|
|
|
All content © Bob MuIIins | ||
|
Graham Jarvis wins Red Bull ErzbergRodeo Hare Scramble. The Red Bull ErzbergRodeo returned to the Iron Giant near Eisenerz, Austria this weekend for the 22nd time. The weather was as extreme as the terrain with temperatures soared into the 30s before a thunder storm rolled in with hailstones the size of golf balls. Favourite Jonny Walker was a non starter due to the leg injury. Despite Jonny's absence there was a strong British presence. Brad Williams hoped to improve on his 2015 runner up finish in the Karcher Rocket Ride but he was side swiped and finished 4th. Florian Salbrechter was the winner ahead of Christian Resinger and Chris Perry. Results - Photos, Paul Bolton set the fastest time on the 1st Day Prologue ahead of Austrian Ossi Reisinger, South African Travis Teasdale, Swede Joakim Ljunggren and Austrian Lars Enöckl. Andy Noakley was 15th, Graham Jarvis 22nd, Gethin Humphreys 31st, Billy Bolt 32nd, Ben Hemingway 39th, Harvey Dark 56th, Jonno Richardson 58th, Richard Ely 63rd, Keelan Hancock 69th, Gary Daniels 76th, Andy Frost 79th, Joel Gowan 81st, Jack Cadwallader 94th, Lee Wren 95th, Brad Williams 96th, Chris Windle 101st, Owain Humphreys 122nd, Gary Mccoy 152nd, Tim Forman 163rd, Martin Craven 168th, Charlie Frost 183rd, Scott Hoskins 195th, Mark Kirby 197th, Results - Photos - Video Overnight rain dampened down the dust and left some deep puddles on the Prolongue course. Paul Bolton opted to forego a second run on Day 2 and he dropped to 3rd behind Ossi Reisinger and South African Wade Young. Gethin Humphreys was 14th, Andy Noakley 18th, Graham Jarvis 26th. Billy Bolt in 51st would start in the second rank alongside Chris Windle. Charlie Frost pulled out all the stops to improve 121 places to 62nd. Other Brits in the 2nd row were Andy Frost, Harvey Dark, Keelan Hancock, Brad Williams, Jonno Richardson, Joel Gowan and Ross Hancock. Results - Photos The main race began on Sunday at 11.00am. Organiser Karl Katoch raised the flag for the first 50 riders and Wade Young took the hole shot on his Sherco 250 2t. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) passed Wade on the first descent but stalled on the third climb allowing Wade and Alfredo Gomez to sweep past before USA's Cody Webb took a turn at the front. The opening 3 km favoured the fast riders before the first big challenge - the Waterpipe. Wade Young chose a good line and extended his lead over Taddy Blazusiak. Paul Bolton (eurotek KTM) was third. 20 minutes into the race the leaders passed the Bathtub. Alfredo Gomez led from Taddy Blazusiak, Graham Jarvis, Joakim Ljunggren and Cody Webb as the course entered the trees at 3 Kings where the ground was still very wet. Graham Jarvis made short work of the slick conditions and he took the lead, From Machine there was no outside assistance. Jarvis cleaned the rock strewn hill. Taddy stalled and Wade Young needed 2 attempts. Cody Webb went radically offline and picked up 2 places into 3rd. The course climbed towards the 5000ft peak and then dropped down the Elevator to the boulderfest that is Carl's Diner. Graham Jarvis booked in after an hour with a 6 minute lead over Cody Webb was 2nd. Billy Bolt had moved up into 5th. Andy Noakley's tyre came off but he refitted it with a "bendy" screwdriver. With almost all energy spent the riders traveled on to the 2 toughest climbs of the day - Dynamite and Lazy Noon. Billy Bolt's progress was halted for 15 minutes when his chain came off and wrapped around the front sprocket. Graham Jarvis cleaned the final climb at Lazy Noon and crossed the to win but Alfredo Gomez - going well in second - stalled and he lost his 3 minute lead over Cody Webb. The 2 riders took a dozen turns each to climb the loose slope until Cody Webb made the summit with a Hail Mary. Alfredo Gomez came home in 3rd. With the podium full the spectators turned their eyes back to Lazy Noon. Wade Young was next to arrive but he stalled. Taddy Blazusiak also stalled. Young stalled. Blazusiak stalled. Young stalled. Mario Roman arrived and he cleaned the slope on his 2nd attempt to finish 4th. Blazusiak stalled. Young stalled. Blazusiak stalled. Young stalled. Billy Bolt arrived and made to top on his 2nd attempt. Wade Young fell back on his strength and pushed to the top to take 6th. Paul Bolton took the "push" to take 7th. There were 9 finishers. Graham Jarvis won his 3rd Ezberg Rodeo by the incredible margin of 33 minutes. Cody Webb was runner up and the first US podium finisher. Alfredo Gomez was 3rd. Mario Roman 4th, Billy Bolt finished 5th after starting from the 2nd row, Holeshot winner Wade Young 6th, Paul Bolton 7th, Taddy Blazusiak broke his clutch. He finished 8th. Philipp Scholz was the last finisher with 5 minutes to go before the klaxon ended the race. Jonno Richardson heard the klaxon from Dynamite and he was unlucky to miss out on a finish in 10th. Ben Hemingway Andy Noakley and Chris Windle made it through Carls Diner and finished 17th, 18th and 26th respectively. Keelan Hancock (36th) dined out with Carl. At Prospect (Ck16) Ben Wibberley (52nd), Owain Humphreys (54th), Harvey Dark (55th), Ross Hancock (57th) Andy Frost (58th) and Charlie Frost (59th). Richard Ely (64th). Mark Kirby (90th) and Jack Berwick (93rd). Scott Hoskins (95th). Quotes Graham Jarvis " I got a bit of luck early on. There was a tricky bit in the woods and I picked the better line. I have had some bad luck over the years so I was due some good luck. I have to use my experience as I don't have the energy of the younger guys. Erzberg is the number one event in the World and it feels incredible to have won it for the 3rd time" Cody Webb "I am spent right now but I came over here to be the first American to make the podium and I have. That last hill was ridiculous I didn't think I was going to make it", Alfredo Gomez "I crashed early on on a gravel road so I am happy to be here. I tried my best to follow Graham but it was impossible. He did a really good job. It is a pleasure to be here on the podium". Mario Roman "I had a few problems with other riders at the start but I focused on the race, felt better and better and here we are at the finish. I am so happy". Billy Bolt “ wow what can I say, what a crazy week it has been. Despite being bumped back to the second row for the start I remained confident a good result was still possible but to be pushing so high up so early on was a pleasant surprise. The start was mayhem bikes and riders everywhere but I just tried to keep it steady pass where a could and get through with the bike in one piece. I left karls dinner in 4th place knowing I was gaining time up on 2nd and 3rd . Heading towards machine through a pretty tricky rock garden they were almost in sight. Then disaster struck. My chain derailed and had wrapped around the front sprocket. Brute force wasn't working so it became apparent the swinging arm would need to be removed, over 30 minutes stationary and 4 riders passing you without being able to do anything doesn't half fire you up and once the bike was reassembled I set of like a mad man. I caught Bolts at the bottom of Dynamite and once I reached the top Julian said the others were struggling at lazy noon so I still had chance to improve. I arrived there pleased to see Taddy and Wade were still there not making great progress so I knew to get straight to the top was a must as my arms were cramping so bad when pushing, 3rd attempt at it and shutting off wasn't on the cards and to get out the top felt so good. I frantically dashed to the finish line as fast as I could and to come over the line in 5th in my first Erzberg , it felt incredible. Wade Young "I know there are lots of South African here and watching from home. Thanks for supporting us. It's been awesome". Paul Bolton "I am a massive fan of racing motorbikes not pushing them up hills so race organisers out there let's get some more racing going on". Taddy Blazusiak "It wasn't perfect but that's racing. I was leading for a while until I made a junior mistake and broke a brake lever. Then I broke my clutch cylinder. I thought it was over but I dug deep to get to the finish". Philipp Scholz "What a race. I'm sooo happy that I get a finisher flag to take home with you." Andy Noakley "So that's a wrap from ?#?ErzbergRodeo? 2016! I Gotta say a huge congratulations to all the ErzbergRodeo crew for a perfect race, super super difficult track but I only got off the bike a handful of times to push.. Which for me is huge issue with alot of hard Enduro races these days, we all prefer to ride our bikes not push up seemingly endless hills etc!! Well done to all the finishers!" Keelan Hancock "Well happy with this years result at erzberg, 36th. Thanks everyone who helped, home and away! " Ben Wibberley "Well what a race. Toughest thing I've ever done. Started from row 4 and reached Karl's diner. 16 checkpoints I think. Lost 50mins in a woods due to traffic but didn't do a lot wrong today. Incredible places and thanks to everyone that helped me this week. Mark Kirby, Kirsty, Lisa N Paul Bolton, freestyle bikes and the old man. Feeling pretty happy ". Charlie Frost "Happy enough with 59th. Checkpoint 16, into Carl's Diner - a lot further than the goal I set myself. Hardest thing I've ever done, but be back for a better go next year. A lot to learn, more things to improve but happy with my first Erzberg attempt. Well done GMB boys Harvey Dark and Andy Jane Frost. Thank you to all who's helped me make it possible and to all the blokes with ropes on the hills. Most importantly to Daniel MacNeil Stone and Michael Smith for everything they've done for me the past week, top lads now for the 1000 mile drive home. Cheers all". Scott Hoskins "So that's Erzberg done and dusted, I've had the best time of my life! Such an awesome experience racing with the best riders in the world. Loved every second of it even when things weren't going my way! Cant thank my family, my girlfriend, the boys, wayne mounter motorcycles and the crazy supporters enough for all the help! Ended up 125 overall, and 18th Brit!? after spending way to much time queuing and repairing my bike, was lucky to get to where i got with broken bar mounts, broken rad and a snapped grip! Found out I can ride an electric bike half decent too. I now know why they say its the hardest race in the world. Should have a much better number for next year now, I learnt a lot and I cant wait to better myself next year". Owain Humphreys "Erzberg started off well
yesterday. Off the second row I managed to pass half the front row and then
I got lost for at least 10 mins (with other riders). It cost me some
positions. I got to checkpoint 16 with 40 mins left and called it a day. 2016 contenders - Interview with Charlie Frost - Husqvarna Preview - - Main race course preview - Video - Onboard with Paul Bolton - Onboard with Graham Jarvis
|
