MURPHY’S TIME
By TMX Archives on 11th Feb 15
A WINTER competing in the French Sand Championship paid dividends for Stefan Murphy at Hawkstone Park on Sunday where he took overall victory in the opening round of the ACU British Quad Championship to lead the series for the first time in his career.
A WINTER competing in the French Sand Championship paid dividends for Stefan Murphy at Hawkstone Park on Sunday where he took overall victory in the opening round of the ACU British Quad Championship to lead the series for the first time in his career.
The 24-year-old ATV's R Us Yamaha-rider admitted the additional race fitness and bike prep time stood him in good stead, as the superbly prepared Shropshire sand track dug up particularly deep and rough over the course of the day, and took its toll of many riders and machines.
Murphy did not win any of the three races but his 2-3-3 card was enough to give him victory by a single point over former British champion, Paul Holmes, who looked back to his title-winning best when he won the final heat.
"The Hawkstone track is not necessarily like the French sand ones I've been riding recently, which have been largely beaches,” explained Murphy, "But I did come here race ready and with a lot of knowledge about my bike's set-up. For a lot of riders this was their first time out this year and Hawkstone is a tough track for your opening race.”
The former Under 21 British Champion had not qualified strongly, ending up eighth of the 40 starters.
Pole position instead went to Northern Ireland's Dean Colhoun, who many, including the now semi-retired reigning champion Paul Winrow, had tipped as the pre-event favourite.
However, at the start of the opening race they all had to play second fiddle to Welshman Luke Cooper who fired his KTM into a strong early lead, ahead of a five-way battle comprising of Oli Sansom, Murphy, Colhoun, George Callaway and Ireland's Jack Rayburn. Then, in the space of half a lap everything changed.
FOR FULL REPORT AND PICTURES SEE TMX NEWS, FERUARY 12, 2015 (ISSUE 1958)
