Six Day Enduro Report
Llangollen Club member Andrew Edwards has just returned from Slovakia after completing the six day Enduro. Llangollen MCC have supported the Welsh Club Teams efforts by making a contribution from their club funds. Team managers Kenny and Jeff would like to express their thanks to you all. Without your assistance the Welsh wouldn’t be represented at world level.
The Welsh Six Day Story.
The Journey. From Wrexham to Povazska Bystricia in Slovakia is about 1400 miles. Five vans carried all riders, helpers, bikes, tyres and spares, so we set off to catch a 2.00 am Wed morning Ferry from Dover to Dunkirque. A non stop drive through France, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Slovakia was a long way to go in one hit but we arrived for booking into the hotel on Thurs and quickly got settled in.
The Start Venue. The Start venue was situated right in the town centre in a Sports Stadium / Bus Station. An ideal venue and right in the middle of each days run. The British area was just about big enough for all our teams and the Welsh teams set up our mega tent (courtesy of Sue Hockey) which would serve as our food and work area for the week.
Walking Tests signing on and technical inspection. Over the next few days the riders were up and out by 7.00am to walk a couple of tests each day and then back before it got too hot .This left the afternoons for things like signing on, Technical inspection and the opening ceremony. No one had any problems with these formalities and after some of the recent six day accreditations it seemed very relaxed and easy.
The opening Ceremony. If you wanted to plan a boring night, this would take the award. FIM officials making speeches in various languages weren’t particularly exciting. but the following trials riders demonstration and MX jumpers livened it all up a bit. The Welsh team volunteered B Team rider Tom Knill to wear our red dragon suit. He stole the show and everyone in the multi thousand strong audience went wild with applause.
Day 1.Day 1 was set for B schedule but was still thought to be tight enough for some of the club riders. I would guess the pace to be about quick expert at our own British Championship events. All Welsh team riders had a trouble free day, the going was out of this world (Rowans Words) and it set the scene for a cracking week ahead. The A Team finished in 3rd place ( Rowan E2, Dylan E1, Andrew E1) and the B Team in 28th ( Tim E2, Craig E3, Tom E2,) Both teams did excellent tests and changed rear tyres at night in the 12 mins available.
About 77 Club Teams entered.
Day 2. Day 2 was a repeat of day 1 but now on “A” schedule. This gave riders an average of five mins less per check and was tight even for the Trophy teams. Our Welsh teams all cleaned the checks but pretty well rode round with only a minute to spare at checks. No one had any problems and did front and rear tyres in the 12 mins available plus air filters for those with time to spare. The tests today were less advantageous for the club teams and our lead over Trophy riders suddenly disappeared.
Welsh “A” Team dropped one place to 4th and the “B” Team rose up to 25th.
Day 3. Day 3 was to be a totally different route with new tests and checks. “A” schedule again and a tough route. Lots of lesser riders went out today. Those who normally rode clubman would find today pretty tough going. Big climbs and drops with thousands of people lining the course up in the hills. All welsh riders came home ok again with the “A” team making some headway back to third. Everyone fitted new back tyres and checked things over. Tom Knill changed a broken rear spoke; Andrew changed a front sprocket and changed the Gear oil along with the rear tyre. A split link was changed the next morning in the 10 min work area. Rowan changed his front forks that had started to leak. The club teams in front of the “A” team had riders of the calibre of SALA, RINALDI, and PASSERI and GOTTVALD, GOTTVALD, MALAT. All top riders of world championship standing, so to move forward was going to be a hard task. Dylan, who follows riders form like a horse racing pundit reckoned we may make third overall by the finish. The “B” team was also likely to move up as the week went on.
“A” Team 4th. “B” Team 21st
Day 4. Same as day 3 but the course was much rougher with fog for some riders making it difficult. Dylan hit trouble today when a fall knocked a hole in the side of his engine and water pump. He made temp repairs as best he could with molecular metal and sent a message on for his outrider to get parts ready at the next check with Andrew. This problem cost Dylan 34 mins and our good Welsh “A” team result was looking doubtful. The times seemed even tighter today and everyone felt totally knackered by the end. Early to bed was still the norm.
Everyone did two tyres at night and gave the bikes a quick check over.
Tom Knill and Craig both changed noisy rear silencers at the finish today. If you request it at the finish just before going into Parc Ferme you are allowed 30 mins under the supervision of a technical official to change it. However it must be remarked and pass the noise test before you can put your bike in.
“A” Team down to 19th
“B” Team still rising to 16th
Day 5. A much easier day was planned for day 5 with the jury deciding “A” schedule again. But God intervened and we had a massive thunder storm all night. The Clerk of Course changed to “B” schedule just before the first bikes left. Although the route was easier, it was a long way round and the rain and fog had changed it to one of the hardest days yet for some riders. The tarmac roads had the feel of riding on ice while riding off road was on polished clay with everyone visiting the ground often. Time was really tight even on “B” schedule but the Welsh teams all survived and stayed clean. Our only rider still on Gold was Andrew. His dreams disappeared today due to the severity of the tests, all the tests started as green fields with massive climbs in them, and the early trophy riders set awesome test times. By the time the club teams arrived it was a different world. Riders stuck everywhere and the grass replaced by mud and ruts. Today our riders did test times 3 or 4 mins longer than the class leaders and chances of a gold medal melted away.
Rowan changed his silencer before putting his bike in and planned to change his front pipe the next morning. Rear tyres for everyone with only Craig having serious work to do. Tom Sagar who had gone out earlier in the week kindly loaned the Welsh team his L/H radiator and Craig managed to get it changed and into to final check on time. A collision with a German rider had left Craig’s Gas Gas steaming out of the holed radiator.
“A” Team back up to 10th
“B” team still in front at 8th
Day 6. A similar run out as Day 5 but without the tests. Two checks and then the final Moto X. All our riders finished intact and enjoyed the atmosphere. A massive crowd was in attendance on a track that was last used 7 or 8 years ago for a Grand Prix. A beautiful setting
Final Result.
1st. Motorclub Lumezzane. Giovanni Sala, Mario Rialdi, Stefano Passeri.
2nd Motoklub Juretin-PFanner Zdenek Gottvald, Martin Gottvald, Martin Malat
8th Wales B Team Tim Forman, Tom Knill, Craig Bounds
10th Wales A Team Rowan Jones, Dylan Jones, Andrew Edwards
The Team Evaluation. Team managers Kenny and Jeff both feel proud to be associated with the “A” and “B” teams selected this year. Everyone rode well and gave their best. Well done to everyone.
The “B” team came out on top and should take full advantage to hound the “A” Team all year long.
But what about the IF ONLY question. Well we wouldn’t be human if we didn’t dream would we. Dylan dropped 34 mins because of engine damage and without that the “A” team would have had a certain 3rd place. All we needed then was a spot of bad luck from first or second place teams and we would have been ! Ah well, like I said “ You have to dream don’t you”.
A word of thanks.
Team managers Kenny Williams and Jeff Edwards would like to pass on there thanks to everyone who has helped them with the Six Day effort this year. Without your help Wales wouldn’t be able to be represented.
