Once again G H Motorcycles/Husqvarna are sponsoring the ACU Eastern Solo Enduro Championships for 2018. This year there will be seven rounds with all rounds counting for each Class Title. The seventh round has come about because the Diss Club are unable to run a British Championship as it clashes with the International Six Day Enduro where the top British riders will be competing.
The dates and organisers are: Round 1 25
th February Diss, Round 2 29
th April Bury St Edmunds, Round 3 10
th June Woodbridge, Round 4 24
th June Sudbury, Round 5 15
th July Sudbury, Round 6 2
nd September Woodbridge and Round 7 18
th November Diss.
Will Jason Morland make it a hat trick of wins in the Supreme Championship Class after Jamie Roper’s injury in round 2 last year he was unbeatable. Second and third place riders Tim Rose and Matt Pope could put in a challenge or could it be one of the four riders upgraded from the Expert Class, namely Kevin Palmer, Myles Saunders, Dan Willis or Ryan McDonnell. Breaking news is top Moto Cross rider Luke Parker will be competing in all the rounds and rumour has become reality as nine times Champion Chris Hockey is making a comeback which makes for an exciting contest.
The Expert Class is wide open and one of these five riders can win the Title: Jack Berry, Alex Walton, Jack Nicolaou, Ross Taylor and Tom Sargent. There will be stiff opposition from James Barker, Lee Monger and George Eustace who have been upgraded from the Clubman Class.
In the Clubman Class could the Title go to Paul or Dan Hunt or to one of the Marsh twins Joe or Ben maybe there may be a rider that will surprise everyone like 16-year-old Max Day or Joe Phillips who will be 16 after the first round.
The Expert Veteran Class could be very interesting this year, last year’s Champion Michael Ridge will be after a second Title however past Champion Mark Chapman is fit he will take some beating. If Paul Spurgeon is able to compete in all the rounds he will be the one to watch as he finished 4
th in the Over 50s British Championship or could Contest Sponsor Gavin Hockey have a good year.
Dean Curry will be out once again to win the Clubman Veteran Class for the second time but if Kevin Gore competes in the entire round he must be favourite to win the Class Title. Lurking behind these two are Michael Wyatt and Martin Greenaway. Another rumour has been quelled 2016 runner up Jeff Turner is coming out of retirement.
Andy Mason must be the favourite to win the Clubman Super Veteran Title yet again he has a special birthday in the coming December which will put a nought in his age. Other contenders for the Title are Graham Mays, Nigel Ross, Tim Ford, Steve Finch and Jeff Sharp who will be making his debut in this Class.
Report by Roger Chaplin