Enduro News - Tough One 2010

Tough One

Knight wins 2010 Tough One
Report & photo by Jonty Edmunds

David Knight has claimed his first international enduro victory back on a KTM having dominated the ’10 running of The Tough One extreme enduro. An event that Knight has only failed to win once, this year Knighter dominated from start to finish to claim a massive winning margin having lapped all but the second placed rider.

Despite freezing overnight temperatures the technical, rocky course held up well, allowing for great racing in all classes. Recording the fastest lap time during the morning qualifying ‘hot lap’ session David was soon into the lead in the two-hour main event. Despite spending much of the opening lap passing the Expert class riders that started ahead of the Pro class competitors David opened up a two-minute lead by the time he made his one and only fuel stop.

During the second half of the race David extended his lead as he pulled away from second placed rider Tom Sagar. Lapping every other competitor apart from Sagar, Knight claimed a convincing and deserved win in what will be his last extreme enduro outing ahead of the start of his British and World Enduro Championship campaigns.

‘Winning The Tough One is a great way to start the year," Knight said.

"Every other year I’ve won the event I’ve gone on to win either a World Enduro Championship or US GNCC title, so let’s hope the same happens this year. I really enjoyed the race, and it was certainly a good work out for me ahead of the first round of the British Enduro Championship.

"I banged my clutch lever up as I went off the start and managed to break my handguard pushing it back down, so I had that flapping around for a while. But once I got going things went well. Because we started behind the Expert class riders I was soon in amongst them, and getting stuck at the back of some of the single-track sections of the course. Every time I pulled away a bit I’d get stuck in amongst a load of riders so I decided not to push too hard during the first few laps.

"Once I was past all the Expert riders I pushed hard. There were a lot of places that were one-lined so you had to wait. I had about a two-minute lead after the first hour, when I came in for fuel and goggles. The second hour went really well. I extended my lead and didn’t have any problems from there to the finish. The track was frozen in a few places but it rode well. All in all it was a good race for me," Knight concluded.

Sagar storms to Tough One Podium
Report & photo Suzuki GB Press Office

Tom Sagar's strong form continued at the weekend, as the Putoline Suzuki by www.fasteddyracing.com rider took a great runner-up spot, behind David Knight at the annual Tough One event held at the Nantmawr Quarry in Shropshire.

Qualifying for the Kriega Hot Lap start, that saw the ten fastest qualifying riders make a special start, Sagar was quick from the off, chasing Knight and running a comfortable podium pace throughout much of the race, before moving up to second spot and cruising to the finish on the final lap.

Sagar commented, "I was pretty comfortable throughout the event and chased David right up until the final lap, when I realised my position was safe and backed off. I chose to ride the all-new RM-Z250 for this event, which was ideal for the tricky conditions and general nature of the Tough One. I'm really looking forward to getting back on the RMX450Z for the first round of the British Enduro Championship this weekend."

Team manager Paul Edmondson was out in action on the Sunday too in the Wilden MXC Championship, finishing inside the top-ten and commented, "A big congratulations must go to Tom for his result at the Tough One this weekend. His preparation for the event was faultless and went into it with the right attitude. Equally, on the final lap he realised that his position was safe and cruised to the finish, mindful of the first round of the BEC this weekend."

The team will now prepare for the first round of the British Enduro Championship taking place this Sunday at Thetford Forest.

Podium finish for Dougie
Report & photo by Jonty Edmunds

Dougie Lampkin followed up his recent victory at Hell's Gate with a solid third place at the Tough One Extreme Enduro held near Owestry in wintry conditions. Still very much 'the new kid on the block' in these type of specialist competitions, Dougie once again showed that his two wheel skill from his trials background enabled him to record yet another podium result against World class and much more experienced opposition.

Lampkin always knew that a second win in a row at this type of event was going to be near impossible as he lined up aginst friend and rival David Knight who was the clear favourite for the victory before a wheel had even been turned. Thankfully clear blue skies and sun overhead allowed the heavily frozen ground to thaw slightly ahead of the Pro Hot laps that would determine starting positions for the main two hour race later in the day. Ahead of this initial action the main of the crowd had positioned themselves down the sides of a long and vertical descent that brought the riders from the highest point of the course to the quarry floor in a few frightening seconds.

Lampkin's trials background came into its own here as he never looked in trouble as he eased his factory four stroke Beta down amongst the rocks and trees to the applause of the crowd. Dougie held top spot in the single lap sprint for most of the session and was only beaten by Graham Jarvis and eventual winner Knight to claim his place on the front row for the afternoon race.

With the expert riders having been set off nearly half a lap ahead of the pro riders, the initial part of the main race was heavy going for Lampkin and co as they soon caught and set about the difficult task of passing these riders on a course that was single track in many places. Knight soon had one hand on the trophy as he bullied his way to the front and immediately begun to strech his lead over Tom Sagar and Lampkin who were now both without goggles due to their passage through the pack.

Dougie momentarily made it into second place before stopping to collect new goggles, and then seemed to lose his rhythm, as both Sagar came back by along with Jarvis and stretched their advanage over the ex multi FIM trial World champion. Typically Dougie dug deep to stay in touch with the front runners despite having handling problems on the higher speed parts of the course.

Just past the hour point Lampkin moved back into a podium position as Jarvis crashed and then suffered mechanical problems. Not content with third spot Dougie pushed hard in the last sixty minutes and dramatically closed the gap on Sagar in the closing stage only to run out of time as the flag was brought down exactly at the two hour mark.

The top six riders from the main race automatically qualified for the finale, aptly named the Boulder Dash, it is as it says a one hundred metre sprint over massive rocks where in the majority the riders are forced to man handle their heavy machines. Dougie looked dead and buried as his Beta failed to fire into life at the start of this short race and entered the rock strewn gulley several seconds behind his rivals. However a quick bit of thinking and some trials style riding saw Lampkin emerge two minutes later as the victor and one thousand pounds richer as he stole the winner takes all cash prize.

Clutching his winnings, Dougie smiled widely as he spoke about his day. "With the ice this morning I wasn't too sure what sort of race it was going to be, but in the end it worked out OK. My qualifying lap was quite good, it was just a shame that they had to cut that section out of the main race as that was by far the most technical part of the course. All day I have struggled with the faster parts of the course, maybe it was my tyre selection, but that is where I lost ground each lap."

"Each time I tried pushing on these sections I ended up in trouble or on the floor, it is a shame as I felt good on the other parts of the track. I still have got a lot to learn in this type of event, as just twelve months ago this was my first ever extreme enduro. Last year I was fourth, so I suppose I should be happy with a podium finish this time around." Lampkin added.

Dougie ended by saying. "Winning the Boulder Dash was a good end to a hard day, especially as I thought my chance had gone when my bike wouldn't start. Grabbing the cash will definitely make the journey home much better."

Juan Knight flew the GAS GAS flag and finished a respectable 7th overall on his faithful CC300..

The Spanish GG Rider Xavi Leon was a ‘nonstarter’ so we lent our CC250 to DBR test-man Geoff Walker who was enjoying his maiden gasser outing until he wrenched his already dodgy knee and was gutted to retire in pain.