All content © Bob MuIIins

Wootton sets the pace on the Santon Enduro

Sunday 26 February saw Diss MCC host round one of the GH Motorcycles ACU 2017 Eastern Centre Enduro championship.

Storm Doris had threatened the event but after a huge amount of clear up work on Friday led by clerk of the course Andy Waters and his team, the 12 mile lap was sorted and ready for the 190 riders entered for the ever popular Diss MCC Santon Forest Enduro. A dry but breezy day faced the competitors with a strong field of 30 championship riders kicking off the action with a total of 192 riders entered.

At the end of the first test Joe Wootton on the 450 Freestyle Husqvarna demonstrated his return to race fitness with his first test 4 seconds clear of former eastern centre champion Jamie Roper on the 350 Aim/Walters KTM with eastern motocross champion Luke Parker out on the 450 GH/G and B Finch Husqvarna, a second further back in third. Brendan Mayers slotted in fourth half a second slower with 2016 champion Jason Morland on the 250 Aim KTM a second further back.

The second test saw Wootton confirm his domination of the event with an almost 13 second overall lead. Luke Parker strengthened his grip on a podium finish with a strong second test edging Roper down to third. A strong third place on his second test saw Morland push up to fourth with the consistent and hard charging Roger Holland on the 250 KTM rising to fifth. However the action was far from over with a further 5 laps facing the championship runners. Despite lots of new going, the course ran faster than expected and 17 championship runners cleaned the all important ultra tight last lap. Charlie Evans on the 450 Yamaha clocking in 2 minutes early and a gaggle of other top championship runners comfortably finishing a minute ahead of the time schedule - leaving the top five unchanged from the test order.

In the expert class Aaron Gordon showed a 125 was no handicap keeping the 125 HuskySport Husqvarna at the sharp end of both tests and cleaning the tough final lap. Some 17 experts and 6 expert vets able to hit the time schedule with both Gordon and twelfth placed Ryan McDonnell clocking in two minutes early to the final timecheck. Myles Saunders on 250 Aim KTM took the runner up spot with Kevin Palmer on the 300 Pope Sherco taking the final podium slot.

In the hotly contested expert vet class Mark Houson, 250 KTM edged out Richard Hallam, 450 Honda with event sponsor Gav Hockey taking third on his 300 Husqvarna with less than 1.5 seconds separating the top three.

Lewis Ranger on yet another 125 HuskySport Husqvarna was the dominant winner in the clubman class some 17 seconds clear of Lee Monger on his 300 Sherco with James Barker taking third just a second down on Monger.

Kevin Webb, 250 KTM was the only clubman vet to stay clean helping him to top spot in class from Andrew Peck 250 Yamaha and third placed Wayne Fulcher on his 450 Honda. In the Clubman super vets Andy Mason 250 Yamaha again dominated clocking in from his final lap two minutes early and finishing 10 second clear of Paul Davis 150 TM, with Steve Finch, 300 Husqvarna taking the final podium slot.

Despite the efforts of the recent storm the ever enthusiastic and hard working Diss MCC team again put on a great event, a fitting start to the 2017 GH Motorcycles ACU Eastern Championship.

Full results at Diss MCC Ltd Facebook page or at www.dissmcc.co,uk