BSEC series reaches mid-way point at Saint’s Well
Following on from the high-speed third and fourth rounds of the Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship, the BSEC series now moves on to Saints Well, Powys, on April 7/8 as the series reaches its half way point. Differing from both the sandy woodlands of the season opener and the fast paced cross-country style course of Llangrove, the series arrives in Wales at the familiar tracks of Saints Well. Switching back to a 100 per cent farmland based track, competitors will be greeted with a mixture of typically Welsh grass tracks, a motocross track and numerous woodland areas. Adding in a short extreme section ensures riders will face an enjoyable but challenging two days of racing.
With four different Elite class winners from each of the rounds held so far, the question being asked is whether or not we will see yet another winner in the BSEC this weekend? Husqvarna’s Ricky Dietrich showed great pace in Llangrove and looks capable of returning to the top of the podium. Finishing third at round three, the US off-road rider bounced back at round four to claim his first victory of the series.
In his rookie season of sprint enduro racing, Tom Church is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with. Finishing fifth overall at the season opener, the former GP motocross rider returned to Llangrove to place third in Elite at round four. Now fully committed to the BSEC series championship Church will be determined to reach the top step of the podium at Saints Well.
Third overall in the championship, TM’s Jordan Rose is another rider focused on becoming a new winner in the BSEC. Hampered by his poor finish at round one, Rose has reached the podium at every other round so far. Finishing second at round three in Llangrove, Rose knows that a winning result will be possible in Wales.
After a slightly under par start to the championship Daryl Bolter is now up to speed and looking to improve his results. Finishing fifth overall in Llangrove, Bolter will be hoping to replicate his podium results from Saints Well back in 2010. Adding in Si Wakely, Jamie Lewis, Mark Roberts and Lee Edmondson ensures the battle for top honours will once again remain hotly contested.
The Under 23 class is continuing to shape up into a tight affair. In Llangrove KTM’s Johnny Walker defeated Gas Gas UK’s Danny McCanney with a double victory. Not expected to shine on the high-speed cross-country style circuit, the extreme enduro specialist proved that he is much more than a one trick pony. Setting the pace from the opening special test at round three, Walker proved unbeatable. Fending off a late race charge by McCanney, he secured his first win of the series. Proving his result was no fluke, he triumphed again at round four to secure another win.
Making his return from podium results at the opening rounds of the Enduro World Championship in South America, McCanney will enter Wales with a maximum attack. How he adapts to the grassy test in Wales compared to the dusty fields of South America remains to be seen but rest assured the Gas Gas rider will be looking to return to the top of his class in the BSEC.
Behind the leading duo MPS Racing’s Jack Rowland is now finding his form in the Under 23 class. Recording two solid third place finished on the fast course at rounds three and four, Rowland is sure to find the slower paced Welsh special test to his advantage on his 250f.
After his disappointing showing in Llangrove, Husaberg’s Alex Rockwell will be hoping to return to form in Wales. With Northern Ireland’s Jordan Scott (KTM), Scotland’s Frazer Norrie (KTM) and Neil Chatham (KTM) and Lewis Belfield (KTM) making the trip to Saints Well the Under 23 class is sure to remain as competitive as ever.
In the Under 19 class, KTM’s Steve Holcombe enters rounds five and six undefeated. After claiming a dominant victory at round three, the class leader faced a strong challenge from Joe Jones (KTM) at round four. Setting the early morning pace, Jones looked capable of recording his first victory of 2012 until a late race charge by Holcombe pushed him back into second. With the duo again likely to battle one another at Saints Well, Jones will be eager to win. James Dent, Aaron Smith, and Robert Johnson will be capable of reaching the podium in Wales.
Richard Ely currently heads the Expert class standings leading into Saints Well. After his double victory at the season opener, Ely struggled to get to grips with the fast paced course in Llangrove but will want to turn his fortunes around this weekend. Tyson Maytom Jones, Oliver Hart, Jack Lee and James Jackman are all placed less than 11 points behind Ely as the series moves onto it’s half way point.
With the current class leader Jamie McCanney absent due to injury the door remains open for a new winner in the 125 Youth Cup class. Finishing second to McCanney in Llangrove, Gethin Humphreys will be confident of victory but will face strong opposition from Lee Sealey, Josh Gotts, Brad Freeman and Jack Staines (Yamaha).
Jane Daniels is proving to be the runaway winner of the newly introduced Women’s class. Winning all of the special tests so far in the championship she’ll be hoping for her run of good form to continue in Saints Well. Fionn Griffiths (KTM), Rhian George (KTM), Katy Bullock (Husqvarna) and Katie Walker (KTM) will aim to reduce her advantage.
Northern Ireland’s Richard Topping (JAR Honda) leads the way in Clubman as the series enters the halfway point in the calendar. Heading Gethin Francombe (TM) by nine points, Topping will try to stretch his advantage at rounds five and six. Matthew Solan (KTM), Ian Smart (KTM) and Jason Corden (KTM) round out the top five. (source: BSEC)