Jarvis given the Birch
By TMX Archives on 9th Jul 10
BRITAIN'S Graham Jarvis finished a fine second at the even tougher than usual Red Bull Romaniacs Extreme Enduro last week, to Kiwi battler Chris Birch, following a real roller coaster of a ride.
Jarvis, on the factory 300 four-stroke Sherco, led the event after a super tough opening day, when the extreme course was wet, muddy and slippery, by 30-minutes from then second placed Birch (KTM) and by almost an hour -and-a-half from third-placed BMW-mounted ace Andreas Lettenbichler.
Then on Tuesday, it was initially announced that Jarvis was out of the event with mechanical problems at the half-way stage but he eventually checked-in at the finish some three-hours after day two winner Lettenbichler finished (in 6 hrs 46 mins) with Eurotek KTM's Lancastrian hardman, Paul Bolton, in a fine second place on the day.
Graham was right back on the case again on the third day taking another cracking stage win having finished the day's ride in six-hours 46-minutes, 30-minutes up on Bolton, runner-up for a second consecutive day, with Lettenbichler another 20-minutes down.
Following a couple of days overcoming his own mechanical problems, overall leader Birch consolidated his place at the head of the leader-board to take a hard-earned win while Jarvis had exceeded all his expectations, after Tuesday's tribulations, by racing back to second. Said Graham: "I have to be pleased with second place considering I was effectively out of it.” Winner Birch added: "To even reach the finish after the problems we've had this week was an achievement so first place is a bonus.” Lettenbichler filled the final podium place and commented: "This year the race was even harder than usual because of the rain and each night I was more sore and stiff so I'll definitely take third place.”
FINAL RESULT
OVERALL: 1 Chris Birch (KTM) 28-hours 17-minutes, 2 Graham Jarvis (GB - Sherco) 28hrs 46mins, 3 Andreas Lettenbichler (BMW) 29hrs 18mins, 4 Paul Bolton (GB - KTM) 29hrs 52mins.