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Photo - Paul Whibley in the Welsh forest of Brecfa on the weekend:
Whibs and Katherine are keeping us updated whenever they are able on their 2005 European campaign with John Shirt GASGAS UK::
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On the weekend we had the second round of the BEC. From our base in Cholchester, it was a five and a half hour drive to the Brecfa forest, South Wales.
Kath and I arrived in convoy with Chris Hockey and his partner George. Chris, or Kiwi as he is known (not sure why, as he doesn't come from NZ?) is my training partner at the moment. He is kind of letting me take over his work shop at Enduro Tech suspension, with gas gas bikes and spares.
We walked the test a few times on Saturday afternoon. One test, timed four times. The test started out fast up a logging road then into some tight slippery trees full of roots and the odd stump. Finishing up at the bottom of another logging track.
The first bike was away at 9.00am. My start time was 9.08am. First test was 10 minutes into the start. A lot of people were caught out by how slippery the test was and slipped off. I think I over read it and was too cautious.
Steady rain was making the course challenging with most clubmen pulling out. The course as I'm told was typical Welsh terrain, one long muddy slot. The second test I tried to push harder, but ended up pushing past some of the ruts that had formed. But I think my time was good. The third time into the test, we had caught the remaining clubmen and in the test I had to pass two. I got held up a bit but that is enduro racing.
The course had steadily deteriorated and the decision was made to reduce the number of laps from five to four. The fourth test went ok. It was really slippery and some of the stumps and roots were now well exposed.
In the last section of the fourth lap, the expert section was carnage! Bikes stuck and blocking the track. If you were lucky you got through with out being held up to much. I had to wait and ended up losing four minutes. Not as much as most, but in the end I think they scrapped this section. The result, I think fourth in class, sixth overall. Not official, just what I have heard.
Again we have a van load of dirty gear to clean up. The Fast Eddy race that was to be held next weekend has been cancelled.
Till next time
Paul and Katherine
