OLD AND WILDE
By Andy Foulkes on 24th Aug 12
Eleven years after they stood together on the podium at Pont de Vaux as rivals, three of the stalwarts of the British quad-racing scene are teaming up to return to the French classic this weekend.
Veterans Richard Cole, Paul Winrow and Stuart Walker will ride as ‘Team PDV Veterans' and they are also keeping it retro with their machine, fielding a 350 Yamaha Banshee.
Despite the graying hair and stretching waistbands, few teams can boast a pedigree as impressive as these vets – with numerous European, British and Pont de Vaux titles under their belts.
Winrow is Britain's most successful rider at the 12 hour classic, with three wins since his debut in 1990,former European champion Cole has had numerous podiums and one win in 1999, while Walker has had several top tens and one podium since his debut in 1990.
Other British squads at PDV this year include the three quad Rocketman Suzuki Team of Carl Bunce, Chris Cooper and Ricky Tordoff; Ant Barrett, Chris Murphy and Geoff Sharpe; and Aaron Pole, Laurance Stopps and Jak Griffiths.
Scots Ian Neill, Leon Beda and Scott Sinclair also ride a Banshee. Ben and Jon Morgan, plus Andrew Downes ride a Honda TRX450. Steve Atkins, John McKnight and Rob Bassett ride a Honda TRX450. Thomas Downes, Liam Garbett and Jack Naylor ride a KTM SX450, and Darren Hurt and Richard Abbott are entered as a two-man team.
Other notable entries include reigning British champion John Mitchell with the French TR Racing squad, and Ireland's Emma McQuaid with the Team JPS Can-Am Speedy Girl team.
