It's time to shine!
By TMX Archives on 1st May 11
This weekend the Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship at Rogershill Racway, Dorset, will mark the halfway point in what has been a thrilling season.
The motocross facility nestled in the south of England will be a welcome sight for many as it remains the only familiarity in what has already proven to be an unpredictable season. The venue used as part of last year's championship proved a success for competitors and spectators alike. Mixing motocross with technical extreme sections linked by tricky woodland, the facility has all the ingredients necessary to serve up some close racing.
To date the BSEC has thrown up surprise winners, tight racing and the emergence of fresh talent. We've seen Tom Sagar do what was previously unthinkable and beat David Knight at the opening round. We've witnessed what has been the closest margin of victory possible when Tyson Mayton Jones pipped Wyn Hughes for the Expert victory at round four in Monmouth by less than a fraction of a second.
But most impressive has been the next generation of riders. Originally viewed as a stepping-stone into the sport, riders in both the Under 23 and Under 19 classes have displayed speed that's far outweighed their experience. Of the top ten overall finishers at round three in Monmouth, four of them were out of these categories, with the most impressive result coming from Under 23 class leader Danny McCanney. Not only dominating his own class by winning every special test he also racked up third overall on the day. The Isle of Man native has come a long way in a short time. With four wins from four starts, will this weekend see him keep the streak alive? Alex Rockwell is capable of being the spoiler in McCanney's perfect season. Pre-season favourite Rockwell must be weary of playing second fiddle to his Manx neighbour. Monmouth may have marked the first showing of Johnny Walker but with third and fourth places on a course that was rough and fast, it was a result few expected from the trials and extreme specialit.
The battle of the young guns in the Under 19 continues to rage. Australian Ben Burrel that heads the field setting times to mix it with the best of the Elite. By dominating the opening two rounds he caught his rivals napping,
As little as it happens, David Knight considers it to be once too often, so getting beaten again wasn't an option. Second place is never a position Knight wants to be in so when he arrived in Monmouth he set about demonstrating the reason why he is the current champion by dominating each and every test of the weekend. Since then his season has taken a setback, injured at the opening round of the EWC in Spain many feared his year had come to an end. It was an injury that would have kept a lesser man down but not Knight. The following weekend he battled through pain and kept his title hopes alive by winning.
Will he continue to do the same this weekend? In Monmouth, Greg Evans was next best to Knight, finding the pace that had eluded him in Saints Well. Will this weekend finally be Evans' opportunity? Homeboy Si Wakely knows this venue as it's his local stomping ground as Tom Sagar, Paul Edmondson, Darryl Bolter, Ollie Moyce, Mark Roberts and Matt Ridgeway are all eager for their share of the limelight.
Directions: Rogers Hill raceway is situated off the A35, west of Bere Regis. From the main road follow the signs towards the event start/finish and paddock area. Postcode: DT2 7HJ Entry Fee: Adults £7.50, includes complimentary event programme. Under 14-year-olds free. Racing will start at 9am both days.
