2007 Results
Putoline XC Final, Isle of Man

This weekend I travelled to the Isle of Man for the last round of the Putoline XC Series.

Our ferry crossing was at 02.00hrs on Friday morning, the crossing is 3.5hrs so it gave me chance to get my head down for a bit.

Enduro’s aren’t normally my thing but the final round of the Series last couple of years has been held on the Isle of Man, which goes down well with all of the riders, also the track doesn’t have the usual enduro characteristics like woods or streams but this doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy.
We arrived at the track pretty early on Friday morning again giving me chance to get my head down for a couple of hours.

Paul and Lee Edmondson had training sessions in the morning, which were available for all to experience.


In the afternoon it was time for the Youth race there were a lot of BYMX boys in this race, which was very good to watch.
After the race it was time for Gav Faircloth and I to go around the track in the Mule, mainly to repair any of the track markings, but this was my chance to check out some lines and the track in general, I couldn’t believe how rough the track was.

It was almost like a whoop section most of the way around and I knew I had my work cut out.


Race day: Again the weather was the same as the day before (overcast with a little rain) so I added extra tear offs to both sets of goggles. I was on the 3rd row back with intervals of around 30 seconds between starts, with a dead engine start. All the riders in my row were 4 strokes.

As I went to start the bike my foot slipped of the kick start this resulted me being last off the line in my group.

the first section of the track was very tight and was follow the leader for the first quarter of a lap and it was a very slow pace, with the rain and the sand my goggles were taking a battering.

By the end of the first lap I had managed to pass a fair amount of riders but had to pit to change goggles.

I pushed for three laps and felt pretty good there were a few parts of the track I was struggling with but on the fourth lap I suffered from motocross syndrome I went too fast too quickly.

I went into the whoop section before the beach a little to quick and because I was starting to tire I shut off too much and dropped the front wheel in and got pitched over the bars.


I landed on the bad shoulder and was in pain I tried to take my time back to the pits but dropped the bike a further 3 times as the sand was getting very deep.

I was in the pits for about twenty minutes before I managed to get back on the bike and ride, I knew I had lost a lot of time and had to just ride sensibly and clock up the laps.

The track had become very rough by now the shoulder started to ease but I was without goggles for the last hour.

I managed to do the same amount of laps as last year, but this year the track was a lot rougher. I finished 21st which I was a little disappointed with but with the amount of time I spent in the pits and getting back to them I didn’t do to bad. Next year I’m determined to go there Injury free.
Walsall at Hobs Hole 16.09.07

The Walsall Committee decided they were going to run the track in the opposite direction for this meeting, this didn’t sound a good idea to the riders as the club only had a week to prepare the track. 

My doubts were confirmed when we set the track up on Saturday morning, all the jumps were flat landings and into some corners there was some really deep sand, especially at the bottom of the track, more than normal. I was in two mind’s if I was going to race. Also I had a party on the night.

Practice: I decided to race even though I had only had a few hours sleep but felt good, I quickly found out how harsh the landings were of the jumps and how fast the lap seemed to be.

The tabletop had been altered previously so the landing wasn’t so steep, as a result there wasn’t a take off lip, which turned out to be good, as we were hitting it in fourth gear.

I wasn’t impressed and thought the club had made the wrong decision.

Race 1: Got a good jump out of the gate but dropped a few places in the chicane after the start which was one line, I was running in the top eight before a rider fell in front of me in the deep sand exiting the corner.

As I changed my line, I got T-boned and ended up on the floor leaving me almost last, finished outside the top 10.

Race 2: Again got a good jump but the rider two gates to the right came across and give me a bit of a tap, this left us both at the back of the pack I battled back thought the pack and made some quick passes.

I got stuck behind a rider for three laps but when I tried to go off the racing line to make a pass, the sand was to deep and lost me 3 places. 9th

Race 3: I got the best start of the day in second behind Jamie Wilson but as we approached the chicane I was hit very hard from behind and went down in a dangerous position, luckily nobody hit me, I picked myself up with a bad graze down my right arm.

Luckily the bike wasn’t damaged and I got going again almost a lap down. I found myself pushing to hard in places and making silly mistakes I also had a big moment on one of the jumps and landed in a hole. I was lucky to stay on the bike. I decided to slow down until the finish. Finished outside the top 10.

I felt the club made the wrong decision running the track backwards. I didn’t fell comfortable as this was where I broke my wrist badly last year. Hopefully for the club’s sake they run the correct way for their next meeting.

Next report will be from Bromsberrow.
Burford 09.09.07

This weekend saw me being transferred to Burford as my first choice had been cancelled. On arrival I wasn’t impressed, it was a poor effort by the Warley club the track was staked in a small field with a incline, the track wasn’t graded and was still a stubble field, there were no banners showing where the corners were.
I couldn’t believe track’s like this still exist. The best thing about the track was that underneath the stubble it was very sandy and loose. I was in two minds whether to ride or not.

Practice: The programme said I was fourth practice out, I decided to get ready and go to watch the other groups. I pretty much lead practice out for two laps and then decided to come in to do a practice start, when I rejoined the pack I found it very difficult to pass as the track was already one line. I also decided I didn’t have the correct tyre on for the conditions.

Race 1: Having changed my tyre to a softer compound type I felt I’d have more grip and confidence. I watched the start before my race to see where the holeshot came from, it would be imperative to get a good start as my class was unlimited.

I got a very good jump out the gate but struggled to keep the front wheel down this resulted in me coming around the first corner in 8th. for the entire race I was in a three way battle for 2nd until the finish. I finished 4th

Race 2: I got another good jump out the gate coming around the first corner in 3rd and one of those was a 450.

I knew I was faster than the riders in front and on lap 2 I took the lead, I got my head down and pulled a comfortable lead.

Two laps from the end I had some trouble with a back marker in a tight left hander and stalled the bike.

I panicked and when I got started I’d dropped to 3rd I ran out of time and finished 3rd.

Race 3: With the disappointment of the second race I was determined to make amends, I got another good jump out of the gate and was 2nd around the first corner but got pushed wide putting me in 4th.

I made a pass for third but as I defended my line the rider behind gave me enough of a knock to put us both down luckily it was only the first lap. I remounted in 7th and put on a charge. I managed to catch the leader up but ran out of time, I think if I had one more lap I could have taken the win. 2nd.

With a 4-3-2 it was good enough for 2nd overall, also with racing against the 450’s I was pleased with 2nd overall but it’s always the case of ‘what if’. The track wasn’t good but it was good cornering speed practice

Next week’s report will be from my club’s own meeting at Hobs Hole.
Hungry Hill 02.09.07

This weekend will be the third time I will have ridden the Hungry Hill circuit in a month and with decent rides in the two previous meetings I was looking forward to the days racing.

Practice: With the 125 and Sidecar Championship racing this weekend I knew there would be a variety of lines to choose from.

The track was in good condition after the two Championship classes had been out, I felt good and comfortable with the bike and track.

Race 1: With a long wait between practice and my first race I found it hard to motivate myself on the start.

With my race being Unlimited the start would be important but would be tough against the 450’s.

I got a really bad start and during the first lap it was mayhem, I managed to get myself back to 6th where I had a two lap battle with Brett Williams again.

On the last lap I caught his rear wheel in a corner but this was enough to put me on the floor.

I managed to hold on to my position and catch back up to Brett but ran out of time . 6th

Race 2: With another long wait and a wet track I knew a good start was essential, I gated well and was in 5th but tried an inside line and washed out the front wheel, as it was still the first lap. It didn’t take long for everyone to pass me.

I had my work cut out if I was to salvage a good position, I felt good and managed to get back to 9th

Race 3: With another half decent start I was running 5th or 6th. With the track being rough I was trying to find some smoother lines, but some of these were still very loose and wet and cost me a position, I lost the front end once more and dropped down to 10th. With only a lap and half to go, I managed to make a pass to get back up to 9th.
With a 6-9-9 and 9th overall this wasn’t the result I was looking for - but, on a positive note, I know I’ve got the speed but just need to focus some attention on the front end, maybe change to a different front tyre.
The Llan 26.08.07
I arrived late at the track on Saturday evening, after spending the day at the British GP at Donnington, so I didn't get chance to walk the track.

Practice

The track looked in good shape but was very slippery in places. A few lines started to develop as the track dried out.

Race One

With the start being uphill, I knew it would be difficult to keep the front wheel down whilst getting the most drive. In front of the gate it was grassy, very bumpy and slippy. For the first couple of laps I struggled to get going and had to make my way through, ending in a good race with Brett Williams. Finished 5th.
Race Two

Got a really good jump out of the gate but lost a handful of places on the downhill before joining the track. Managed to get my head down but got stuck behind a rider and was finding it hard to get around most of the corners.

I was very nervous about making a pass in any of the corners, wasting too much time, which resulted in me being caught by a few riders. Again I enjoyed a good battle with Brett Williams. Finished 4th.

Race Three

Worst start of the day leaving me a lot to do. With dust becoming an issue, the first two laps were scary. When the pack started to gap it got easier to make passes. Another 4th.
Finished 5th overall. Another consistent day which has resulted in my confidence in both my wrist and knee improving. Now I need to concentrate on increasing my speed and fitness. Next meeting and report comes from Wolverhampton's Hungry Hill.
Hungry Hill 19.08.07

Good old fashioned British weather, last week the track was extremely dry and dusty, this week was the opposite. The rain started Saturday late morning and didn’t stop until mid afternoon.

I walked the track with my usual buddy, Rich Tudor, the track had been graded to perfection after their last meeting which was to be honest pure survival, the walk was heavy going with the tacky mud sticking to my boots. If the rain stayed away practice would be heavy but come racing the track should be perfect.

Practice

With the rain holding off, I set out, as we were first out the track was very heavy and without any burms/ruts to get in the corners were a bit tricky, on the second lap I got up to speed and tried some different lines but a yellow flag appeared on one of the jumps, on the floor was one of the younger riders who normally get’s straight up if he fall’s I stopped to help him and his bike off the track as soon as the first aid arrived I set off.

Race 1: With a gate malfunction on the first start held up the racing for a while (note to all club’s: Please prevent anyone messing/playing with the start gate after it’s been put up and before racing starts in the morning), with the gate fixed I got a good jump.

I just missed out on the holeshot to Dan Eastwood, I dropped a few more places on the first lap, I lost the front wheel losing a few more places, the track was holding up well but on the last but one lap the front wheel washed again luckily I restarted without loosing my position. I finished in 6th place.

Race 2: The rain didn’t hold off and between my race’s it drizzled contently, I got another good jump out the gate but for the second time Dan Eastwood just piping me to the holeshot, half a lap down Dan fell in front of me which gave me the lead.

I lead for a lap and half, but I pulled all my tear-off off in one go I knew I had to keep my goggles on for as long as possible, by this time the rain started to fall and I lost the lead and was

impossible to see through my goggles so I had to lose them. I was please with a 2nd place finish.

Race 3: I was lying 2nd overall going into the final race, with the drizzle still falling a slight lack of concentration as the gate dropped resulted in me at the back of the pack, I had to pass as many riders as I could as quick as possible before the leaders got away too much.

Within a lap I was 10th I had a good race with Mark McCann for a couple of lap’s swapping positions, I pushed hard and took 6th place just before the finish flag. Another 6th place finish

6-2-6 Finish gave me 3rd overall, finally I’m starting to fell confident on the bike and I really enjoy riding at Wolverhampton’s Hungry Hill track with it being one of the best track’s in our group. The club always put on a good meeting well done to the club and it’s members

Next weeks I’ll be racing at CHV – The Llan.
Condover 12.08.07

Having never ridden at Condover before, I had a general idea of where the track was, but it wasn’t going to be that easy. Myself and the Davis clan drove around for over an hour trying to find the track (even the locals didn’t know).

We finally found the track while in a convoy of 5 vehicles, just as the signs were being put out.  

On walking the track on Saturday evening, I was impressed with the layout and the preparation the club had put into the track after the championship meeting they ran there a month ago.

For those who didn’t go or can’t remember, the horrendous weather resulted in the meeting being cancelled. The track took forever to walk and I knew lap times would be in the high 2 to 3 minutes. One thing I was concerned about was how dry and loose the ground was.

Practice: I knew I would only get about 3 laps to get to grips with the track and to remember the layout, there were a few boggy parts which were no go area’s. I felt comfortable and looked forward to my first race.

Race 1: I knew a good start was imperative because of the dust, gate preparation was also vital and the start straight was very loose and about 3 inch’s deep.

I got a good jump out the gate but caught a false neutral which cost me, leaving me mid-pack. I got my head down and tried to make my way through the pack.

I made my way into 7th but a silly mistake in a left hand sandy corner cost me at least 7 places, I managed to keep the bike running and made some places up quickly, unfortunately the race was red flagged giving me a 10th place from the previous lap.

Race 2: Got a good gate running 5th.I knew I had to keep in touch with the leader to stand any chance and for most of the race, there was a three way battle for 3rd between Sam Pickerill (3rd), Dan Wilson (4th) and myself, until the last lap when I was caught and passed giving me 6th place.

Race 3: Another good start, unfortunately I tried to squeeze up the inside of Pete Neil in the third corner but lost the front end, this left me a lot to do.
I managed to get back to 8th place but on the last lap I lost the front end again while chasing 7th place the bike stalled and took a few kicks to start which cost me a top 10 finish.
 
This is the first time for a couple of week’s I’ve enjoyed riding even if it wasn’t the results I was looking for, Condover is definitely a track I will ride again.