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PREVIEW 2016 ACU EASTERN SOLO ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP

What do we have in store for 2016 for the G H Motorcycles / Husqvarna / ACU Eastern Enduro Championship. There are five rounds with the riders best four rounds counting, Round 1 28th February Santon (Diss), Round 2 6th March Iken (Woodbridge), Round 3 8th May Foxborough H&H (Sudbury), Round 4 19th June Hadham (Sudbury) and Round 5 4th September Butley (Woodbridge). It looks like again all rounds will be electronically recorded by Richard Snowden and the Sudbury Club's wristband transponders.

Who is going to do what this year? Starting with the Championship Class if Aston Bird rides the entire rounds or get enough points after four rounds must be favourite for the Supreme Title as I call it. Last year he would have won the Title after four rounds but had a bad ride at round 4 Hadham and he did not ride the fifth and last round. This left Jamie Roper to clinch his third Title to equal the number of Titles his eldest brother Stevie has won so can Jamie win his fourth Title and equal Mark Chapman total, not if his brothers can help it. Must not forget Chris Hockey who is hungry for a record breaking tenth Title but then again his student Sam Toy is getting better so could put one over the master once again. Rick Roper and Jason Morland are back riding this year so they will be chasing along the ever improving Craig Roper. Interesting to see how the three newcomers promoted from the Expert Class will do, will they Will Hughes, Ben Alexander and Rob Blackman put the cat amongst the pigeons along with Lewis Bond.

The Expert Class looks open this year with Will, Ben and Rob out of the way. Can Jack Grice, Jake Gregory, Ben Grice and Alex Barkshire make a name for themselves and win this Title. However hopefully back to full fitness is Ross Taylor and if he keeps fit, stay on the bike and his mother does not photograph him will be challenging to be top Expert. How will the new boys Alex Rampton, Ryan McDonnell and Martin Stevens promoted from the Clubman Class do plus Jack Nicolaou who now has national experience.
The Clubman Class is also open with Alex, Ryan and Martin upgraded and the riders I think who will challenge for the Title are Alex Walton, Ed Pooley, Kevin Palmer, Dan Willis, Carl Honeywood and Rob Aldridge, I am assuming all of them will be competing in all the rounds.

Mark Chapman must be favourite to win the Expert Veteran Title again he has a scare at the first round last year where Contest Sponsor Gavin Hockey beat him on the Special Tests but Gavin lost two minutes to Mark's one on the last lap which gave Mark victory. Besides Gavin Phil Roper, Michael Ridge and John Bishop could win this Title if Mark, four times Supreme Title winner, slips up or even John Austin Clubman Veteran winner last year could be a surprise.

Last year seven riders could have won the Clubman Veteran Title and with John Austin now riding in the Expert Veterans perhaps we will see again a battle between Terry Allen, Jason Carsboult, Dean Curry, Duncan Griffin, Kevin Gore and Jeff Turner for the Title.

Andy Mason will again be out to win the Clubman Super Veteran Title for the third time however if his thumb holds out Clive Stevens who led last year after the first three rounds could take the Title from Andy. Also in contention is Gary Drage, Adrian Rickwood and Steve Finch while newcomer to the Class is Graham Mays who will 55 just before the second round and has come down from the Expert Veteran Class could spring a surprise.