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Putoline Fast Eddy XC Championship Round 1. Ashby de la Zouch
Fast Eddy Racing rolled into town on Sunday and brought with it a huge turnout, all eager to contest the opening round of the Putoline Fast Eddy XC Championship, at the popular Ashby de la Zouch circuit.

Putoline Suzuki Fast Eddy team rider Tom Sagar headlined in the XC1 Pro-Expert class and kick started his 2010 assault with a convincing win, setting the pace from the off with a nine minute opening lap on the 5km circuit.

The course, a flat out open stubble field which went into a wooded section and fed back out onto two special test type fields, cut up quite quickly with deep ruts forming, over the 2 hour race. 

Those who did not heed Fast Ed’s words of wisdom in the riders briefing beforehand paid the price, with plenty of overheated bikes in the pit area.Nevertheless, over 150 riders lined up, all fitted with transponders and raring to go, the lack of racing in the preceding weeks spurring them on. 

XC1 Pro-Expert Ashley Lock was first to fire up his bike and led the opening pack but it was Tom Sagar who emerged from the wooded section and never looked back, leading the field for 11 laps, finishing a lap clear of second place James Jackman, who hadn’t had the best of starts.

Ashley Lock took third, notching up 9 laps but was sitting in second until 15 minutes from the end, when he was forced to pit and wait to push his overheated bike to the finish line.

The top three XC2 Clubman all finished on 9 laps each, with just four minutes separating them.  Michael Reynolds took the win a minute ahead of Declan Helliwell, with Kev Sandland just behind in third.

The XC3 Sportsman class was a close call, with Darren Thorpe taking the chequered flag just four seconds in front of Danny Morris, a battle which looks likely to continue in the coming months.  Luke Smith finished a lap down on the pair, with 8 laps under his belt.
Daniel Oakley was the clear winner in the very popular XC4 Fun/Hobby/Novice class posting 8 laps, 2 laps clear of his closest rival Anthony Cook and Sam Rhodes in third.  In the XC5 Vets, David Dunn took the honours a good five minutes clear of Colin Blunt, both on 8 laps. 

Keith Staines rounded out the top three on 7 laps.

Jon Hill took the win in the XC6 Youth class, a lap clear of regular motocrosser George Hough who did well in the challenging conditions.  Harland White took the final spot on 6 laps.

Earlier in the day, a strong field of youth riders took to the line, which saw the introduction of a new class, the XC Auto, for 2010 season. 

Despite the tough conditions, the majority of youth riders managed the course, non more so than Harry Edmondson who took to the course like a duck to water and blasted out 7 laps to take the XC Auto win, 4 laps clear of the only other finisher Bradley Measures.

Alex Walton posted an impressive 11 laps in the XC 65cc, 2 laps up on second and third place Antoine Criq and Ted Bailey, both on 9 laps apiece.  In the XC SW85, Jack Edmondson had no trouble in posting 11 laps, taking the win a lap clear of Luke Rudd and Harry Aughterlony.

Brad Freeman took a convincing win in the XC BW85cc class posting an impressive 13 laps, 4 laps up on second place Adam James and Josh Aughterlony.  Bryn Clark took the XC 150 win ahead of Bradley Clay and Jordon Lines.

Katie Walker gave new meaning to girl power, notching up 11 laps for the XC Girls class win, with Amy Rudd second and Rhian George in third.

A great opener to the Putoline Fast Eddy XC Championship, with Fast Ed and his team laying out a challenging course which most riders managed to negotiate and enjoy.  The second round of the Championship will be held on March 14th at Buildwas, near Telford.