Here's Jonny!
By Jonny Walker on 13th Apr 12
Jonny Walker is one of the exciting new breed of young, extreme enduro riders who have burst on to the scene, seemingly out of nowhere. But as you will find, that is not actually the case. As a Youth trials rider Jonny was the youngest ever winner of the prestigious Pinhard Prize (awarded for the most meritorious achievement by a person under 21-years-old) back in 2000.Jonny will keep us up to date on what he is up to each month in 2012...
This is my very first column in a newspaper so this is all new to me and I guess we will just have to see how it goes.
To tell the truth I did terribly in my English at school and I regret it now.
So here's a quick and easy lesson to all you kids out there, it's great being able to ride your bike but just listen to your parents and ‘try hard' at school!
Just a little about myself first.
My name is Jonny Walker, I'm 21 years old and I live in a little town in the lake district called Keswick.
I used to compete in trials, starting out at the age of four and progressed through the ranks winning a couple of British National Youth titles before competing at European and World level before I decided to change to enduro.
My first year of enduro in 2010 was full of ups and downs, one week would be good and the next I would be out of the race with bike problems.
But towards the end of the year I got talking to the man who is now my manager and
mechanic - he is a real legend with the spanners - Julian (Smooth Dog) Stevens and he was to guide me from then on.
2011 was actually much better than I expected as although I was a pretty handy trials rider I hadn't much speed experience so it was just meant to be a learning year.
However, making the most of Julian's many years of experience, he has worked with the likes of David Knight and the KTM factory squad, my results got better and better through the year.
I was pleased to get good solid results at Erzberg and in the Sea to Sky race and suddenly the KTM factory decided to support me for 2012.
So, 2012 couldn't have started any better for me as I finished second overall in the World Indoor SuperEnduro series being headed only by hot favourite Taddy Blazusiak.
From there it was on to the notorious Hell's Gate extreme enduro in Italy where I finished second to factory Husaberg rider Graham Jarvis who is also an ex trials rider.
I am now tired of coming second and have stepped-up my training during the winter so I can hopefully see what it's like to stand on that top step of the podium.
