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Paul Edmondson has won the John Banks Enduro the final round of the Motul British Enduro Championship although he was pushed all the way by Chris Hay and Darren Bolter. Paul Edmondson is the outright British Champion as World Champion David Knight was under contract to ride in America. There was a hard frost on Sunday morning which made it risky to push hard in the first test. Paul did not have it all his own way as he overshot the corner at the end of the fast straight on the second test, Chris Hay back on form, took the lead by two seconds although Daryl Bolter was a close third as he was quickest in the second test. The pressure was on to finish the course clean on time as the Banks is always tight on the last lap. Eddy’s high five
Paul ‘Eddy’ Edmondson has scored a fantastic fifth victory at the prestigious John Banks Enduro aboard the Honda Racing-supported CR250R – an amazing 20 years after his first win at the event. The experienced off-road campaigner’s fantastic result may also have sealed him the overall 2005 British Enduro Championship.
Traditionally, the long established one-day Banks Enduro marks the end of the off-road season. The Thetford Forest-based event attracts a range of enduro veterans and motocross competitors of all abilities, who want to sample demanding enduro racing for the first time.
Edmondson first won the Banks Enduro aboard the Honda CR80R in 1986 when he was just 16 years old. Since then, the Yorkshireman has won titles in 1995, 1998 and 1999.
"Winning the Banks Enduro again is great,” enthused 36-year-old Edmondson. “I always enjoy the event and my win is a fantastic end to the 2005 season for the team. Despite some ground frost over certain parts of the track, I felt comfortable aboard the Honda Racing Fast Eddy CR250R all weekend and I just made sure I rode cautiously.
“My win this year was definitely the easiest – I was just a kid when I won the title aboard the Honda CR80R 20 years ago. I’ve got a lot more experience under my belt nowadays and the Hondas are fantastic machines so there’s no excuse not to win the Banks Enduro next year!”
Honda-mounted Edmondson has been highly successful in the various enduro championships this year. As well as topping the 2005 British E2 class, the Honda Racing-supported rider claimed sixth in the World Enduro Championship and fifth in the Fast Eddy Race Series (Pro class). He also beat off strong competition to win the infamous Weston Beach Race in October.
