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

Front Row GB on the Podium Again

Stan Watt of Front Row GB took a hard earned podium finish at Round 1 of the Major Hadley Series organised by the Portsmouth Motorcycle Racing Club at Rowlands Castle, Emsworth.

A mini heatwave had spread across the UK over the April weekend with temperatures hitting a high of 24 degrees, enhancing the effects of a woodland course with zero sections that would give a rider any form of respite.

Stan lined up with the other 10 championship riders on his Edmondson Racing KTM350 XC and although the four stroke generally fires up easily first time, on the drop of the flag, for once it failed to start immediately and Stan eventually set of the start line easily 20 seconds behind the last of the championship riders.

By the time Stan had left the short extreme section and area surrounding the paddock, he had made his way past two riders and settled into following the next group of riders into the main forestry section. Stan had closed the gap and moved into 5th place behind Lawerence Catt and No1 Simon Beken. Although Stan made his passes easily into 3rd place, Simon Beken immediately upped the pace to move back into 3rd for the next half lap before Stan retook 3d position and then pushed hard to catch James Jackman and Aaron Smith currently fighting for 1st place.

The podium was finalised from lap 5, unless something happened to the front runners. Stan pushed as hard as he dared in the tight and close forestry, setting consistent lap times but was unable to get close enough by the chequered flag on lap 12.

James Jackman led Aaron Smith over the line by all of 7 seconds to take top spot with Aaron 2nd and Stan making up the podium in 3rd a further 20 seconds adrift.

Thanks to;

Edmondson Racing
Voltcom Group
Talon Engineering
Adventure Spec
Arai