Venue: Hungary, Tokod

Results: Saturday 21st/ Sunday 20th

Leaving for Hungary on Wednesday afternoon we flew to Budapest to get the hire car and then onto Tokod to the hotel to meet up with the other riders from GB, there were 15 riders in total along with pit crew. The bikes had gone on a lorry on the Sunday and arrived on Wednesday morning. We arrived at the hotel at about 10:30pm and got our heads down. Myself, Richie, and Matt Ridgeway were sharing a room, we nearly had to throw Matt out of the room because of his snoring but apart from that all was good. Thursday was spent setting up the pits, then walking the tests, just two tests to walk. The MX test which was awesome, a full on MX track with big table tops and lots of them this one would ride in about 4 minutes. Then the enduro test, this was a mix of rocky up hills and down hills, sandy corners, it had just about everything this one would take 7-8 mins to ride in the race. Both these would be ridden 3 times each per day, with 3 laps of 50 miles each. We walked both, once in the morning then had lunch and then went round again, and then we relaxed for the day. Everyone was on form especially Special Greg and Ridgeway.
Friday morning we went to the test track to see how the bikes ran, the forecast for 30 degrees heat had changed and the weather was more like Britain so the bikes ran fairly well with very few changes. Although dust was going to be a major problem. Cleaned the bikes, changed tyres and filters, signed on and then scrutineered with no problems. The day was almost over and so a few of us went and chilled out in a nearby town.
Saturday morning start time at 10:31, finish at 17:45 having fitted new tyres. The days racing was really good, very dusty, we were changing air filters at every check, the times were C schedule because the visibility was so poor in the dust and there were some killer hills to climb. Hinam was stopped on one with his exhaust on fire, he was fine though. Some of the hills were taken out later as there were too many stuck riders. I had some good test all day and stayed on time. I really enjoyed my day and rode well; we cleaned all the air filters and headed off to the hotel for food and sleep.
Sunday morning and an early start 08:31, finish at 15:40. It had rained overnight which was good to sort the dust out and the riding was really good for the first lap. After the first lap it started to rain and didn’t stop, where it had been dry for so long the ground was real hard so became like ice. Check 5 & 8 became a problem with loads of riders losing time, even Ed Jones saying it was lethal, and for a Welshman to say that it must have been bad. I got my head down and pushed hard. I cleaned both checks which I was very pleased with, as was Richie. My last test didn’t go that well as I slid off twice as did most riders. Certainly one place I slid into a pile of three riders! Overall it was a great race and a fantastic trip.
A massive thanks to everyone involved in the preparation and the event. Poole Motorcycles, Richie for pit crew, Daisy for sorting car hire, flights etc, Dave Moyce, Kurt Pringle, Leo and Rob for transporting the bikes and everyone who helped out.
Also I hope Matt Ridgeway recovers quickly from his broken shoulder blade, Leo from his ribs and Tom from the hole in his chin. Back home now for British XC championships.

Venue: Bicton, Shrewsbury

Result: 1st

Back up to Bicton, Shrewsbury again for this round, I was feeling pretty confident going into this race. When we arrived the track was in perfect condition, a bit tacky in places but looked very good for the 250F. Great special test training with the short lap. The morning started which we watched and it started to rain and then it hammered down for 2 hours, flooding the track. It did cross our minds to get in the van and go home, due to the condition of the track and the mess the bike was going to get in and the fact the 250F was being sent to Hungary a few days later we decided that there just wouldn’t be enough time to get it ready again after the race, so out came the 2 stroke, we changed the tyres over and put some new brake pads and a quick spray of GT85 and put it on the line.
The rain had stopped for the start of the race, the flag dropped I got the holeshot and led the race. I slipped off in the fields on lap 1, which gave away the lead. I soon took the lead again and by the end of the lap I managed to get a 2 minute lead by the hour mark, until the marshals sent on a very random route on an uphill section which was near on impossible and by the time I had myself back on the line that I wanted to take in the first place my lead had gone. I regained my composure as I was so annoyed, and got my head down to re-establish my lead, which I did in no time. I won the race by 1 clear lap in the end despite all the drama which I was pleased with. Thanks to Rich getting the 2 stroke prepared in record time, and well done to Paul and the team for keeping the race going in the conditions- onto Hungary next cant wait!

Venue: Westfield

Result: 1st MX/ 2nd Overall

Riding in the MX group as I hadn’t put my lights on the bike. The Hastings MX club always put on a great race with a variety of woodland, fields and MX tracks. Seeded 2nd for the race behind Ollie Moyce. I knew I would need to ride my 250F hard to get anywhere near Ollie on the 450. I had a great race staying within 30 seconds of Ollie through the race and finishing 1st in the MX class and 2nd overall, just 25 seconds off the lead. I was very pleased with the way the bike worked all day and the way I rode and really finding some pace on the 250F.

Venue: North Wales

Result: 13th PRO

Once again a big entry for this race, there were a few names not there making a protest after the last race, but it was pretty much business as usual. There was a long delay waiting for the start as we had to wait for the air ambulance to take someone from the morning race. I had a terrible start, the bike fired up but I missed first gear, I think it was only Bolter and Sager who had a worse start and who were behind me. The course was ok a mix of ground on peaty top soil on a bed of loose rocks which made the riding interesting, I had a steady ride nothing too exciting really and felt I could have gone faster but having said that riders were crashing out everywhere, so maybe I had the right strategy. A few points in the bag, on to the next race!