Following the disappointment of retiring from last year’s race, multi-time British Champion Paul Winrow fended off arch-rivals in a calculated race to take a superb win in the three-hour Adult Quad class today at the RHL Beach Race held at Weston-Super-Mare.
The annual event, which is in its 29th year, was certainly an exciting one with young-gun Stefan Murphy taking an early lead throughout the majority of the first hour. However, a gearbox malfunction meant Murphy didn’t have the use of third gear for the second half of the race and while he dropped back to fourth, he managed to fight back to claim the final spot on the podium in third position.
Carl Bunce then took up a strong lead for some time, but the experienced Winrow had timed his pit stops to perfection and within the latter parts of the second hour, after taking care in the early stages of the race around the daunting course, caught onto the back of the leading group. Winrow reeled in Bunce, who finished in an eventual second place, and as he only pitted twice, the final hour worked to the Can-Am pilot's advantage as he took the lead with 30 minutes to go, while Bunce was forced to stop for fuel to get him to the finish. Winrow rode the closing stages of the race consistently to take the chequered flag and an impressive fifth win at Weston.
The quad two-man class was won by Keitch/Price Draper, an amazing 17th overall Jeremie Soyez took the honours in the 4x4 class and Williams/Jones took the top spot in in the sidecar group. The overall youth quad winner was Leon Rogers, with Reece Swann and Keiron Taylor taking wins in their respective classes.
“I got a great start, then got the holeshot into the first dune but bobbled a bit over the first few dunes, as I wasn’t sure what they were like on the downside. I think I was around 56th place and picked my way through to the top three. I let Stefan and Carl sort the lines and knock the top of the dunes off; I held back a bit, as I knew I had to have two fuel stops, and then I went for it. I caught back up to Carl during my second pit stop, and he had to pit again to have enough fuel to the end, so I took the lead, as we were close by that point. I knew it wasn’t over so I just used my initiative to get it to the end and it went alright, so I could take the win. The course was really good, there were no traffic jams, and I really enjoyed it. It’s nice to win it after the season I’ve had and after taking the decision to go into semi-retirement. The adrenaline Can-Am has run perfectly today and I’d like to thank Adrenaline ATV and Can-Am. I’d also like to thank the mechanics Andrew and Jason from Adrenaline as well as my wife Sue, as the pit stops were flawless. Now it’s time to go to the pub and have a rest,” said adult quad race winner, Paul Winrow.
In the 65cc class it was 2011 BYMX runner-up 11-year-old Jed Etchells who took an early lead and controlled the race, which is his first attempt at the one hour plus race at Weston, to take the win over Alexander Brown and Harry Kimber who completed the podium.
“It’s my first time riding here at Weston and I’m really happy to have won. I rode a KTM 65cc and the race was hard but I had a good time. I did two or three pit stops and I quite like sand, so I was hoping to do well. You get stuck in a few of the ruts and it can be a bit snakey down the straight but it’s quite exciting. I definitely want to do it again. At the start Alexander Brown was pushing, but when things didn’t quite go right I just was consistent and managed to get a nice lead. I’d like to thank everyone who has helped me, as it’s been great today,” said junior 65cc winner, Jed Etchells.