heading off to the World rounds in Slovakia and Poland ending the month back with the UEM Promotional Mucci Enduro Team in the Polish European round.

A great video of the recent EWC round in Slovakia. Contains Neil Chatham going head to head with Rocky in a fairly extreme test as well as a few other assorted riders - World Champions etc ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3DEf8dEdoc. Neil has had a great time in Europe - very tough with a steep learning curve - unfortunately finishing with a broken wrist. We look forward to having him back in Scotland as soon as he is fit .

EWC Poland - video clip top give you a feel for the event.

http://www.enduro-abc.com/news-en-108.html

Congratulations to Murray Thomson ACU British Veteran Expert Champion.

Murray Thomson wins ACU British Vet Expert Championship - Report Campbell Chatham

 D3 Racing’s Murray Thomson has won the ACU Metzeler British Enduro Veteran Expert Championship after winning at The Natterjack Enduro at the weekend. Murray on his KTM 300, supported by his wife Tracy, has been competing in the British Championship for twenty years and this is one of the most deserved wins in recent times. Murray just missed out on the title last year although he has always been a contender in the Expert class and ultimately the Veteran Expert class. Murray always excels in the tough muddy condition which makes his win at the weekend all the more satisfying as the sandy conditions are not his favourite. The Veteran Expert class is no easy option as all the top riders in the class are previous British champions with fierce competition between the rivals. Murray, a four times Scottish Champion, has suffered from poor circulation in his hands which has made the long days on the bike more difficult over the years, even resorting to heated handle bars grips for some enduros. Murray and Tracy are two of the most organised couples in the Enduro paddock and it is this combined with Murray’s fitness regime that has seen them rewarded with the British title.

This will be a welcomed result in the paddock as Murray is a popular and larger than life character in the parc ferme with his booming voice, you always know when Murray is around and he now has a serious result to shout about.    

 

A BIG THANK YOU

Jimmy, Johnny and Dod came to all but one of the BEC rounds this year and supported all the Scottish riders at fuel checks, operated a spares courier service, hospital taxi service etc etc..........  they were very reliable and willing to turn their hand to anything........ They did all this without being asked and travelled long distances to do so. All the riders are very greatful for their support and encouragement. Even the phrase "Stupid Boy" (we all know who utters that one.........)  was a welcome sound!!!!
They were also very generous and willing to share their grape juice!!!!  Residents of the Liphook services travelodge on the evening and wee small hours of Saturday/Sunday 25th September can also vouch for their excellent lung capacity and tunefullness............
From all Scottish riders who took part in the BEC circuit this season: Thank you to the 3 Amigos!!!