Tough Taddy triumphs
By TMX Archives on 22nd Jan 09
Disappointment for Knight and delight for Blazusiak as the 2009 Tough One Extreme Enduro proves to be as challenging as everWhen it comes to extreme events, every rider knows that anything can and often does happen. And this year's Tough One proved just that as pre-race favourite, David Knight, failed to make it five consecutive wins after mechanical troubles robbed him of victory while leading. While Knight was forced to retire from the event with clutch troubles, Poland's factory KTM rider, Taddy Blazusiak, got his 2009 season off to a winning start, becoming the first rider ever to top the podium at Nantmawr Quarry other than Knight. Joining Taddy on the podium were Tom Sagar and Wayne Braybrook.
During the two-hour race, four riders held the lead with Taddy leading the way for the majority of the race. With the course revised and reversed for this year, and in the eyes of many not as demanding as in previous years, in reality the race was anything but easy. With heavy overnight rain giving way to dry skies, the event was the muddiest Tough One yet, which resulted in no let up for the riders. Indeed, a number of the steep climbs had to be re-routed during the event when they started to prove impass-able or became blocked with riders trying to make their way to the top.
The Le Mans style start was back for 2009 and saw all riders faced with a tiring up-hill run before they got to their waiting bikes. First away in the main Tough One race
was Wayne Braybrook, who managed to keep Knighter' behind him for the entire opening lap. Soon after the start of the second lap however, Knight put his BMW out front and quickly opened up a lead of around 45
-seconds.
But seemingly, as soon as he'd hit the front, Knight was sidelined from the race, which handed the lead initially back to Braybrook before local favourite and reigning British Enduro Champion, Tom Sagar, took to the front.
Making his Husaberg debut, and having never managed to finish on the podium at The Tough
One before, the local Oswestry rider, Sagar, looked settled but was unable to stop Blazusiak passing him for the lead.
I had a bad start and then pushed as hard as I could, explained Tom. I made a lot of mistakes when Taddy passed me, and got stuck behind fallen riders. Then I'd try and avoid them and get stuck or fall myself. It takes a lot out of you picking up and pushing a 450 in the tough sections. Once I settled down, I felt I was riding well.
With Taddy hitting the front and clearly pushing as hard as he could to make sure Sagar didn't re-inherit the lead, Braybrook remained at the sharp end of the race, but unable to challenge either of the two riders ahead of him.
I managed to get another great start and lead for the first lap, which was perfect, admitted Braybrook. I could hear David's bike behind me on the first lap so I knew it would only be a matter of time before he passed me and when he did I settled down. I had bad arm pump for a long time, which I couldn't shake. After about an hour, I started to feel good again and despite a few small falls I didn't have any problems. I knew I wasn't going to get near Tom and Taddy once they'd past me, so I settle for third, which I'm thrilled with.
With Sagar second and Braybrook third, Taddy attacked each lap as if it were the first, using his wild riding style to pass lapped riders whenever he came across them. I had a pretty good start but I got pushed back on the run up the hill. I had a lot of work to do passing riders, and getting past Tom on the 450 was really difficult. Tom was riding really well and made me work hard for the first hour.
Once I knew I had an OK lead, I was just watching my pit board. The track isn't great for trials riders, because it's a difficult cross-country course. That's why I'm so pleased to have won. It was definitely tough.
With Taddy, Sagar and Braybrook the only three riders able to complete 11 laps, the next rider home was Dougie Lampkin. Making his first appearance at the Tough One, Dougie put in an impressive ride despite a heavy fall over the tyre section early in the race.
It's been a tough debut, but I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Fourth place against so many experienced riders is a great result for me first time out.
Matching Dougie on ten laps completed was KTM rider Edward Jones. Going quietly about his business during the race, Edward went on to finish highest placed non-trials rider.
Rounding out the top ten were David Wood in sixth, Joe Baker in seventh, Daryl Bolter in eighth, Mark Jackson in ninth and Martin Craven tenth.
THE TOUGH ONE EXTREME ENDURO
Nantmawr Quarry, nr Oswestry (WOR Events)
MAIN TOUGH ONE RACE
Pro Class: 1 Taddy Blazusiak (PL - 250 KTM) 11 laps - 1:57:07 time, 2 Tom Sagar (450 Husaberg) 11 - 1:59:46, 3 Wayne Braybrook (300 Gas Gas) 11 - 2:05:07, 4 Dougie Lampkin (450 Beta) 10 - 1:59:17, 5 Edward Jones (KTM) 10 - 2:09:47, 6 David Wood (250 Yamaha) 9 - 1:59:07, 7 Joe Baker (250 KTM) 9 - 2:00:27, 8 Darryl Bolter (KTM) 9 - 2:01:36, 9 Mark Jackson (200 KTM) 9 - 2:04:13, 10 Martin Craven (KTM) 8 - 1:57:30, 11 Andy Cripps (Kawasaki) 8 - 1:58:42, 12 Geoff Walker (KTM AWD) 8 - 2:00:13, 13 Andrew Hackett (KTM) 8 - 2:00:54, 14 Rowland Morris (KTM) 8 - 2:01:35, 15 Justin Wilson (Yamaha) 8 - 2:01:47, 16 David Myers (KTM) 8 - 2:02:30, 17 Lincoln Brewster (KTM) 8 - 2:03:15, 18 Greg Evans (KTM) 8 - 2:03:20, 19 Ashley Wood (250 Gas Gas) 7 - 1:36:27, 20 Phillip McLaughlin (300 TM) 7 - 2:03:49, 21 Bradley King (Gas Gas) 7 - 2:14:01, 22 Richard Ellwood (???) 6 - 1:58:47, 23 Lee Sampson (250 Husqvarna) 4 - 0:57:21, 24 Harry Hillas (KTM) 4 - 1:54:39, 25 Martin Sandiford (Husqvarna)) 3 - 0:46:05, 26 David Knight (450 BMW) 2 - 0:20:01, 27 Paul Edmondson (125 Suzuki) 2 - 0:25:08.
Expert Class: 1 Rob Pollard (KTM) 9 laps - 2:06:19 time, 2 Gary Daniels (KTM) 8 - 2:01:21, 3 Stephen Dixon (250F Scorpa Long Ride) 8 - 2:03:18, 4 Gareth Andrew (???) 8 - 2:05:46, 5 Rob Reese (KTM) 8 - 2:06:47, 6 Barry Kinley (Gas Gas) 8 - 2:09:10, 7 Ben Begbie (KTM) 8 - 2:09:16, 8 Simon Comer (Gas Gas) 8 - 2:09:40, 9 Wayne Mundell (KTM) 7 - 1:57:49, 10 Tyson Maytom-Jones (450 Husaberg) 7 - 2:05:43, 11 Jason Crossland (Gas Gas) 7 - 2:07:09, 12 Lewis Belfield (KTM) 7 - 2:07:23, 13 Ben Wootton (Suzuki) 7 - 2:07:44, 14 Gary Benniman (Beta) 7 - 2:11:58, 15 Chay Granby (Gas Gas) 7 - 2:12:30, 16 Joe Deakin (Husqvarna) 6 - 2:01:59, 17 Shaun Turner (Yamaha) 6 - 2:10:18, 18 Chris Salt (KTM) 6 - 2:15:37, 19 Daf Jones (Gas Gas) 5 - 2:01:29, 20 Simon Thomas (Husqvarna) 5 - 2:15:49, 21 Tom Potter (Husqvarna) 4 - 1:54:49, 22 Jamie Robinson (KTM) 4 - 2:06:45, 23 James Burroughs (Husqvarna) 4 - 2:07:18, 24 Nathan Bolton (Husaberg) 4 - 2:09:55, 25 Rob Morris (KTM) 3 - 1:55:02, 26 Si Melber (KTM) 3 - 2:15:12, 27 Mark Pickard (KTM) 2 - 0:47:49, 28 Douglas Sheply (Gas Gas) 2 - 1:06:58, 29 Kevin Harris (KTM) 1 - 0:25:58, 30 Justin Carter (KTM) 1 - 0:30:14, 31 Grant Hacking (Kawasaki) 1 - 0:30:27, 32 Darren Hall (Gas Gas) 1 - 0:37:23, 33 Lee Cross (KTM) 1 - 0:57:13, 34 David Bennett (Husqvarna) 1 - 0:58:51.
CLUBMAN & OVER 40 RACE
Clubman: 1 Marcus Jones (200 KTM) 6 - 1:35:55, 2 Craig Parkes (200 KTM) 6 - 1:37:27, 3 Ian Hutchinson (450 KTM) 6 - 1:54:29, 4 Conrad Cummings (300 Gas Gas) 5 - 1:30:59, 5 Ryan Golding (250 KTM) 5 - 1:31:48, 6 David Carter (400 KTM) 5 - 1:32:53, 7 Michael Briggs (???) 5 - 1:34:01, 8 Chris Garlick (450 Husaberg) 5 - 1:35:20, 9 Caerwyn John (200 KTM) 5 - 1:35:49, 10 Pete Bailey (250 KTM) 5 - 1:36:07, 11 Phil Houghton (200 KTM) 5 - 1:36:17, 12 Lee Cornish (250 KTM) 5 - 1:40:12, 13 Joe Mitchinson (250 KTM) 5 - 1:42:40, 14 Daz Williams (250 Gas Gas) 5 - 1:43:40, 15 Matt Lewis (250 Honda) 5 - 1:45:16, 16 Mark Woodvine (300 KTM) 5 - 1:46:53, 17 Robbie Turner (250 KTM) 5 - 1:50:13, 18 Greg Hodge (250 KTM) 5 - 1:52:59, 19 Johnny Jones (125 Kawasaki) 5 - 1:55:31, 20 Rob Breakwell (250 Yamaha) 4 - 1:16:37.
Over 40: 1 Allan Price (200 KTM) 6 - 1:40:02, 2 Gavin Johnston (250 KTM) 6 - 1:43:07, 3 Geoff Hand (300 Gas Gas) 6 - 1:47:09, 4 Ian Jones (300 KTM) 5 - 1:35:42, 5 Gary McCoy (250 KTM) 5 - 1:36:00, 6 Mike Turner (250 KTM) 5 - 1:37:09, 7 Ian Spence (250 KTM) 4 - 1:30:35, 8 Wayne Golding (250 KTM) 4 - 1:30:50, 9 Rob McLeod (250F Yamaha) 4 - 1:39:37, 10 Ian Coburn (250 KTM 2T) 4 - 1:45:57, 11 Richard Main (250 Yamaha) 4 - 2:09:06, 12 Findlay White (250 KTM) 3 - 1:34:53, 13 Delwyn Pugh (???) 3 - 2:02:16, 14 Gareth Wilkinson (200 KTM) 2 - 1:25:04, 15 Allan Hopwood (300 KTM) 1 - 0:28:59.
FOR FULL REPORT SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2009
The Tough One crowd contained lots of locals who urged on their favourite Tom Sagar on the Husaberg.