SOURCE: ENDURONEWS.COMACU BRITISH ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP
5/6th March 2016 - ROUND 1 & 2 - PUTOLINE YORKSHIRE 2 DAY ENDURO
The first 2 rounds of the 2016 ACU British Enduro Championship returned to the picturesque North Yorkshire town of Helmsley this weekend.
The un-Springlike weather came close to sabotaging the event as the fag end of Storm Jake collided with a cold north east wind and dumped 4 inches of snow on the high ground. There was some traffic disruption and Leeds Bradford Airport was closed but the organisers took the decision to go ahead and not to disappoint the 200+ entry who were enroute.
On Saturday morning the snow had gone and the sun was shining. Steve Holcombe (Beta) started as he meant to go on by setting the fastest time on the first test - 5 seconds ahead of Josh Gotts (TM). Jamie Lewis (ORE Yamaha) was 3rd, Brad Freeman (Colwyn Bay KTM) in 4th was back to form after 12 months off through injury, Tom Sagar (Sherco) 5th and Jack Edmondson (KTM) 6th.
Charlie Evans was a non starter as he and his partner Karleene were welcoming their new baby girl Isla May Evans into the World. For some riders - in the slick conditions - at Helmsley. giving birth would have been a pleasant alternative to riding a bike.
Out on the going the riders soon found where all the snow had gone. After a week of dry weather It had soaked into the ground and turned a firm track into porridge. Hills became difficult and the scheduled 4 laps for the Championship class rapidly became unfeasible as bottlenecks began to develop.. Charlie Frost dropped 4 minutes while being held in a queue and under the new "All rounds count" ruling his season was over before it had begun.
Out in front Jack Edmondson upped his pace to take 2nd on the 2nd test - less than one second off Steve Holcombe's time. Brad Freeman took the 3rd and final test as the organisers cut the Enduro test and stopped the race after 2 laps.
Steve Holcombe was the winner. Brad Freeman was runner up and Josh Gotts was 3rd. Jamie Lewis 4th, Jack Edmondson 5th, Daryl Bolter 6th, Tom Sagar 7th, Joe Wootton 8th, Owain Humphreys 9th and Lee Sealey 10th.
There was the stubble trouble on the grassy test as the usual suspects ploughed their own furrows. David Knight was unimpressed by the course cutters and he retired. In the pits the sound of engines was drowned out by the moaning of supporters complaining that the extreme test was too extreme and there was a serious lack of cucumber sandwiches.
James Benny from Truro was the quickest Clubmen on the first of their 2 tests but James Jackson (Eurotek KTM) was more consistent and he won the class. Alistair Griffin was runner up and Fred Adams was 3rd.
Day 2 started with Steve Holcombe again posting the quickest time on the first test - 7 seconds ahead of Brad Freeman. Tom Sagar was 3rd. Daryl Bolter 4th, Joe Wootton 5th, Jamie Lewis 6th and Josh Gotts 7th.
Steve Holcombe also won the second test from Brad Freeman with Owain Humphreys putting in a flyer to take 3rd. Owain said "I liked the test, a proper Welsh one". Tom Sagar crashed and dropped half a minute. Josh Gotts clipped his radiator on a post and lost his coolant.
By the 3rd test the pattern of the day was set with Steve Holcombe and Brad Freeman one and two in their own class. Jamie Lewis led the following pack.
On Test 5 Jack Edmondson tied with Steve Holcombe and Jamie Lewis was one second behind with Brad Freeman on his heels.
Steve Holcombe and Brad Freeman tied on the 6th test. Jamie Lewis was 3rd and Joe Wootton had is best result of the day by taking 4th.
With the 2nd day win sewn up Steve Holcombe could afford to ease off the gas and Jack Edmondson took the final test of the day. Joe Wootton and Steve Holcombe tied for 2nd and Tom Sagar recovered from his earlier crash to finish 4th.
The 2nd day ran much more smoothly than Day 1.
