Pole dancer!

By TMX Archives on 15th Sep 03

Motocross

I THOUGHT last month was hectic and this month has been no different with an extreme race, a British enduro and some training with a mad Polish rider keeping me busy.First off, while I was still in Italy I took in an extreme event in the I THOUGHT last month was hectic and this month has been no different with an extreme race, a British enduro and some training with a mad Polish rider keeping me busy.First off, while I was still in Italy I took in an extreme event in the hills of Brescia. Well, it was supposed to be extreme but it was just bloody hard. We're talking 10 hours Saturday, two hours Saturday night and then eight hours on Sunday - I was certainly glad when it was all over. I ended up fifth overall and third in the two-stroke class...not bad. The event was won by Stefan Merriman who was without doubt in a class of his own, taking three minutes out of Cervantes and four out of me.After the race it was back home to the UK to prepare for the Epynt and the arrival of my Polish team-mate from last year - Bartoz.After three weeks of racing on three different bikes, it was time to climb on board the Ride MX YZ250 to try and stop Knighter winning yet another race! With Bartman arriving on Tuesday we headed down to the enduro country (Wales) and got ready with a bit of practising at Jonty and Giz Edmunds' house. But, as usual, what should have been a nice steady test and training session turned into a GP.Knighter started it off (no surprise there) with Bartman following and me trying to keep up. With Knighter winning practice it was time for the real thing. There were two tests - one MX and one XC - and they both looked really good. With a lap before the first test there was plenty time to warm up and prepare for battle. Unfortunately, I was already suffering an oil leak from what I thought was the brake hose - wrong! The bottom of the fork leg had dumped oil out all over the brake, naughty smooth-meister (Julian Stevens).But as usual it was the rider's fault for not having enough spares and kit. I only lost the first test by one second and was happy with the start as normally it takes me a bit to get going (might be something to do with my age). I listened to all the usual excuses from the other riders - "well if I hadn't hit a post which stalled the engine, span out and then lost my brakes stopping for a cup of tea I might have won the test".After more problems with the fork I decided I had no option other than letting smooth-meister fix it properly and work his magic. After it was fixed I went back to do the last two MX tests of the day where I posted some good times...but to no avail. I managed to finish Sunday without problems but with the usual result - I got beaten by six seconds by David. I did my best so now I'll have to wait until Hawkstone and the Natterjack.With all the racing to one side it's time for the interesting stuff. As most of you are probably aware, I will not be riding for UFO Yamaha next season - instead, I will be running my own team for 2004 and beyond. It's going to be a big challenge and something completely different for me. Why? Well I feel that it's time to run a professional team from the UK with UK sponsors and hopefully UK riders. I will be riding a 250cc two-stroke - and that's enough info for now! What I can say is that the team will be launched at Off-Road UK at Donington in early October.So back to the fun stuff and having Bartman around has been great fun both on and off the track. I took him to Castlepark, NEC and Wild Tracks and plenty of wine bars around Cannock where we met some of the local racers. All I can say is that we were incredibly fast at all venues and enjoyed ourselves in the process. With as much crammed in as possible it was soon time for Bart to head back off to Poland and home to see his woman.To end this month's column I can fill you in on the Off-Road UK show and Fast Eddy at Hawkstone. Off-Road UK is getting ready for the arena enduro where I hope to get some Euro riders to come over and get their arses kicked from our lads. But that aside, I think it's going to be a great event - especially as the hall is already sold out with stands. Speaking of sold out, Fast Eddy Hawkstone should be a biggy as we have 450 riders racing around this famous circuit.See you at there...Fast Eddy

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