Steve's the ARK destroyer
By TMX Archives on 1st Aug 07
STEVE Atkins, aboard his 450 ARK ATV Honda, notched up yet another win at round four of the QRA's British Quad Endurance Series. Some 101 riders made the trip to Cwmcynydd Forest, near Rhayader, in mid-Wales, for the three-hour event with some big hills and open forest roads making it a real challenge for all the competitors.
The weather was kind to the organisers - for achange - and the rain on Saturday gave way to a bright and sunny day onSunday with the damp ground making conditions ideal.
Atkins set off at a cracking pace, posting thefastest lap of the day on his second circuit, with Paul Winrow, AndrewDavis and Jason Wildman, chasing.
But as Atkins reeled-off the laps, the Winrow teamwas in big trouble. First, Paul lost a lap fixing a problem, and thenAndy Downes lost time fixing his bike after a trip in the undergrowth.
However, the most unlucky man of the team wasCaine Hinder as he crashed on lap two and broke his collarbone. Heremounted his bike and rode the finish line for some points, and thentook himself off to hospital.
Atkins crossed the finish line at the end of thethree hours, having completed eight laps of the ten-mile course, that's80 miles at race speeds and he was six minutes in front of secondplaced Andrew Davis, with Jason Wildman a couple of minutes behind that.
Darran Bridge fought-off Ben Morgan for the tophonours in the Expert class as the pair finished within 30 seconds ofeach other, with Roger Page third and Eddie Betton fourth.
Julian Mawbey won the Clubman/ Lady class, while Steve Williams was victorious in the Stock category.
Ian Johnson did seven laps on his 800 Can-Am to take the 4x4 class - with Ross Holloway winning the Support class.
Best crash of the day went to Beverly Barnes whodid one of the biggest jumps of the day over the natural grass jump inthe start field and somersaulted her machine over the fence into thenext field!
Thankfully, she was unhurt.
QRA wish to thank Harry, Jess and the team from Mid Wales DT MC&QC for their help in staging the event.
QRA British Quad Endurance Championship
Rd 4 - Cwmcynydd Forest, Rhayader (QRA)
Pro Class: 1 Steve Atkins (450 ARK Honda), 2Andrew Davies (450 K4 Off-Road Suzuki), 3 Jason Wildman (450 ATV's R UsYamaha), 4 Stuart Jones (450 ARK Honda), 5 Matt James (450 Yamaha UK),6 Chris Cooper (450 Anderson Suzuki), 7 David Baldwin (450 MercuriaYamaha), 8 Clint Eagle (540 Bel-Ray KTM), 9 Ryan Wildman (450 ATV's RUs Yamaha), 10 John Robson (450 Yamaha).
Expert: 1 Darran Bridge (450 ARK Honda), 2 BenMorgan (450 Honda), 3 Roger Page (450 Suzuki), 4 Eddie Betton (450Suzuki), 5 Stefan Murphy (450 Yamaha), 6 Dale Wright (450 WaltonSuzuki), 7 Danny Ratcliffe (450 Suzuki), 8 David Bray (450 ARK ATVHonda), 9 Chris Murphy (450 Yamaha), 10 Gary Bowen (450 Honda).
Clubman: 1 Julian Mawbey (450 Suzuki), 2 NathanPalmer (450 Yamaha), 3 Lewis Hill (450 Suzuki), 4 Ian Johnson (450 JPHonda), 5 Adam Wright (450 Yamaha), 6 John Page (450 JP Honda), 7 PeterGallagher (450 Honda), 8 Beverley Barnes (400 Suzuki), 9 Christian Bye(450 Yamaha), 10 Ashley McConnell (700 AM Yamaha).
Stock: 1 Steve Williams (450 Suzuki), 2 RhodriSelby (700 Yamaha), 3 Lance Hand (300 Gas Gas), 4 Richard Clark (350Yamaha), 5 Wayne Bosworth (700 Yamaha), 6 Moose Pittaway (450 Suzuki),7 Craig Watson (450 Suzuki), 8 Tim Wedgewood (450 Suzuki).
Auto & 4x4: 1 Iain Johnston (800 Can-Am), 2Richard Smith (4x4 Honda), 3 Ross Tipper (750 Kawasaki), 4 Paul Taylor(750 Kawasaki).