Monday January 5, 2015 at 2:26pm
Heavy rain the day before the first Sudbury Motor Cycle Club’s Extreme Enduro threatened the event but with overnight frost and temperatures at minus four degrees made the going ride able.
The sun was shining for the 11am start at Foxborough Quarry Sible Hedingham when the six Pro Class riders started their 150 yard run to their bikes followed by 13 Experts, 18 Clubman and 7 Trials riders at one minute intervals. Chris Hockey took an early lead in the Pro Class with Moto Cross Ace Jake Nicholls in hot pursuit while Jamie Roper was further down the field.
The many obstacles around the course were causing many problems to all the riders while the top riders were completing a lap in around 5 minutes while the lower riders were taking around 10 minutes. At the end of the first lap the tractor tyres, tree trunks and oil drums were causing havoc with riders falling off or slipping off because of this muddy tyres but they picked themselves up and slogged their way through.
As the two hour session wore on the temperature rose but it made the going muddier and muddier but the spectators loved it and were being well entertained. Before the first hour had finished Hockey had to retire as his engine over heated along with several other riders before the end. Roper was pacing himself and gradually making his way through the field after passing Nicholls for the lead he held on to it completing 18 laps with Nicholls 2nd 16 laps while Sam Toy in devastating form took 3rd on 13 laps.
Stevie Roper riding in the Expert Class seems to be struggling at times but his quality shone through with first place completing 15 laps with Phil Roper 2nd 10 laps, Jack Grice 3rd and Paul Belton 4th both on 9 laps.
Ross Hall won the Clubman Class completing 12 laps, 2nd Tom Collett 3rd Brian Till both on 11 laps. Up and coming rider Alex Rampton secured 4th place on 7 laps pushing comedian Ross Noble into 5th. Ross rides as often as possible in Extreme Enduro throughout Europe and it was the first preview video made by President Roger Chaplin Ross saw on the Enduro News website which made enter the Sudbury event and he thoroughly enjoyed himself and he kindly gave an interview at the end of the day.
Dare Devil rider Chris Northover was the only finisher in the Trials Class and of the 44 riders started only 17 finished.
The Sudbury Club have received a lot of rave reviews for this event which is richly deserved for the time and hard work they have put into it and this would have made founding member Maurice Damant who passed away on New Year’s Day very proud