Knighterjack Enduro!
By TMX Archives on 30th Sep 11
Thanks to the considerable efforts of the organising REME KTM Team the sixth and final round of the Metzeler ACU British Enduro Championship the Putoline Natterjack Enduro ensured a hugely positive end to the 2011 series...
The Metzeler ACU British Enduro Championship drew to a close last weekend where KTM Off Road Racing team rider Greg Evans put the finishing touches to superb season to become the 2011 overall BEC champion. Winning the European Enduro Championship Senior E2/E3 title one weekend earlier, Greg arrived at the REME organised Putoline Natterjack Enduro with an 11-point advantage, and well aware that he didn't need to try and challenge for the win in order to secure the coveted Championship class title.
Placing fourth on day one behind David Knight, his closest rival Tom Sagar and Alex Rockwell, Greg ensured that only a complete disaster on day two would see him fail to secure the championship. But by finishing in fifth place Greg avoided the disaster and secured the BEC title much to the delight of his KORR team.
"It's been a great season for me and the team and winning the British championship is amazing,” commented Greg after the event. "When we knew Knighter wouldn't be competing in all rounds it opened the championship up and apart from a few mishaps it's been great. I never normally go too well here at the Natterjack so I'm pleased enough with my results. But the most important thing is to have won the title, which is great.”
While Greg claimed his first ever overall BEC title it was David Knight who topped the Championship class on both days, once again showing that his five-month lay-off has done little to slow him down.
While always a challenging event due to the unforgiving nature of the sandy, southern terrain, this year's Natterjack was especially demanding as a tighter than normal time schedule on day one resulted in riders having little time to rest. A real test of endurance, while few riders picked up time penalties all ended the day feeling more than a little second hand.
Each of the two special tests used to decide the results were also challenging. The enduro test featured a great mixture of slower, technical sections as well as faster more flowing rides. The motocross test featured additional jumps, making it a truly world class test.
Although not dominating the opening day due to the fact that the he found the going tough on his recently operated on hips, Knighter nevertheless topped the Championship class results on day one ahead of Tom Sagar, who kept him honest throughout the day. Alex Rockwell put in one of his best rides of the series to secure third with Evans fourth and Paul Edmondson fifth.
With times eased for the second day it was again Knighter who set the pace with Sagar and Rockwell again second and third. Enjoying a bigger winning margin than on day one Knight topped all of the day's seven tests. Jonny Walker improved to fourth on day two, having lost 30 seconds on the first test on day one when his transponder moved and restricted his steering capabilities. With Greg Evans fifth, Jamie Lewis placed sixth as he did on day one.
In the Expert class Jack Rowland set a pace that no rider could match, finishing minutes ahead of runner-up Allun Jones. With Jack and Allun topping the Enduro 1 four-stroke and two-stroke classes respectively third overall went to Matt Holcombe who won the E2 class. In placing fifth overall in the Expert class Dan Beaven claimed the win in the E3 category.
FOR FULL REPORT AND PICTURES SEE T+MX SEPTEMBER 30
METZELER ACU British Enduro Champs
PUTOLINE Natterjack Enduro
Rd 6 – Bordon, Hampshire (REME KTM Team)
Day 1
Championship: 1 David Knight, 2 Tom Sagar, 3 Alex Rockwell, 4 Greg Evans, 5 Paul Edmondson, 6 Jamie Lewis, 7 Danny McCanney, 8 Jonny Walker, 9 Ricky Mair, 10 Ashley Wood.
Expert: 1 Jack Rowland, 2 Allun Jones, 3 Matt Holcombe, 4 Charlie Evans, 5 Dan Beaven, 6 Jack Lee, 7 Wyn Hughes, 8 Jamie Roper, 9 Craig Reynolds, 10. Sam Toy.
Veteran: 1 Carl Tiley, 2 Russell Millward, 3 Paul Davies, 4 Mike Turner, 5 James Harvey, 6 Neil Bowker, 7 Euan Harrison, 8 Simon Becken, 9 Paul Hearn, 10 Simon Pavey.
Clubman: 1 Fraser Flockhart, 2 Brad Freeman, 3 Aled Price, 4 Conner Stains, 5 Josh Gotts, 6 Gethin Francomb, 7 Declan Helliwell, 8 Daniel Price, 9 Phil Maltby, 10 Tony Cotty.
Sportsman: 1 Elliot Davies, 2 Steve Hall, 3 Craig Parker, 4 Phil Rowley, 5 Andy Gale, 6 Ben Shaw, 7 Carl Dyderski, 8 Ian Hounsham, 9 Martin Pickard, 10 Gordon Macpherson.
Sidecar Championship: 1 Alun Davies, 2 Alistair Nevill.
Day 2
Championship: 1 David Knight, 2 Tom Sagar, 3 Alex Rockwell, 4 Jonny Walker, 5 Greg Evans, 6 Jamie Lewis, 7 Paul Edmondson, 8 Danny McCanney, 9 Ashley Wood, 10 Gavin Houson.
Expert: 1 Steve Holcombe, 2 Jamie Roper, 3 Allun Jones, 4 Oliver Hart, 5 Tyson Maytom-Jones, 6 Richard Ely, 7 Jack Lee, 8 Dan Beaven, 9 Aaron Smith, 10 Charlie Evans.
Veteran: 1 Carl Tiley, 2 Russell Millward, 3 Mike Turner, 4 Paul Davies, 5 Neil Bowker, 6 Euan Harrison, 7 James Harvey, 8 Simon Beken, 9 Simon Pavey, 10 Paul Hearn.
Clubman: 1 Fraser Flockart, 2 Aled Price, 3 Rob Johnson, 4 Jeremy Callow, 5 Aaron Dibnah, 6 Mark Cringle, 7 Josh Gotts, 8 Josh Corlett, 9 Declan Helliwell, 10 Brad Freeman.
Sportsman: 1 Elliot Davies, 2 Ben Shaw, 3 Phil Rowley, 4 Martin Pickard, 5 Steve Hall, 6 Andy Gale, 7 Carl Dyderski, 8 Ian Houscham, 9 Gina Bewley, 10 Mike Wright.
Sidecar Championship: 1 Alun Davies.
Sidecar Clubman: 1 Eirian Rees.
