Bayliss 'lites up Chavenage!
By TMX Archives on 20th May 10
Round one of the ACU British Cross Country Championship took place at the weekend at Chavenage Farm, near Tetbury, Gloucester, and the Midwest Motor Cycle Club had marked out a splendid seven mile course which was certainly no multi-lap around the fields, but a true Enduro style course with fast flowing sections followed by technical tracks through several woods and a deep stream crossing thrown in for good measure.Report: John CollinsPictures: MARTIN harding
The morning race started at 10am and was two hours long for Sportsmen, Over 50s and Clubman. There was a light shower at 9.30am but it barely softened the parched earth. The course was in excellent condition and from the start the riders looped around a cambered field and then ran along the hedgerows to the first of four wooded sections. This was a smooth descent while between the first and second woods there were a series of bombholes.
Lap one took the 20 minutes the organiser had predicted and as the crowds gathered at the time control it was Richard Reeve who was the first Sportsman to complete the lap , closely followed by Wayne Tibbles and Rob Maller. Clubman Jason Hamblin had made steady progress through the field to get amongst the earlier classes and he was just a few seconds ahead of brother Mark. Alan James was the first Over 50 to complete the lap followed by Dave Jarman.
At the end of lap two, Jason Hamblin had reached the front with brother Mark still close behind. Rob Maller was now leading the Sportsman, with a slender margin over Glen Woodland. At the bottom of the valley, riders had an option of tackling a log and then a deep water splash, or chosing an easier but longer alternative. Hugo Kirkwood was having a torrid time in the water and probably felt he had taken the wrong option. Chris Paget and Chis Stevens took the difficult option in their stride and attacked with gusto and were impressive, as was Ben Perret. Richard Dyke was one of the quickest through Infamous scribe Bob Mullins, was reported to have been seen entering the pits after just one lap, but this was certainly not to retire, but to throw off his jacket as temperatures were rising. He circulated steadily for the rest of the event in attire quite suitable for the beach! Dave May-Miller was going well until he hit a tree and snapped his fuel tank mounts.
At the end of the morning, Clubman 2T Jason Hamblin won the AM race in a class of his own with eight laps, brother Mark was runner-up - both are from a trials background and this was only their second XC. Daniel Price was the best of the Clubman 4Ts with seven laps. Dave Jarman also clocked up seven laps to win the Over 50s, Rob Maller was the best 2T Sportsman and Glenn Woodland won the 4Ts. Both did seven laps.
The main two and a half hour event started at 1pm and heavy rain showers had arrived with more promised. Lewis Belfield took the holeshot and by the time he had disappeared through the hedge he had a good 50 yards lead. Daryl Bolter's distinctive Dayglo helmet flashed amongst the leaders but after 15 minutes Midwest Husaberg's Ollie Moyce was the first to emerge from the trees.
At the halfway point Bolter took the lead on his KORR KTM. The rain came and went in short sharp showers but it did little to cool the heat of the battle for second between Ollie Moyce and Ashley Wood. The stream crossing got deeper and the marshals had to remove a couple of sandbags to lower the water level. With just 15 minutes to go the heavens opened, the course greased-up and the riders slowed down. Bolter held the lead from Moyce with Ashley Wood, on the Steve Plain Gas Gas UK, in third and Jon Hinam fourth.
Simon Wakely had lost the washer off his fuel tank and was being splashed with petrol. Hinam came through the gate in fourth with a minute to go. His KTM was on reserve. If he pitted he could concede fourth to Wakely but the flag dropped before Si reached it and Jon closed the course with the pressure off.
ACU British Cross Country Championship
Rd 1 - Chavenage Farm, near Tetbury
Sportsman 2T: 1 Rob Maller (Yamaha), 2 Chris Stevens (Gas Gas), 3 Mark Schofield (KTM).
Sportsman 4T: 1 Glen Woodland (Yamaha), 2 Richard Reeve (Suzuki), 3 Ben Perret (Yamaha).
Clubman 2T: 1 James Hamblin (KTM), 2 Mark Hamblin (Suzuki), 3 James Reeves (KTM).
Clubman 4T: 1 Daniel Price ( Yamaha) 2 Jeremy Dance (KTM) 3) Stephen Nunn ( KTM)
Over 50: 1 James Jarman (KTM), 2 Alan James (Husaberg), 3 Peter Neale (Husaberg).
Championship: 1 Daryl Bolter (KTM), 2 Ollie Moyce (Husaberg), 3 Ashley Wood (Gas Gas).
Expert: 1 Tyson Maytom-Jones (Husaberg), 2 James Burroughs (Husqvarna), 3 Seb Dexter (Suzuki).
Clubman Elite: 1 George Baylis (Yamaha), 2 Niki Walker (KTM), 3 Chris Honeywell (Suzuki).
Over 40 Expert: 1 Ady Smith (KTM), 2 Gary Baker (Husaberg), 3 Jack Twentyman (Yamaha).
NEXT ROUND JUNE 20 - Round 2: Rideoffroad UK, Low North Camp, Harwood Dale, Scarborough.