QRA ready for kick-off
By TMX Archives on 1st Apr 09
THE first round of the QRA ACU British Quad Cross Country Championship on April 26 at Hannington, near Basingstoke, will be filmed, as will each round of the 2009 series.There are several new riders in the championship who have every intention of making it difficult for defending champion, that man Paul Winrow again! Double British ACU QuadX champion, Justin Reid on his Team Can-Am DS450 isn't making the trip across from Ireland just for a ride out, but for serious results.
Oliver Sansom is looking forward to the series under the watchful eye of his MKM Rocketman Suzuki Team and is team-mate to another multi British QuadX Champion, Jason Wildman, and the Anderson Suzuki machine of David Baldwin is the first to have pictures released and sure looks the part.
Joining the Pro Class after their overall 1-2-3- in the 2008 Expert class are Lewis Hill, Darran Bridge and Richard Bradford.
Hill, who won the Clubman class the previous year and then went on to win the Expert class, is expected to do well in the Pro class along with the other two promoted riders, mixing it with Chris Cooper and Can-Am team-mate back from injury, Iain Johnston, who is no slouch.
The three riders promoted from the Clubman/ Lady class to join the Expert ranks; Nathan Palmer (who won KTM's first British Quad title), Martin Evison and Clyde Thompson, join him and the rivalry between these three alone will be interesting to see unfold as they compete against experienced Expert Class riders such as Richard Horton and young Irishman Ashley McConnell to name just two of the usual class contenders.
Beverley Barnes, who has joined the Can-Am squad, has to be starting favourite in the Club class, after finishing a close fourth last season. With her never-give-up attitude, she stands a good chance of upsetting the Club class lads.
Several new to the championship but nonetheless experienced quad riders such as young Ed Giddings, Nick Grant and Shaun Rafferty are joining the series and the Club class.
The Stock and Rookie classes are generating a good response with over a month to go to the first round. The Stock class allows cosmetic changes only, including wheels and tyres, but that is basically it.
The Rookie class has been devised for riders in their first year of quad racing.
Can-Am has once again pledged support of the 4x4/ Auto class, despite the fact that last year's champion, Stephen Williams, has left the category after changing his Can-Am 800 Renegade for a Can-Am DS450 and transferred to the Pro Class for this year.
Registration is still open and those riders hoping to hold on to their 2008 race numbers need to have got their registration forms back with the organisers by Monday, April 6.
E-mail tony@qrauk.com or telephone 01264-354259 with any queries.