For full results see http://www.enduronews.com/

Round 1  Muntjac Enduro, Thetford Forest.

The first official outing of the 2008 Sheep Skull Enduro Riders team in the BEC. The team members Leo Cordingley Chuck Bregazzi and Mike Alty were looking forward to the event.  It was the first outing in the BEC for Charlie and Mike since 1994 when they were both good expert class riders. Having caught "6 day fever" (note 1) in Chile they both decided they would have a come back in the veteran class. Encouraged by Leo who rode last year new bikes were purchased and entries were sent. Leo was having his last ride on the Honda as a new Husqvarna TE450 was on imminent delivery from Moto Supplies Husqvarna. www.motosupplies.com

The event went well for the team, Leo was semi on the pace and finished 7th in class, disappointed with his first test he went on to record a much better time the second time round. He was disappointed to lose a minute as there were 8 riders at the final control and by the time he got to the front the clock had changed and a minute lost, he should have ridden quicker the loser! 

Charlie and Mike found it a bit of a tough comeback event as the tracks now are much rougher than 14 years ago, maybe we had it easy back then or maybe more land for new tracks was available with less green issues and environmental pressures etc. In the good old days in the Thetford forest we used to do 2 x 40 mile laps and the bumps were half as big! Importantly for the team they both finished well and the team were 12th in the BEC team competition.  Beating many more serious entries. (Not that we are not serious) We are now looking forward to the next event in Scotland later next month.

Our other rider in the event Karl Greenall riding in his first ever BEC event, after a lifetime of H&H events MX and trials, rode well and overcame a lot of nervous energy to get a decent result for first time out. Thanks to all the helpers, Dot, Stan, David, Paul, Lorraine and any others I have forgotten.

The team seemed to have attracted some big name riders as Paul and Lee Eddy, Greg Evans, the Jones boys, Tom Sagar and various other riders were seen sporting the now legendary Sheep Skull headlight logo. We will have a hall of fame gallery soon featuring all the riders to wear our logo, Gio Sala used to stop on checks and demand we gave him our stickers!

Note 1 "6 Day Fever" This syndrome is where a rider attends the International 6 day enduro in some exotic location and watches riders the likes of David Knight, Paul Edmondson, Jonny Aubert and Mika Ahola make it look so easy. They decide it looks like fun to ride top level enduro events not realising it is really a living motorcycle hell. The sun never shines the tracks are never as fast and flowing and the ruts are 10 times deeper than when Eddy flies past in the sun on his back wheel at 70 mph! 

Thankfully for most sufferes 6 day fever wears off as soon as you touch down back in the UK in chilly October or November it is raining. The ruts on your hot practice ground are 4 ft deep filled with water and even the grips on your bike are so cold you can't touch them. If all this fails to cure your "6 day fever" the only other option is to spend all the money you ever had on a new bike race all year and pretend to enjoy it. After 2 or 3 weeks riding in the snow and rain 6 day fever will have worn off and you realise its gonna be a long hard rut and whoop filled road to 6 day glory but never forget it is worth it 100%.

Round 2  Lossiemouth Enduro, Grampian Mcc.

Round 2 started with bad news for the team, Due to family commitments Mike Alty could not attend, his replacement and regular expert class rider Andy Walton from Ramsey Isle of Man had a disaster when the boat he was due to travel from the Island on was cancelled and any alternative boat was fully booked.

After a frantic phone call to Bob Mullins the team was finalised Friday morning! Mike Turner from Sulby was contracted in and being from the same village as Knighter great things were expected! So the team finally was Leo Chuck and Mike, 3 veteran riders with nearly 60 years enduro experience between them!  Day 1 went well for all 3 Mike only losing 2 minutes and Leo losing 3, riding on his own on the first minute of vets he found it hard to know the pace! Leo's tests were fast and the time lost on the going whilst being annoying would not impact the result as much as expected. Charlie was riding well and putting in good solid times. Day 2 dawned and Leo was determined not to lose time today! The only tight check of the day was a minute faster than day 1 and Leo stayed clean after getting a bit of tow of expert rider Michael Reese who was having a nightmare day! Mike Turner lost a minute and said he could not have ridden much faster but he was happy. Charlie lost a bit more but again was happy on his first 2 day enduro for 14 years! With only the test, road ride and the relatively slack Monaughty check to ride everyone was home and dry, or so we thought. Leo went into the test and disaster struck when he snapped off his rear brake lever on about the 4th corner! A stump hit it from underneath and ping! A time some 20 odd seconds slower than the day before with 2 working brakes resulted, disappointed at the time but it was to be least of his worries! Fortunately due to the fantastic Husky design he was able to fashion a repair with a bolt, many thanks to the Husky team boys at the out check.

Leo first Vet on the road again went into the check with Michael Reese so a good tow was in order! 45 minutes in to the check disaster number 2 stuck when the awesome TE450 broke a chain. Leo struggled to repair the chain and eventually after some ingenious wiring and bodging managed to limp home nearly 40 minutes down! Very disappointed but happy to finish. Charlie lost a bit more time with a big crash on the Monaughty check resulting in the biggest bruise known to man, but late draft Mike from Knighters village aced it and was top team rider of the weekend. There must be something in the air up there in Sulby! You should bottle the air and sell it on e-bay! Those crazy Yanks would snap it up! Dude

The other team members, Karl Greenall and Robbie Turner, Mikes 18 year old lad riding in his first BEC rode very well to finish what was a tough event. I wish my arms and legs were 18 and not 40! Robbie was seen whenever the checks were close enough asking Mike how to work out times! Your close neighbour Knighter has a simple answer to that Robbie.... Dont loose any time! Ha ha!! Karl now on an EXC 450 thumper enjoyed himself in his first ever 2 day event and was happy to have moved up the overall standings in the clubmen from his Muntjac result. (I think his "6 day fever" is cured now and he is on the rut filled road to glory!) Thank you to all the team helpers, Glenda, Lorraine, Michelle, Dot and Stan for standing in a field all day smiling despite the snow hail rain sleet wind and getting complained at by us all. Everyone enjoyed the event and we look forward to the next round in Wales. Special thanks must be said to Rhett Parker for following Leo home on the road from Monaughty in case his wired up chain snapped again.