Full Marks to Roberts!
By TMX Archives on 28th Aug 08
THE penultimate round of the Putoline X-Country Championship was the toughest by far in the 2008 series. Organised by fasteddyracing.com, event supremo, Paul Edmondson, knew the course would be tough following horrendous weather the previous evening.
Berwyn Leisure Park was the fantastic venue with a superb five-mile course set in and around a magnificent Welsh valley but overnight rain really toughened things up as the numerous off-camber climbs and descents, up and down the valley slopes, became a real challenge and the attrition rate amongst riders was high.
A gutsy move by Mark Roberts to upgrade from Expert to Pro saw him take the event by storm, despite finishing with a hole in his engine casing and pushing his bike across the finish line.
The Bank Holiday weekend saw riders flood to the impressive venue, just outside Chirk, for both Saturday's Youth races and Sunday's main event. This round of the series was unusual in as much as it ran alongside a WOR event at the same venue and at the same time.
The venue was previously used for the third round of the popular GBXC series and obviously made an impression as many of the riders came back for more. With both events running simultaneously over the same course, there were plenty of riders on the line at the start of the race but within 200 yards, many were on the deck as the first off-cambered hill took its toll. Much of the course was a little more extreme than previous events in the series but those riders who managed to complete more than one lap went on to make it to the chequered flag as the course gradually dried and conditions improved significantly.
The valley floor was relatively easy and gave many riders a chance to relax although this last section of the five-mile lap had its own hidden traps. Very wet ground soon churned up and riders had to contend with major ruts in some section, which wove their way over streams and across major whoop sections.
Mark Roberts, on his JKJ Kawasaki, looked like a winner right from the start and was one of the few riders to embrace the challenge head-on as he really attacked the course. A hole in his engine casing saw him stop before the finish line and push his bike across, but he had done enough for a clear win.
Jack Twentyman topped the Expert ranks with a gritty and determined ride which called on all of his experience and skill to make the finish line. Derek Bawn was another rider who went well, but it was Tsar Sheane who took second with Steve Grimshaw third.
Ben Roberts topped Clubman 2T with a lap in hand over Shaun Buchan and Simon MacKune, while Sean O'Neill headed Clubman 4T, also a lap up on Royce Machin and Gareth Delahay.
A great ride from Alec Trawford saw him rewarded with victory in the Novice 2T class, but it was a close thing with challenger Kev Sandland just a minute behind on the same lap. Mike Reynolds claimed third in class.
Jim Fitzsimmons nailed Novice 4T with a massive four laps in hand over Mark Bradbury in second – the only two riders to finish in the class.
Dave Grimshaw pulled a lap on second placed Darren Pyne in the Super Clubman category with Youth rider Johnny Jones in third.
Dennis Harrison pipped Richard Main to the finish line in Veteran 35, with Andy Taylor in third, some three laps behind. The Veterans fared well relatively speaking. The class had most of its starters finish the race, proving that you cannot beat experience. David Lote took the win as Ivan Sheane, who considered quitting after the opening lap, took second place. Andrew Seymour followed Sheane to the line in third.
It was tough and challenging to the extreme but those who managed to dig deep were rewarded with the satisfaction of having completed possibly the toughest Putoline XC Championship event of all time.
Organiser Paul Edmondson was pleased to see so many finishers over such a tough course, confirming his belief that riding standards are definitely improving.
PUTOLINE X-COUNTRY CHAMPS
Rd 6 – Berwyn Leisure Park (fasteddyracing.com)
Pro: 1 Mark Roberts.
Expert: 1 Jack Twentyman, 2 Tsar Sheane, 3 Steve Grimshaw.
Super Clubman: 1 Dave Grimshaw, 2 Darren Pyne, 3 Johnny Jones.
Clubman 2T: 1 Ben Roberts, 2 Shaun Buchan, 3 Simon MacKune.
Clubman 4T: 1 Sean O'Neill, 2 Royce Machin, 3 Gareth Delahay.
Novice 2T: 1 Alec Trawford, 2 Kev Sandland, 3 Mike Reynolds.
Novice 4T: 1 Jim Fitzsimmons, 2 Mark Bradbury, 3 Jason Heartwell.
Vets 35: 1 Dennis Harrison, 2 Richard Main, 3 Andy Taylor.
Vets & Ladies: 1 David Lote, 2 Ivan Sheane, 3 Andy Seymour.
Jack Edmondson looks set to follow in his dad's footsteps as he speeds to the 65cc win.