Layout Table~~~~562~562~~

Race Team Results~Team Results from WEC, BEC and Fast Eddy Race Series.~~~562~563~~

New Layout Table~~~~562~564~~

Paul wins Muntjac National Enduro~Diss MCC’s event in Thetford Forest last weekend was new in name only. The Muntjac Enduro, named after a local species of deer, had a wealth of experience behind it. Formerly known as the Banks Enduro, Diss MCC’s organisational skills were honed to perfection as the event ran as smoothly as Paul Edmondson’s riding skills.

Edmondson, on his Maximum Solutions RM 250 Suzuki, won the event by a narrow margin over Si Wakely. Check times were tight and only four of the Championship class riders stayed clean on time so as usual it came down to the three special tests.

The event started bang on time with the first Special Test. ‘Special’ Greg Evans ripped it up, to take a two second lead over Edmondson, who had a slight spill, and Si Wakely in third. Just .04 of a second separated second and third place.

By the start of the third test only four riders were clean on time; Edmondson, Wakely, Sagar and Richard Hay. Edmondson made it with time to spare and went on to take victory by posting the fastest test time of the day.

Only two riders broke the magic five-minute mark on the special test, Paul Edmondson and Si Wakely. Edmondson hammered the final test, pulling a total of nine seconds over Wakely over the three tests.

Paul Edmondson: ‘I started off steady this morning, got used to the bike and the course and picked up the pace as the event went on. I am really pleased with the result, I didn’t have any problems throughout and the bike ran superbly, I’m learning more each week about this bike and it really is impressive. By the time the BEC starts in July we should be well on top of our game’.

Results

Championship
1Paul Edmondson. Maximum Solutions Suzuki
2Simon Wakely. MPS Racing Husky
3Tom Sagar. D-3 Racing KTM
4Richard Hay. 125 KTM
5Edward Jones. ET James KTM
6Chris Hockey. Huskysport 250
7Andrew Edwards. One 11 MX KTM
8Greg Evans. 250 KTM
9Ashley WoodPAR Honda
10Jamie RoperGH MC Yamaha
~~~562~768~~

2007 Hells Gate~Well done to Paul for a great 2nd Place Overall and 1st in E1, at the 2007 Hells Gate, for a full report see Hells Gate 2007~~~562~745~~

The Tough One~Displaying all the grit and determination of a true Pro, Maximum Solutions Off-road rider Paul Edmondson bounced back from his failure to finish at last years WOR Tough One event, to take third place at the 2007 event.Nantmawr Quarry, near Oswestry in Shropshire, was once again the venue for this Extreme Enduro event. Competition was fierce as one current and three ex World Enduro Champions lined up for the gruelling 2hr race which began at 4.00pm and continued into darkness, making the challenging special sections virtually impossible to negotiate.A Le Mans style start saw riders running uphill for 100 metres to reach their bikes, Edmondson was well placed reaching his bike in fourth, just behind Tom Sagar, Wayne Braybrook and current World Champion David Knight, Paul soon moved upto third position which he held throughout the race.Weather conditions were dreadful throughout the race. Torrential rain and hail turned the course into a nightmare scenario for virtually all riders but Edmondson showed his vast experience by riding consistently and not pushing too hard whilst maintaining his third place position overall.Despite more than a few tumbles and hold ups whilst less experienced riders struggled with the special sections, Edmondson pushed hard where necessary and rode smart when conditions deteriorated finishing third close behind Braybrook in second. Current World Champion David Knight repeated his 2006 performance and took the honours.All three riders who made the podium agreed that this had been the toughest Tough One ever staged and were more than happy to make the finish.Paul Edmondson: ‘I was very happy with third place. My failure to finish last years event weighed heavily and I was determined to give my all to make the finish line this time out. My bike ran without a single hiccup and the lighting system was excellent.The special sections were extremely tricky during the hailstorm and I must admit I didn’t push too hard at that point. This is the first event of a long 2007 season and the potential for serious injury was great at some of the sections, so I opted to keep my place and make sure of the finish.It was a great opening event and I am looking forward to improving my positions throughout the season.’~~~562~721~~

Rnd 1 Dutch Championship~Maximum Solutions Off Road team rider Paul Edmondson and UK based Dutchman Mike Kock made the trip to the first round of the 2007 Dutch National Enduro Championships on Saturday 13th January and came away with 2nd and 3rd places overall.

The organising Enterse Motor Club had battled all week with the weather having to cancel one special test completely, build a new test the day before the race and make changes to the third. Their efforts were rewarded though with the competitors enjoying a challenging and professionally organised event.

With some road work included in most checks the course times were spot on and the final result was determined by the six timed special tests. Winner on the day was 2006 Dutch E2 Champion Hans Vogels undoubtedly helped in the long, fast tests by the power of his 450 Yamaha. Paul aboard his 250 two stroke pushed Vogels hard and finished 12 seconds down. 2006 Dutch E1 champion Mike Kock riding his CRF250E was a further 15 seconds adrift in third overall and a clear winner of E1 ahead of Barend Haayer with former World motocross champion Pedro Tragter in 3rd. Mikey’s goal, to win every round of the 2007 Dutch championship, got off to a good start and his UK racing experience is evident in his ever improving riding style and speed.

Initially Paul entered the event as a one-off to get some race speed training prior to his 2007 WEC season kicking off but after enjoying the event so much he now plans to enter as many Dutch Championship events as his schedule allows. Paul “the Dutch riders are so fast in sand, the course cuts up and get so rough and the speed they’re entering corners is incredible but with some practice I’m confident I can put a 2 stroke on the top step of the podium”.

Mike is committed to his National Championship and will compete in all rounds and if his speed and progress to date can continue then a clean sweep (winning all rounds) is a definite prospect.

Maximum Solutions Off Road team are now busy preparing for a period of extreme events kicking off with the excellent WOR Tough One and then moving to Italy for the Genova Indoor on February 3rd and then to perhaps the toughest of them all Hell’s Gate near Pisa on February 10th before returning to the UK and the first round of the Putoline Cross Country Championship on 17/18th February.

The next Dutch Championship is on 24th February at Borculo. They always welcome UK riders and details of all their events can be seen at www.enduro.nl

Photos courtesy of www.actiefocus.com

~~~562~717~~

Barcelona Indoor~26/11/06
Paul Edmondson Maximum Solutions Off-Road Team

VIII Barcelona International Indoor Enduro
Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain

Edmondson runner-up in Enduro 1 class at Barcelona

Maximum Solutions Off-Road Team rider Paul Edmondson finished a strong second overall at the VIII running of the Barcelona International Indoor Enduro, staged inside the Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona. Competing internationally for the first time aboard his new Maximum Solutions Off-Road Team Honda Edmondson placed in second, fourth, third and fourth to finish second in the E1 class results. Qualifying for the end-of-night Superfinal Paul finished a creditable sixth and as the second placed E1 class rider.

Away from international enduro competition for some time Edmondson was keen to re-establish himself as one of Europe’s strongest indoor enduro riders and following four consistent rides placed a solid second to Ivan Cervantes. Aiming to finish the night on the E1 class podium Edmondson event got off to the best possible start when he claimed the runner-up spot in race one. Then placing fourth in race two, third in race three and a safe fourth in race four Eddy showed that he had what it took to beat all but the reigning E1 world champion.

Despite being a little underpowered off the start in the Superfinal Edmondson kept himself out of trouble during the opening laps and in contention with the leading riders. Again not wanting to try too hard and risk crashing Paul instead took his time and finished as the second placed E1 class rider and sixth overall to finish off a very successful night’s racing.

Paul Edmondson: “It’s been a good evening. I wanted to try and get on the podium in the E1 class and I did that, which is great. Ivan was clearly faster than everyone else but after that I knew I could get a good result. I was never outside of the top four in any of my E1 class races and placed second in the first race, which set me up well for the night.
“I didn’t get the best of starts in the Superfinal but I just hung in there really. I tried to pick my way though the first set of rocks without making any mistakes and then just settled down into a pace I was happy with. Obviously, the lead riders had gone but I was holding my own with the riders around me. Cervantes didn’t pull that much time on me, which I was pleased with. I really enjoyed the Superfinal although it was tough as it was the last race of a long night.”
“Everyone knows that I love two strokes but with my new team I’m confident that in the E1 class, with my experience, I can be competitive in the world championship. I’m not realistically expecting to win but I know I can get onto the podium. This has been a great start to my ’07 preparations.”

Results – VIII Barcelona Indoor Enduro

Superfinal (E1, E2, E3)
1. David Knight (KTM) 5:27.89;
2. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 5:32.91;
3. Xevi Galindo (KTM) 5:42.52;
4. Cristobal Guerrero (Gas Gas) 5:46.53;
5. Mika Ahola (Honda) 5:48.99;
6. Paul Edmondson (Maximum Solutions Off-Road Team Honda) 5:57.30;
7. Marko Tarkkala (KTM) 5:59.43;
8. Samuli Aro (KTM) 6:04.55;
9. Simone Albergoni (Honda) 6:08.63;
10. Lorenzo Santolino (KTM) 6:22.04;

Enduro 1 class
1. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 4 points;
2. Paul Edmondson (Maximum Solutions Off-Road Team Honda) 14;
3. Simone Albergoni (Honda) 21;
4. Maurizio Micheluz (Yamaha) 22;
5. Alessandro Belometti (KTM) 27;
6. Gerard Farres (Yamaha) 27;
7. Marc Bourgeois (Husqvarna) 27;
8. Rafael Garcia (Husqvarna) 36;
9. Gregory Eyries (Yamaha) 36;
10. Joan Jou (Yamaha) 36;
~~~562~674~~