Moving to the picturesque setting of Saints Well in Mid Wales, BSEC organisers GMC Events laid on an enjoyable cross-country style course for rounds five and six of the series. Mixing traditional Welsh grass tracks with a motocross track and an exciting extreme section, the mixed – but largely dry – weather ensured the Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship once again delivered closely fought racing.
With Saints Well marking the halfway point in the 10-round championship, it also marked an impressive turning point in the season for Electraction TM’s Jordan Rose. Showing flashes of race winning speed early in the series, Rose finally delivered the goods and secured a double victory in the Elite class.
Making a steady start at round five, Rose quickly upped his pace to take control of the Elite class. Continuing to build on his lead for the remainder of the day, the TM rider finally clinched his first BSEC victory.
Keen to repeat his previous day’s success, Rose started round six in determined fashion. Second on the opening test behind KTM’s fast starting Daryl Bolter, he then edged his way into the lead. Fending off a late race charge from Tom Church, Rose recorded his second victory of the weekend.
Behind the TM rider, Bolter placed a solid second overall. Challenging Rose throughout round five, he ended his day less than 20 seconds behind after almost 70 minutes of special test racing. Fastest in the first test at round six, Bolter would see his race lead short-lived as mistakes set him back. Losing touch with the leading duo of Rose and Church, Bolter ended his day in third.
Rapidly improving on his previous results, Husqvarna’s Jamie Lewis placed third in the Elite class at round five and fourth at round six to secure third overall. Maintaining a pace that should have seen him challenge the leading duo at round five, a costly mistake during lap three left him in third.
Mid West Husaberg’s Simon Wakely ended round five in fourth with Lee Edmondson (KTM) recording a strong fifth. With Church slotting into second place at round six, Wakely dropped back to fifth, behind Bolter and Lewis.
After his Enduro World Championship successes in South America, Gas Gas UK’s Danny McCanney quickly adapted to the unsettled Welsh weather competitors faced at round five. Making a slow start to his morning, McCanney pushed his way into the lead by midday. However a mistake in the penultimate test left him trailing Husaberg’s Alex Rockwell entering the final test of the day. Upping his pace on the final test, McCanney pipped Rockwell for victory by two seconds.
Following a promising start to the morning, rounds three and four winner Johnny Walker (KTM) looked capable of mixing it with the leading duo. Catching some loose wire around his foot peg during test three, Walker lost touch with the leaders and ended his day in third. Husqvarna’s Jack Rowland finished in fourth with KTM’s Lewis Belfield in fifth.
Switching to a two-stroke in Saints Well, Husaberg’s Alex Rockwell was back on top form in the Under 23 class. After narrowly losing out on victory at round five he started round six in a determined fashion. Leading his class from the beginning of the day, Rockwell edged out a slender three-second advantage over McCanney.
With McCanney crashing during the fifth test, the Husaberg rider found himself holding a sizeable lead. Controlling it to the finish, Rockwell recorded a well-earned victory. Although setting some impressive times during the final two laps of the day, McCanney was unable to close the gap on Rockwell and finished in second.
Walkeronce again finished third but this time reduced the gap to 11 seconds behind McCanney. Jack Rowland repeated his previous day’s result of fourth while Lewis Belfield topped off a solid weekend with fifth.
In the Under 19 class Steve Holcombe (KTM) continued to be the rider to beat. Topping each of the day’s eight special tests Holcombe comfortably placed over three minutes clear of Joe Wootton (Kawasaki) in second while finishing the day as the event’s ninth fastest rider.
With Wootton ending his day as runner-up to Holcombe, KTM’s James Dent secured third. Behind Dent, Robert Johnson (Husqvarna) finished in fourth with Husaberg’s Aaron Smith in fifth.
At round six Holcombe again topped the Under 19 standings while also placing ninth overall. With Wootton, Dent and Johnson repeating their previous day’s results Andrew Bull (KTM) improved on his sixth place result at round five to finish in fifth.
The Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship continues with rounds seven and eight in Adstone, Northampton, on May 19/20.
