Course conditions were perfect for the 5th round of the Dave Barkshire Motorcycles Two Man Enduro Championship organised by the Sudbury Motor Cycle Club at Foxborough Quarry Sible Hedingham. Although a disappointing entry of only 25 teams over the three Classes those who rode thoroughly enjoyed the way the course was laid out. For the first time at a Two Man the Sudbury Club used their timing and recording system where riders had to swipe their wristband transponders against the receiver at the end of each lap while the special test timing was done the usual way.
The Championship Class although with only three teams was hotly contested by Glenn Walsh/Craig Roper, Stevie Roper/Jack Berry (both pairs Sudbury) and Aston Bird/Carl Grantham (Woodbridge). Bird was in dominating form completing 15 laps along with Grantham’s 12 laps in the morning session however their total of 27 laps was equalled by Walsh & C Roper while S Roper and Berry did 26 laps. During the afternoon session Walsh came off on the first lap and had to retire also did not record a time on the Special Test and then C Roper rode all the sub sessions but the team failed to finish. Meanwhile Bird/Grantham and S Roper/Berry were fighting it out for first place and at the end of the two hours Bird/Grantham were the winners on 53.00 laps from S Roper/Berry on 51.5 laps. From these provisional results it looks like that Bird/Grantham will be the Championship Class winners for 2015 with one round to go. There was some close and very keen riding in the Expert Class and at the end of the morning session Kieron Snowling/Mark Sharman (Halstead) completed 53 laps while on 52 laps were Rob Aldridge (Diss)/Ed Pooley (Stowmarket), Kevin Palmer Norwich)/Ben Grice (Lowestoft) and Martin & David Stevens (Diss). The afternoon session proved decisive with Aldridge & Pooley putting together an excellent ride winning the Class on 51.25 laps, with 2
nd Palmer/Grice 50.25 laps, 3
rd Snowling/Sharman 50.00 laps beating the Stevens brothers who rode the same number of laps by point 18 seconds on the Special Test. Although it is yet to be confirmed it looks like that Aldrdige & Pooley are the 2015 winners of the Expert Class making their Sponsor Paul Ranson of the Ranson Racing Team a happy man.
The Clubman Class was well contested with John Austin/Paul Bailey (Sudbury) and Dan Willis (Stowmarket)/Chris Wright (Diss)finishing the morning session on 25 laps with Perry Miller/Phil Whiting (Sudbury) and Kevin Silvain/Dean Southernwood (TBEC) on 24 laps. It was all down to the afternoon session and to what time penalties might be deducted and Willis/Wright came out top with 49.25 laps, 2
nd Silvain/Southernwood 49.00 laps, and 3rd Austin/Bailey 47.00 laps while Miller/Whiting secured 4
th place on 45.50 pushing Dale Wiseman/Kevin Gore (Norwich) into 5
th place by point 19 seconds on the Special Test. It appears that Willis and Wright have an unassailable lead therefore the 2015 Clubman Class Title will go to them and they are also sponsored by the Ranson Racing Team.