Round 1 - 2011 British Enduro Championship

2011 Metzeler British Enduro Championship
EMG/Kia Muntjac attracts a top class
This Sunday will see a full entry of 237 riders tackling the sandy terrain of Thetford Forest in the 1st round of the ACU Metzeler 2011 British Enduro Championship. Diss MCC and long term event sponsor EMG Motor Group were very pleased to see the way entries filled up with the event being oversubscribed within 4 days of the regulations becoming available. The club would also like to welcome Kia who are joining EMG Motor Group as associate event sponsors.

It is great to see the quality of riders entered in the championship class - the best for a number of years. The 39 championship riders will all be trying to take overall honours in their respective sub-class and more importantly seeking a prestigious top three overall position in a British Championship event.

Starting as No. 1 will be multiple World and British Enduro Champion, Manxman, David Knight on his 510 Factory Red Bull KTM. Knighter has won this event for the last two years and it doesn't matter what the weather conditions will be on the day, he will be tough to beat. A rider who could put up a close challenge is Tom Sagar. Sagar riding a Fast Eddy/Edmondson 450 KTM won the Diss MCC Santon Enduro in Thetford Forest in November in convincing style being quickest on both the test and the tight going. More recently he beat Knighter on the 2nd day of the ACU Sprint Enduro Championship.

Other top enduro riders in with a shout include Daryl Bolter, Greg Evans, Si Wakely and another Isle of Man star - Alex Rockwell. Of course the old master Paul Eddy who was second overall last year and first won this event 24 years ago on an 80cc Honda will be right amongst them. Enduro fans will also be keen to see how the young Australian, Ben Burrell performs in a traditional UK enduro after dominating the Under 19 class at the recent Sprint Enduro.

A few top motocross riders could also throw up some surprises such as Carl Nunn, Jamie Lewis, Jordon Rose and Aston Bird. Aston, who regularly rides enduros, is very quick over this type of terrain and achieved a top five at the 2009 Muntjac. A number of expert riders have been upgraded this year and it will be interesting to see how 2010 Expert Champion Danny McCanney goes as he dominated the class last year with some really impressive performances. Stan Watt from Front Row GB will be competing on the Edmondson Racing KTM300XC and looking forward to getting the season started.

The 60 expert and 90 clubman riders will battle for honours in their respective classes. Additionally there are 40 veteran riders including former ISDE GB Trophy Team riders such as Wyn Hughes, Carl Tiley and Russell Millward. Tiley won this event in 1994 and Wyn Hughes was a podium finisher at the Breckland two day on more than one occasion. Whilst all veteran riders will only ride 4 laps (the same as other clubman riders) their check times will be slowed down on laps one and two and then made a bit more challenging on the final lap.

Most of the course is new for this year and it really flows well. If the weather stays as it is, check times will again be challenging on the last laps for all classes to prevent it being won or lost on the special test. Physical fitness will be the key as riders will be riding between 80 and 120 miles off road depending on their class.

The special test is 2.5 miles in length and is situated right next to the start area. It will be timed on laps 1 and 2 for all classes with the first rider due on the test at 09:10. The club have done quite a bit of work on the test to save it cutting up and the large fallen tree is back in again for 2011 with a longer escape route for the cautious. As in 2010, the championship riders will ride back-to-back tests on lap four instead of riding a full lap. This will be followed by a tight 5th lap and the 6th and final full lap will be very tight!! With no time to rest championship riders will then head straight back to the final special test with only 10 minutes to ride the test and book into the final time control. This sting in the tail has changed the order of the results on previous events to favour the riders who are at peak fitness and have the ability to pace themselves to the very end.

Parking is going to be very tight due to recent planting of trees so riders will need to get there early and not erect large awnings. For those making the trip, the start area is along ride 24 just North of Brandon on the Mundford road.

Everything looks set for an exhilarating start to the 2011 Metzeler British Enduro Championship.

FRGB