Conditions were perfect for the third Extreme Enduro at Foxborough Quarry Sible Hedingham organised by the Sudbury Motor Cycle Club, the rain the previous day didn’t have any affect and the sun shone all day. One disappointment the 2016 British Extreme Enduro Champion, Tom Elwood couldn’t make the event however the 2016 British runner up and last year’s winner Charlie Frost did and made his debut on the Active Bike Sport/Malcolm Rathmell Sport Sherco.
All four Classes, Pro, Expert, Clubman and Trials lined up on the hill beside the Sudbury Club’s banner and at 11am the Pro riders ran down the hill to their bikes followed at intervals by the Experts, Clubman and Trials riders. The course had been extended this year with extra obstacles including a see saw. First Pro rider round was Ben Wibberley with quite a lead and Charlie Frost was nowhere in sight, he had got stuck in one of the bogs and by the time he freed himself the Clubmen had caught up with him. Wibberley was having it all his own way while leading the field however Frost getting used to his new bike was gradually picking off his competitors Jamie Roper, Stevie Roper, Craig Roper and Jason Morland riding in his first Extreme event then he got severe arm pump which affect his control of his machine. Frost ploughed on and still manage to gain on Wibberley and around 75 minutes of the two hour event he manage to pass Wibberley and from then he extended his lead to win the Class completing 15 laps. Next came a trio of Ropers, 2
nd Jamie on 14 laps, 3
rd Stevie 13 laps 2 minutes and 38 seconds ahead of 4
th Craig also on 13 laps. Jason Morland was in 3
rd place but with one or two fall offs towards the end was relegated to 5
th followed by Brendan Mayers. There was bad luck for Wibberley with three laps to go his chain came off and got well and truly stuck in his wheel and try as he might could not free it so had to retire.
There was a battle throughout the day in the Expert Class with Mark Kirby securing first place on 11 laps while the next two finishers rode 10 laps with Toby Morley who has grandparents in Halstead, took 2
nd place by 1 minute and 32 seconds from Chris Cook. Fourth, 5
th, 6
th, 7
th and 8
th were Kevin Silvain, Jake Purcell, Daniel Piper, Gene Womack and Jason Green.
Fred Adams won the Clubman Class quite easily completing 14 laps with Dawson Marriott 2
nd 11 laps, 3rd Keith Maude, 4
th Daniel Hunt both 9 laps followed by Lee Boulden and George Eustace both 8 laps.
In the Trial Class the first two riders both completed 10 laps and first place went to Ben Grice being 3 minutes and 29 seconds ahead of last year’s winner of this Class Paul Nash.