Walton Puts on a show at Bicton...
By TMX Archives on 21st May 09
A WELCOME return to the two-day format for the Putoline XC Championship series meant that the Fast Eddy crew were out in strength at Bicton, near Shrewsbury, over the weekend.
With over 35 entrants in the Youth race on Saturday afternoon, the short but interesting Bicton course was bathed in sunshine. On Saturday morning, BEC champion Tom Sagar assisted Paul and Lee Edmondson with a training session which was followed by the fourth round of the Youth series.
Once again George Bayliss took top spot ahead of Andrew Bull, who was on an 85cc, with both riders clocking up 18 laps over the 90-minute race duration. Bayliss not only took the overall win but also the class win in the Youth 125/250F class ahead of Tom James and Liam Phillips.
Bull headed the Big-wheel 85/150F class win, a lap clear of Harland White and two laps up on third-placed Callum McLean.
Oli Benton cleaned up in Small-wheel 85cc with Adam James hot on his heels, both on 17 laps. Jack Edmondson continued his winning ways by taking the Junior 65cc class honours ahead of Alex Walton and Jack Law.
The course was spot on and although a little shorter than usual it provided plenty of challenges with fast open field sections, off-camber turns and a couple of woodland sections.
As Sunday dawned for the two main races of the weekend, the weather threatened heavy rain and shortly after the start of the morning race the grip had turned to slip for the Veteran, Novice and Sportsmen riders.
Heavy showers pounded the course with bright spells in between making conditions tough, especially in the woodland sections with steep off-camber banks to negotiate.
Sportsman Alec Trawford put in an excellent ride to take the overall win by two-clear laps over his closest challenger, Novice class rider Danny Morris. Mike Pickin took second in the Sportsman class with Adam Gould third.
Ian Strudley topped the Veteran ranks, two laps clear of Haydn Bowen, as Stuart Jones slotted into third.
Danny Morris was a country mile clear of second-placed Novice Chris Coulson and he, in turn, was a lap up on Anthony Hall.
By the end of the morning race the weather had improved significantly and as the afternoon race got under way things looked good but strong winds soon moved rain clouds back over the venue and the woodland section became more of an extreme section.
With some foresight, the Fast Eddy crew had removed tapes from the section and gave riders a free range, enabling them to pick their own line. A few of the riders couldn't find any line at all but with some effort most struggled through.
With the field sections getting more slippery with each lap it was Christian Walton's experience in the Expert Veteran class that saw him take the overall win, much to the surprise of Expert James Jackman.
Jackman was sure he had won but Walton had it when the lap results were checked. Jackman took the Expert win but it was something of a consolation prize.
Although he was sandwiched between two other Expert Veterans, Peter Clarke, who took second in class and Wyn Hope took third, proving that in such treacherous conditions experience counts.
Derek Bawn slithered his way to second in the Experts, two laps clear of Martin Jones.
Gareth Delahay was top Clubman rider and just missed out on a top five place overall. Steve Holcombe was a little way behind him, as was Jim Buchanan who took third.
Thankfully common sense prevailed and the race was cut short at around one-hour, 40 minutes. Conditions were appalling and every rider who finished must have felt some personal victory had been achieved.
Bicton is a good venue but unluckily the weather has been unkind over the last couple of Fast Eddy visits. Hopefully, it will be third time lucky later in the year, this will be a superb venue in the dry.
Oli Benton recorded a creditable 17 laps to be rewarded withSmall-wheel 85cc glory
PUTOLINE X-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP
Rd 4 – Bicton, near Shrewsbury
(Fast Eddy Racing)
Expert: 1 James Jackman, 2 Derek Bawn, 3 Martin Jones.
Expert Veteran: 1 Christian Walton, 2 Peter Clarke, 3 Wyn Hope.
Clubman: 1 Gareth Delahay, 2 Steve Holcombe, 3 Jim Buchanan.
Sportsman: 1 Alec Trawford, 2 Mike Pickin, 3 Adam Gould.
Novice: 1 Danny Morris, 2 Chris Coulson, 3 Anthony Hall.
Veteran: 1 Ian Strudley, 2 Haydn Bowen, 3 Stuart Jones.
Youth 125/250F: 1 George Bayliss, 2 Tom James, 3 Liam Phillips
Junior 65cc: 1 Jack Edmondson, 2 Alex Walton, 3 Jack Law.
Small-wheel 85cc: 1 Oli Benton, 2 Adam James, 3 Luke Rudd.
Big-wheel 85cc: 1 Andrew Bull, 2 Harland White, 3 Callum McLean.