Keep up with the News

To help you to easily find out what is going on in the Quading scene in the UK, we have now compiled this page as an easy reference point for you.

Hampshire MX Championship 2006

Round 1 - Foxholes

1st Round - Foxholes - 26th February 2006
Well, if I said it was cold, I mean it was really cold…. Just to make you more at home it even started to snow at one point!
As this was my first event from the notorious Weston trip back in October, I was a bit iffy about giving it 100% at first until I was able to build up the confident level again,
When the quads got to go out for practice there was already signs of rutting from the solos, so as normal it was left to us quad boys to flatten the track once again; but it was soon apparent how wet the track was.
After coming back in from the practice it reminded me how unfit I was after having 4 months out of the seat. By the time we were ready to go out for qualifying the track starting to show signs of heavy rutting again, however as I got on the bike to go down to the start for qualifying I noticed that I had a front puncture, with the aid of both Jeff Evans and Roland Hopkins I was able to get the front wheels changed within minutes and I was off towards to start line; by the time I got to the start line I noticed that I had forgotten my goggles, and knowing what the conditions were like I did not fancy going out without them, so again it was a quick sprint back to the van to collect them, but by the time I had got back the rest of the pack had already started the qualifier, (they had already reached the second table top) with that, it was time to forget all about the injuries and just go for it, by the end of the first lap I had been able to catch up with the pack, but then I had to try and start getting past them, which I was able to have a small amount of success, finishing the qualifying session in the top of the Junior group.
After an appeal to the girls in the Caravan I was able to move up to the pros for the races.
1st Race
I had a great start against a lot better riders than myself and ended up being in the first 4 to the second corner, but that is where it started to go all wrong, when I came down the straight up to the 1st small jump I was forced over to the right and jumped onto the table top and off into the chestnut fencing; I was able to get going again but I was well at the back of the pack, so again it was time to go bulls out, I was able to finish the first race in about 9th place.
2nd Race
Again, I had a good start, and had a good race with another rider on a VLS for the majority of the 2nd race until I saw Geoff Sharp recovering after a spin, as I went past him I knew in no time at all, he would be breathing down my neck, sure enough just after coming off the table top at the end of the straight Geoff went for the inside line into the end tight corner, but I ended up closing the door on him and forced him into the ropes (Sorry Geoff, wasn’t intentional, Honestly!), I carried on at a steady pace and all of a sudden, Joe Challen came past me as if he was on a mission, but just one lap later I was able to catch him up again as he was suffering heavily with arm pump (see Joe, us Oldies still have got some stamina). I was able to finish the race in sixth Place.
3rd Race
This time I didn’t have a start like I had previously so I was pushed out of the front pack, but still I carried on at a pace I was comfortable with and was able to stay in about 7th place, but then Rider #8 (sorry, don’t know your name) came to take me on the outside going into the 3rd to last corner, just as I was going out wide to go high on the burm, and his front wheel got wedged between my rear wheel and my nerf bar, which caused a nightmare to get out, because of this I was the last bike running, however I did give me chance to get lapped by Chris North, (boy, he is quick)

Round 2 - West Meon

2nd Round - West Meon - 12th March 2006
Well, what an event!
It was a cold once again, but at least the rain had held off enough to let the track dry out a bit, however as like Foxholes the snow started to fall again which meant that even more fuel was used up, just to keep your hands warm.

The qualifying went a bit pear shaped, with most of the first group missing out on the slot, which meant that almost all the quads went out as one group for qualifying which must have caused the officials a bit of a nightmare!

After qualifying in the pro’s it was time to get down to the start and time to no longer think about the accident; I was able to carry forward my starting luck from Foxholes and I was able to get in the first 4 after going up the first hill.

Throughout the race there was nothing major to report on apart from the lack of fitness by me, and I was able to finish the race in a vary happy 6th place, knowing full well that I was racing against the likes of Jason MacBeth, Chris North and Greg Fisher.

The second race came around and I was sat on the start line next to the unmentionable pace of Jason MacBeth, it was time to prove myself against the raw talent of this outstanding rider, but sure enough he done me!! Cutting across my line out of the gate and forcing me in to another rider which made me last into the corner, after forcing my way through a few of the riders, I was able to get into a prosperous position, however Joe Challen rolled on the top corner right in front of me, which meant that I had no where to go apart from straight into him; after getting the bike untangled I was able to get going again, and it was time to put the hammer down and go like hell to catch the rest of the pack. After catching a couple of the other riders and getting past them I had a major high-sider at the end of the start straight, when the bike stepped out on the rear and hit a rut and kicked the bike high into the air on the rear whilst the nearside front left wheel remained on the ground, so much so that the Nerf Bar dug into the ground. This was a heart stopping moment to say the least!!
At the end of this race I was able to finish with an 8th place.

After repairing the damaged sustained to the bike after running head-on into Joe Challen it was time come back to the start, the 5 second board was shown and we were off, this time determined not to be forced wide. This race was going to be a hard one as I had to do well in this race to be with a chance of a trophy It was non-stop right from the start, as I was right behind Geoff Sharp, doing everything I could just to stay with him, but I just did not have anymore to give to get past him, so throughout the race I was just hoping that he would make a mistake. But it wasn’t to be. Geoff was the victor at the end of the day.

However to come away from an event with a 5th O/A against some very good riders has made me very happy, this has now given me my best ever result in Hampshire MX.

Round 3 - Fobdown

3rd Round - Fobdown Farm - 19th March 2006
This was not going to be my event; lady luck had finally started to go against me.
The track was in outstanding condition and looked as if we were going out for a game of cricket instead of the third round of the quad championship. The week leading up to the event from the previous round at West Meon had not been a good one with suppliers letting me down with spares after the damage sustained to the bike after the coming together with Joe Challen. After the bike was stripped ready for new parts to arrive and be fitted, they never arrived so the bike had to go back together with the worn parts.
Practice and qualifying went ok and I was able to qualify into the pro’s but when it came to the racing things started to go all wrong.

Race 1
Sat at the start and waiting for the 20 sec board to change I was all ready to make a great start; over the last few races I had been having problem with changing up from 2nd into 3rd after leaving the start, therefore this time I was ready to make sure that I would not have any problems, however with my foot poised ready to change up as the tape went I accidentally changed up and stalled the bike, it was then a struggle to get the bike started again and catch the rest of the field, which I was able to do, but by the time I caught up with them I had given everything, and it was then a case of holding on until the race finished.

Race 2
This time I was determined to get a good start, especially as I was sat next to my old rival Geoff Sharp (The two old boys!) the tape went, and I was out of the trap ok but just as I was knocking it up into third I believe Geoff got caught up with the back of my bike, and caused us both to slow, again by the time I got on the power again the rest of the field had put some distance between us, like previous it was time to go like hell, but again by doing this I used up all my energy and was forced to ride the rest of the race just trying to hold on.

Race 3
Determined to get a good start again, I was sat on the line concentrating to do a good job, but for no reason this time apart from making a complete bulls up of the start I stalled the bike again! I fired the bike up again and sped off down the start straight to the first corner, where I saw Geoff Sharp had stalled his bike as well, as Geoff got going again I was able to pass him, and it was then a neck to neck race right through to the end with some minor coming-together throughout the race, as we went into the last lap I look around and Geoff looked to be struggling as much as me just to stay on the bike as we were both completely worn out, but I was luck to go through the line in front of him.

I have to say that this was one of the best races I had ever had, and it was well worth stalling the bike for.

 

Back to Top of Page