Helmsley ready for BEC Action
By TMX Archives on 4th May 17
After the very successful opening rounds of this years ACU British Timecard Enduro Championship taking place in Scotland, the series now heads to the picturesque market town of Helmsley, North Yorkshire over the weekend of May 13/14
Clerk of the course John Kerwin has spent the last few months busy revamping this year's event and, with the recent spell of dry weather and ground conditions bone dry, all things are looking good for another cracking round.
With the start/refuelling area being moved further down the road into a larger space, plus the route being far more flowing and less technical, along with check times being more relaxed than previous years, all classes should find the event far more enjoyable.
John has set out a 20-mile forest route, using two new XC styled Special Tests and with possibly three checks per lap. John has also used Paul Edmondson's vast experience and input on both the new XC tests design layout.
XC Test 1 is located 500m from the start near the farm and will be fast flowing through mature wildly spaced trees and should run at around three minutes for championship class riders.
XC Test 2 is located where the 2015 long test was, but apart from the start /finish area is on all new ground, this should run for around eight minutes for Championship class riders.
Brad Freeman, fresh from recently winning the Junior class at the World Enduro Championship round in Spain, current USA GNCC X3 class leader Jack Edmondson and Nathan Watson will try to narrow the margin on current leader Danny McCanney, who will be missing from this round.
Not far behind the leading quartet, though are flying Welshman Jamie Lewis, Cornish star Josh Gotts and former top motocross rider Alex Snow.
Other BEC regulars including Lee Sealey, Stuart Edmonds trying his hand at enduros, plus Scottish pair Fraser Flockhart and Frazer Norrie will all be hoping to score some good points.
Another young man on a mission will be Dan Mundell who took a well deserved Under 20 class win at the European Enduro Championship at the opening round in Portugal.
In the highly competitive Expert class in-form Jay Thomas will be the man to beat, but hoping to get close will be experienced riders Bradley King and Kevin Murray, much improved Andrew Bisset and Aaron Gordon, along with youngsters Jordan Ridgeway, Alex Walton, Brad Williams and Roger Holland to name but a few.
In the Clubman another close battle will be between Fred Adams, Tom James, Allyn Taylor, Lewis Ranger, Harry Hillier-Rees and Duncan Norrie, all capable of taking class wins on their day.
Rosie Rowett and Glesni Jones will pick up where they left off at Scotland in the Ladies, but no Ellie Cooke this time after picking up a wrist injury last time out. Both Andrew Edwards (Over 40) and Paul Davies (Over 50) will take some beating in their respective classes.
It's all starting to hot up in this year's BEC series and with a new and improved Helmsley on the cards, its looking like we will be in for a belter!
The start is located off Braxton's Road, Helmsley, North Yorkshire (YO62 5EP).
The venue will be signposted from Helmsley market square.
Signing-on/scrutineering will take place on the Friday between 4pm – 8pm.
First riders will start at 10am Saturday and 9am Sunday.
For further information on the event checkout the clubs website – www.dirtbike-action.co.uk
