Fast Eddy on home EnduroGP - Hang on lads… I’ve got a great idea!
By TMX Archives on 14th Sep 17
The announcement of an Enduro GP round at Hawkstone Park raised plenty of eyebrows and they were raised even further when the format for the weekend-long event was published.
Two Sprint special tests and a GNCC style XC race, well, that's a first but maybe that's what is needed to shake up the Enduro GP world. We go straight to the horse's mouth for the lowdown on how this came to pass. Paul Edmondson is the brains behind the event but he won't be taking much of a role in proceedings. His Husqvarna GP team manager's job will keep him out of the way, so brother Derrick Edmondson will be in the spotlight as event manager. We caught up with Fast Eddy at one of his weekly planning meetings at Hawkstone Park...
TMX: How did this idea come into being?
Fast Eddy: Well, to be perfectly honest this was more the idea of the FIM and Alain Blanchard. They wanted to do something different and me being someone different, it was decided that we would work well together and that is how the introduction of a Sprint Enduro and an XC race into the World Championship came about.
TMX: So the FIM and Mr Blanchard were aware of the format before the announcement last year. Is this to try and improve the interest in World Enduro, because to be honest, this year hasn't been great.
FE: It's been a difficult season and Enduro as a sport has its ups and downs as does any sport but the method behind the madness was to try and introduce a couple of very different races such as the Paijanne race in Finland at the start of the season, which was in snow and worked out really well for everyone, and with the lack of land available in the UK at the moment a venue such as Hawkstone Park can provide all that is needed for an Enduro GP round, it's all we have got!
When we put the proposal together, Alain Blanchard trusted us and had confidence that we knew what we were doing and were capable of putting together an event to the required standard of an Enduro GP.
TMX: Many of the overseas riders may have heard of Hawkstone Park but it is doubtful any of them have ever been to the venue. They cannot fail to be impressed with both the scale and the course, especially the infamous Hawkstone Hill. It all looks great right now but I wonder how many realise just how rough the circuit can get. Will they be prepared?
FE: Hawkstone Park is the most iconic MX venue in the UK but it does adapt itself for enduro, it has been used in the past for many other events in fact it's 20 years to the month since we first ran the original Fast Eddy at the venue. We utilised all of the surrounding woodlands and bought a higher profile to XC events in the UK which I don't think has been matched or emulated.
We are trying to bring that 'big event' feeling back and Hawkstone has the prestige and facilities to do that and make for a cracking atmosphere with world class racing.
TMX: Talking of racing, to your memory has the EnduroGP, E2, Youth and Juniors ever raced shoulder-to-shoulder before?
FE: Not that I know of. It would be great to have everyone start at the same time but nowadays, that's not possible as the classes are separated but imagine 15-20 Enduro GP guys going off the line together, banging bars and racing shoulder to shoulder for the full three hours.
It's like the old days when the American Steve Hatch came over and raced David Knight at the very first event that we did. It is a spectacle that is difficult to repeat but we have the chance this year and with the level of riding at the top end of the World Championship, I reckon it's going to be great.
TMX: Is this event kind of 'back to the roots of racing', most of the riders started off in XC racing rather than time-card events, where a different mentality is required to the usual Special Test mind-set?
FE: Definitely. For instance, among the British riders, Nathan Watson has raced Fast Eddy events at Hawkstone Park before and Steve Holcombe has plenty of experience of our events as do the McCanney brothers, they know exactly what it is all about.
Even the junior lads such as Brad Freeman and Dan Mundell, they have the same background experiences and have grown up racing a mixture of Enduro, XC and Sprints.
TMX: Just how big a risk is this event for you personally?
FE: It's a massive risk. You know what I'm like, never shy of taking a risk and this is a big one for sure. We have had a few sponsors come on-board. Mike Carter from Husky Sport was the first and he put his money where his mouth is to support us in what we feel will be the best event in the UK as far as Enduro is concerned.
The other huge bonus is my brother Derrick, who is now fully committed to running the event. Basically he will be the event manager from the Fast Eddy Racing side and he is putting a lot of time in, as is everyone else, but he has vast experience and his preparation is meticulous and, as we know, good preparation makes for a great event.
TMX: So basically, you're just going to be riding around on your bike all weekend long are you?
FE: Not quite. My main duty will be to help the Husqvarna GP team, as it has been all year. I will be designing and building the track prior to the Wednesday morning when the teams and the personnel start to roll in.
My involvement will be over by the time the event begins. It will be Derrick who will manage and run the event. ABC Communications are the promoters and they will be making sure the paddock is correct and the necessary signage is up etc etc. I think that together with the FIM and the ACU we will crack it and put on a stunning event.
TMX: Salop Motor Club seem to have gone all out for this event. Is it true that there is a new section that has never been used before?
FE: Yes, that's true. Salop Motor Club are really happy to get a World championship event back at Hawkstone Park. They understand the prestige of it and also that there has to be some flexibility to work around the technical parts of the event, which is something they have done really well.
We now have use of the neighbouring shooting club land which will put another two to three minutes onto the lap for Sundays XC races where we can focus on giving riders a 12-minute lap.
TMX: Would you use the word 'spectacular' for this event?
FE: Ha, I'd use the word 'tough'! It will be really tough. We have two sprint tests that are as different from each other as is possible. A fast and furious MX test around the Hawkstone MX track and a tough and technical long Enduro test that will become tougher with each passing run over it. The enduro test will be full of technical sections, some of the toughest the riders will have faced for a long time.
It will come as a shock to many riders who have never ridden at Hawkstone previously, they have no idea how rough and hard this place gets. It's going to be very interesting on the September 23-24 and we are going to witness some really good action.
