Stan Watt 3rd at GBXC

The run of results continue for Stan Watt with a 3rd place at the Great Britain Cross Country Championship (GBXC) on the Edmondson Racing KTM 350XC.

The Fast Eddy crew had put together a great course in the Devon countryside, with a good mixture of woodland, technical sections and fast flowing areas.

Based near the training area of Wheeldon Farm, South Devon, local knowledge played a part with the two day event; the first day being a sprint challenge on a shorter course and day two a full on enduro with a morning race for the Vets and Clubman of 2hrs and the afternoon catering for the 2 1/2hr race with the Elite and Experts riders.

The days previous had seen temperatures rise to 27 degrees and with more of the same forecast, there was a concern that the unseasonal high temperatures may affect some of the riders. Stan from Front Row GB had been suffering from man-flu for a few days and wasn't holding out to be that competitive. As day two dawned, everyone was reminded that it was still April as the chilly northeasterly wind took some time to heat up.

By the start of the main race, temperatures had risen to 20 degrees and after a short delay, the Elite riders got underway, with Tom Sagar slotting into 2nd place while his team mate, Aussie Ben Burrell was left stranded on the line desperately kicking his KTM 250XC. Straight behind them the Expert riders set off, with Stan getting away in a solid 4th place.

Clear through the first section of corners, Jack Twentyman, who had sneaked a head start with the Elite riders, had taken a tumble, unfortunately breaking a wrist in the process. Everyone else stayed clean and immediately the groups started to settle into their pace.
Stan had moved up into 3rd by the second lap and would stay there until the end, unable to run at the pace Derek Bawn and Joe Wootton.

It was a good result in the Elite class for Edmondson Racing with team riders Tom Sagar and Ben Burrell taking first and second position respectively, even after Tom had crushed a finger during the Saturday sprint challenge.

The GBXC had set the scene for this weekend's showdown at Rogershill Raceway, hosting rounds 5 & 6 of the British Sprint Challenge Championship, which will see the best enduro riders in Britain go head-to-head for the 2 day event

Many thanks to;

- Edmondson Racing
- Voltcom Group
- Talon Engineering
- Adventure Spec
- Arai

FRGB