King of the hill
By TMX Archives on 21st Oct 03
I'LL START off this month with the Fast Eddy at Hawkstone Park where 450 riders raced around this great circuit with no problems or hassle and it was a great way to end the championship. I'LL START off this month with the Fast Eddy at Hawkstone Park where 450 riders raced around this great circuit with no problems or hassle and it was a great way to end the championship. After cancelling King Of The Hill we decided to have a hillclimb at Hawkstone as we figured it would add some spice to the Saturday afternoon. It certainly did but with few riders tempted to have a go it was left to me, David and Juan Knight, PJB, John Shirt and Ben Hemingway. I'd looked at the hill a week before and marked it out, thinking that it might just be possible. Wrong!It was completely impossible but we all gave it a go - oh yes! With Knighter racing the next day I offered to lend him my Ride MX 250. What a plonker! Especially when he let go to gain a few more feet - this didn't work and he crashed back down and actually lost distance. Anyway, full credit to all who had a go and we'll be back next year I'm sure.With the fun part over, it was on to the serious stuff and the race on Sunday. With two races and a shedload of riders, the clubman class was entertaining as we changed the start procedure so the four-strokes went off first. The roar from the dead engine start was ace and with nearly 100 riders in that class I was slightly nervous to say the least. With all the classes away okay it was then down to the lads and without blowing smoke up his ass I must say well done to my brother Lee who rode great - congratulations to all the others who did well too.The Pro and Expert race also went down well with great rides from Ryan Voase and Jamie Lewis - nice to see a young motocrosser coming in and kicking the arses of some of the enduro lads. Harsh? No not really, the lad came and had a go and beat most of them without any hassle or bulls***t.Next year there'll be four rounds with round one in the south west and I hope to see you all there - I plan on racing myself with my new team. Speaking of which, I can now confirm that I'll be turning out with a Honda Racing Fast Eddy Team for next season. We'll be running two-strokes with CR250 and CR125s with UK and European riders. I can't wait, I personally need a small and dedicated team and with two riders for world championships and the full team for the Brit stuff, we should have a big presence at all the big UK events.Hopefully this will help raise the profile of off-road racing in the UK and show people that two-strokes are still the dogs taters in off-road racing.Speaking of the team, most of you are probably aware that we were trying to sign David Knight but unfortunately it didn't happen. However, I hope to sign a top European rider in the near future and will keep you posted on that one. I think next year we can have a great team as it's going to be about enjoyment and promotion for the sponsors - with my experience and enthusiasm from the riders it should make for a great year on and off the track.So roll on next season and let's see some action at Diss, that's if there's a British enduro championship to race after all the bull-s***t and moaning at recent events from riders. I admit that in past years I've moaned like the rest but after running the Fast Eddys now for five years I know that things don't always go according to plan and timing is especially difficult. I've ridden good events and ridden average events but remember that the clubs do try their best.I recently competed in the final round of the Italian championship and finished second overall behind Stefan Merriman who's won every round this year. Can't wait now as I've got a couple of races in the States, then the indoor in Barcelona, hopefully followed by an early release so I'll be on the red ones ASAP.Must end this month's column by thanking a few people - UFO, Yamaha and Ride MX - for all their help and support.The Off-Road UK show will have passed when this issue comes out but I'm looking forward to it and seeing everyone in action on the arena enduro. That's it for now, more next month with a road trip from the USA and all the news from Off-Road UK.Fast Eddy