The entry list is full and the course is set at Parkwood Offroad, Tong, for the start of the UK’s Extreme season. The opening round of the ACU British Extreme Enduro Championship incorporates the start of the FIM (Europe) Extreme Cup series and the Tong event has attracted riders from Norway and Germany to compete alongside the wealth of UK talent taking to the start line on Sunday 10th January.
Organiser Paul Edmondson had gone ‘back-to-basics’ with the course layout which will see riders going down the treacherous waterfall section and facing a very tough set of challenges, including the infamous Rock Wall and DK’s Ditch with many hard sections in between.
The course at Tong provides possibly the best spectator friendly viewing of any extreme enduro. Because the event is not spread out over a vast area, it is possible to see all sections during the course of the 2.5hr afternoon race and spectators can really get ‘up close and personal’ with riders at many points.
Once again there will be ‘No Help’ extreme sections, which will be strictly monitored, at some of the toughest spots on the lap although cheering strugglers will be encouraged.
David Knight and Graham Jarvis are the headline acts but with the likes of Paul Bolton, Ben Hemmingway, Jonno Richardson, Gary Daniels and new extreme boy Billy Bolt (fresh from a year at World Trials) it is anybody’s guess who will win.
Tong is tough on riders and machines and with a two hour Veterans, Sportsman and Youth race, starting at 10.00am, preceding the main event the course should be well and truly bedded in by the time the Pro, Expert and Clubman riders hit it at 12.30pm.
Spectator entry fees remain at £10 for adults, £5 for under 16’s and OAPs with under 5’s getting in for free with free parking for all.
Sunday 10
th January. Parkwood Offroad Centre, Tong near Bradford. BD4 0RR. Don’t miss it!