WEC GP of Wales is all systems go
By TMX Archives on 27th Feb 08
HAFREN Dirt Bike club is pleased to announce that everything is moving along well with preparation for this year's World Enduro Championship round to be held in Llanidloes, Mid Wales, on July 19/20. And with less than six months until the event, the club has managed to secure some major backing from both inside and outside the motorcycle industry.
BMW Motorrad UK's Tony Jakeman stated: "We have chosen the WEC GP of Wales as the major public launch for our all new G450X which will be available in the dealers soon after the event, it's also going to be the first time that the BMW factory team have competed in the UK.”
Paul Ranson stated that: "EMG Motor Group in conjunction with LDV Vans of Birmingham are pleased to be able to support the Hafren club with its WEC round in July. EMG is always keen to support any club taking on the organisation of a WEC or BEC events in addition to sponsoring the East Anglian Enduro Championship.”
Husky Sport supremo Mike Carter enthused: "We are again delighted to help the Hafren Dirt Bike club as they are one of the premier organisers of Enduro events in this country. Bringing a world round to Wales is a tremendous outlay and achievement for the club and we wish them and all competitors a fantastic weekend. We will be selfish and pray for a Husqvarna win!”
KTM UK, MD Shaun Sisterton: "The Hafren round of the WEC will be fantastic weekend for British Enduro. It will also be an excellent opportunity for us to demonstrate that we can put on a great show for the World Enduro audience. KTM UK is delighted to be supporting this event.”
Other sponsors supporting this event include The Awning Company, DEP, Hawk Plant Hire, Putoline, Renthal, Rush Racing, RPA MX, TBM and Wicked Wild Web designs. Without companies such as these putting something back into the sport, events like this wouldn't be possible in the UK The club would like to thank all those who have already committed their support to the event – and there are still plenty of opportunities left!
The route for the course has now been finalised and approved, with new tracks being made and some ‘old school' ones cleared that have not been used in enduros for the last ten- years.
Competitors will tackle three demanding 30-mile laps of the Hafren Forest each day, with some of the world's finest riders taking on the unique Welsh Forests for the first time. The three special test have been finalised with the motocross test just right down the road from the start area near to the town.
Then, at Glynhafren Farm, just five-miles from the start, will be both the Enduro and Extreme special tests, along with the central service area.
The Extreme test, which promises to be a real cracker, is in a piece of forest that has never been used before. There will be plenty of tricky, rocky climbs and natural obstacles, with the addition on tons of logs and boulders that will be brought into to create some gnarly sections as used at the ‘Tough One'.
Access roads are being widened and improved to allow better access for the ‘big rigs' the factory teams have on the WEC circuit these days. New areas of hard-standing parking are being put in place to ensure parking won't cause problems, even if the event is in July!
THE Husky Sport-Husqvarna MX test, which will be close to the paddock on the edge of the town, this will be mainly on rolling grass fields with natural ups and downs creating some great airtime opportunities.
THE KTM UK Enduro Test, this will be situated at Glynhafren Farm on the edge of the Hafren forest where the central service area will also be, this will be a mix of steep grassy cambered fields and open oak woodland tracks, with some more technical sections.
THE BMW Motorrad Xtreme test will be within walking distance of the Enduro test at Glynhafren Farm to allow spectators maximum viewing without having to use their cars. This will start and finish in a quarry, and will be a mix of natural obstacles such rocky climbs and gullys, and man-made stuff like logs, rocks, tyres etc, this will be real test of the riders technical skills.