Another win at the weekend saw last year’s champion, Dan Johnson, with one hand on the trophy again for 2024. In this, the penultimate round of the Lincolnshire Enduro Club’s 8th season, the Leicestershire rider had a full laps advantage over his nearest rival at the race end. However, that hardly tells the whole story.
Another previous champion and riding a borrowed bike, Jack Rowland, was well on his way to his 6th win of the year when, yet again, a “mechanical” robbed him of what looked like his 3rd victory on the bounce. While he coaxed the bike to a finish and avoided a “DNF, ” Dan took advantage of more bad luck for the Bawtry lad and took this, his 2nd win of the campaign. Dan’s race win wasn’t without its own issues, though. His own bike spluttered at the race start with electrical gremlins, and he was lucky to get to the start line at all! Lucas Travers came home in the runner-up spot. He and Josh Hamilton were separated by a little over 3 minutes when the finish flag fell. Dan now has a 6-point lead going into the last round, with Lucas in 2nd place and then Jack another 6 points adrift of that. Taking place once again at Ingleby, the Back Office Pro sponsored event was run in reverse from the last race there but with extra mileage shoehorned in. It is now the fastest race in the club’s calendar, taking over from where perhaps Dembleby left off! Two days of torrential rain in the days previous threw the event into doubt at one point, but the club pulled out all the stops to ensure the race took place at what now seems to be a “rider favourite “! Running over a 7-mile course, the main “stoppers” on the day were probably the ditch crossings that became uglier/deeper as the race progressed. Other than that and a small forested area to negotiate, it was fast, fast, fast all the way. (In Dan Johnson’s case, nigh on 100mph fast !).
Anyone thinking that the “aged classes” would be easy, think again. The ever-popular/fast Over 50’s class produced the closest finish of the day. Alan Vissian took his 2nd win of the year, but it was close. Andy Jackson pushed Alan hard all the way to the chequered flag, and whilst some of Andy’s lap times were marginally faster, he had to succumb to a 70-second deficit at 3 hours. On the same lap but a further 3 minutes adrift was champion elect Gareth Lodge. He now leads the title chase by over 10 points. Staying with the “mature” classes, another rider with his 6th wins under his belt this year is Andy Myers in the Over 40’s. His 5-minute win over 2nd placed lad Lee Hattersley was his 3rd on the trot, and that surely sees him champion elect for the year. Richard Price came home in 3rd on Sunday, albeit a lap down on the front pairing. Lee’s runner-up spot sees him pretty much secure the “Silver” place for 2024, whilst Chris Belford lies in 3rd place overall. The closest class probably all year has been the one in the Over 60’s. It has been a constant between Kevin Bartle Sr and Mark Peckitt. Kevin has had a couple of wins this year, but Mark has just had the edge throughout, and this 5th victory of the year sees him eke out another vital point towards the year’s spoils. Paul Oates was 3rd home on the day and cemented a similar position overall going into the last round.
In the Clubman class, and with a full lap victory over his nearest challengers, Nicholas King took his 5th win of the year. Unofficially (given that he can’t now be caught) and with one round to go, he is the 2024 Champion. There is movement slightly down the table, however. Darren Wells didn’t feature heavily in the race itself but still lays in 2nd overall for the year, whilst there have been changes for the Bronze medal overall. With a runner-up spot at Ingleby, James Palmer moves into that spot, demoting Alex Cumberland, who didn’t score points at the event. Bobby Barrows was 3rd on the day.
The biggest win of the day came in the Sportsman 4T division. What could be seen as a slow start for the year has turned on its head for winner Charlie Edwards. Picking up “Nul Points” in the first two rounds, this is his 5th win on the bounce. This two-lap win takes him into 3rd overall for 2024. With just 4 points and a runner-up spot on Sunday, Ross Pearson still leads the way for the title. With his 4th runner-up place in the year, Paige Felipes keeps the pressure on Ross. Perhaps a similar scenario can be witnessed in the Sportsman 2T class. Jodie Lambley further stretches out his lead overall with another win this time out, his 4th of the campaign. Christian Humphrey didn’t put any points on the table this time out and is leapfrogged by Jake Wilson (3rd on Sunday/2nd overall) and Tom Fiddies. (5th on Sunday…now laying 3rd for the year). Warren Myles came home 3rd on the day. Kyle Ardito won the Slam bike class, thus eating into Neils Tapper’s lead, whilst Sean Avison won another race in the Trail/Classic bike group. Andrew Malkinson was runner-up. Hats off to the three beginners taking part, all of who finished.
LEC wishes to thank all marshalls, first aiders, timekeepers, scrutineers, food stall owners, and everyone else who gave their valuable time on the day.
With places still to be secured in all classes, the next and final round for the year is on October 27th at Ashby Puerorum.
Details of that and other useful info is here for members . . https://www.facebook.com/groups/LincolnshireEnduroClub
And for non-members. . . https://lincolnshireenduro.wixsite.com/lec2016
Race Report by Martin Southwick – Images courtesy of Dave Stow