Farmland replaces forestry as full entry and fresh, new national and international talent ensures more exciting BSEC racing action… – Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship News Release
The Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship returns to action this coming weekend with rounds three and four of the series heading to Llangrove, near Monmouth, March 19/20. Run in association with the Mercian Dirt Riders club the new for ’11 venue will provide a little bit of every type of terrain, in many ways similar to the hugely popular ’10 series opener held in Gloucestershire. And with David Knight and Tom Sagar both looking to flex their competitive muscles and deliver the series’ first double Elite class win of ’11 exciting racing is guaranteed.
Hoping to join Knight and Sagar at the top of the Elite class are Greg Evans, Daryl Bolter, Si Wakely, Paul Edmondson, Ollie Moyce, and Paul Bolton. With some revelling in the challenging conditions at the season opener in Mid Wales, the likes of Greg Evans and Si Wakely will be looking for continued good form. For Bolter and Edmondson it’s time to step-up and deliver the results all know they’re capable of.
With another stacked field the Under 23 class is set to again provide plenty of action with Manx riders Danny McCanney and Alex Rockwell continuing their ongoing battle for supremacy. But with Irish motocross star Stuart Edmonds returning for more sprint enduro action, guessing who’ll finish in what order at the top of the class is going to be anything but easy. A fast learner, the natural hillside scramble track in Monmouth could be right up Irishman Edmonds’ street. Joining the Under 23 class is Australian Josh Green. The BSEC will mark the first race for Green on the UK mainland having finally resolved Visa issues, which have plagued him for the last twelve months. Having just recovered from a preseason injury the big question is, has Green recovered enough to demonstrate the speed that saw him win the Enduro Junior class at last year’s EWC GP of Greece? Also looking for top honours in the Under 23 class is Jonny Walker, who having missed the BSEC opening rounds due to competing at Hell’s Gate will be wanting to get his campaign off to the best possible start.
Delivering a knockout punch that few were expecting at the opening rounds of the BSEC series in early February, Australian youngster Ben Burrell will be trying as hard to produce another stand out performance as his Under 19 class rivals will be trying to prevent him from winning again. Originally pencilled in as a one-off ride at the opening rounds, Burrell was one of the major standout performers at Saints Well. Dominating both days of the Under-19 class, he was also in the hunt for the top three overall. A change of plans now sees the laidback youngster return for more BSEC action and will continue to be a class favourite. Up against the likes of Joe Jones, Steve Holcombe, Jordan Scott, Joe Deakin, Frazer Norrie, Jamie McCanney and more, all eyes will be on Burrell to see if he can deliver a repeat victory.
Veteran enduro racer Wyn Hughes revelled in the conditions at the BSEC opener, topping the Expert class at round one of the series and just missing out on the win at round two. David Lloyd-Jones took advantage of an error by Hughes to win round two, but Wyn’s return to racing has been impressive so expect the old school, natural course at Monmouth to continue to play into the veteran’s hands.
The venue for rounds three and four of the ’11 Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship will be in stark contrast to the series opener. Laid out over picturesque farmland the circuit will feature a hillside scramble track, ‘motocross style’ grass track sections, open and flowing stubble fields, a number of streams as well as numerous sections of mature woodland to ensure a mixed and varied course that’ll be good for both racers and spectators alike.
Jonty Edmunds – BSEC Events Director: ‘The course for rounds three and four of the Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship is going to deliver a little bit of everything – grass tracks, woods, stubble fields, a motocross track, streams, hills, you name it it’s all in there. It’s a real cross-country test, which will be very different to the course at the season opener and offers great viewing from start to finish. Despite the tough conditions at rounds one and two there was some great racing in all classes, which will definitely continue this weekend. Be it the Elite class, the Under 23, or Under 19 classes competition is again going to be fierce.’
John Collins – ACU Trials & Enduro Chairman: ‘Despite the challenging conditions at the opening two rounds of the series in Mid Wales it was clear that the championship has attracted a great depth of talent this year, and in all classes. With each round of the series offering a course that has its own unique challenges it will be interesting to see if those who excelled in the forestry at rounds one and two will do the same around the cross-country, farmland style track this weekend. Whatever the outcome there’s sure to be lots of great racing, which ahead of the start of the World and European Enduro Championships is exactly what many of the competitors need.’
Directions: Rounds 3&4 of the Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship will be signed from the A466, Old Hereford Road. Entry to the start/finish/paddock area is only available via the A446. No access from Llangrove village, only through Welsh Newton. Postcode NP25 5RT
Entry Fee: Adults £7.50, includes complimentary event programme. Under 14-year-olds free.
General Info: Racing will start at 9.00am both days. Catering and toilet facilities will be available on site.
About the BSEC
The Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship is the UK’s newest off-road motorcycle race series, promoted and organised exclusively by GMC Events Ltd. Enduro is one of the world’s longest standing off-road motorcycle disciplines, the motorcycle equivalent of car rallying. Sprint enduro is an exciting new rider, spectator, and media friendly discipline that delivers simple to understand, day-long, enduro racing action. The series caters for the best enduro talent in the UK. The BSEC is governed by the ACU – the internationally recognized National Governing Body for motorcycle sport in the British Isles (less Northern Ireland).
About Husqvarna
Husqvarna is an iconic off-road motorcycle brand. In ’07 Husqvarna became a part of the BMW Group with the German company completely revitalising the Husqvarna brand, which is now the off-road competition arm of BMW Motorrad. A new factory that houses production, design, administration and R&D has since been built in Varese, Northern Italy. Enjoying competitive success at the highest level, in 2010 Husqvarna clinched the Enduro 1 World Championship title with its TE250 ridden by Frenchman Antoine Meo. Building its first motorcycle in 1903 Husqvarna motorcycles were produced in Sweden until ’86 when the company was sold to the Cagiva Group, which later became MV Agusta S.p.A. Enduro greats such as Anders Eriksson, Paul Edmondson, Samuli Aro, Stefan Merriman, Petri Silvan and Antoine Meo have all enjoyed world championship winning success with Husqvarna. http://www.husqvarna-motorcycles.co.uk
