Since Portugal I've been trying to take it easy. I've been to get some treatment on my back as this injury feels similar to the one I had last year which took months to heal. I'm not sleeping to well with it so want it to heal as fast as possible. For this reason I stayed off my training bike during the week leading up to the Brechfa. I was in two minds whether to ride or not but thought I'd better do as the British championship is so short and all rounds count
I arrived on saturday afternoon in time to fit a front tyre, scrutineer the bike and walk the test. The test was very similar to that of the Isca in 1999 when I was in the expert class. The main difference being that this year the test was a lot wetter.
On sunday morning it was clear that we were in for a wet day. The times indicated 5 laps which meant I wouldn't finish until after 5pm. I set off on the same minute as two welshmen so I was in good company for a long day riding in the shit! I wasn't sure what checks would be tight so I rode quickly on the first lap. As it turned out we had loads of time. However the course was challenging to say the least, and with the bad weather was going to deteriorate quickly. We knew then it was going to be a long and difficult day
The conditions were so bad that it became impossible to keep goggles on. A few people were received eye injuries as result particularly with the sharp rocks.
After three laps a decision was made to shorten the day by one lap. The final check on the fourth lap was to prove the tightest. When we arrived at the long off camber there was a queue of 4 or 5 bikes behind fallen rider Richard Hay. His bike was across the track and the he was clearly in a lot of pain and distress at the side of the track. At this time I could not tell who the rider was. All I could see of his face was blood as he had receieved a stone from the wheel of the bike in front of him. After a few minutes another rider helped Richard to his feet and led him off the hill. I hope Richard is OK.
Just as the blockage cleared Knighter arrived and pushed passed us all on his way to clean the check. He wasn't doing anything fancy just pushing to keep moving rather than sitting in the queue. I think I lost 6 minutes but I believe the check was scrubbed anyway so it didn't matter. I'm not sure if the check should have been scrubbed as I don't think it is fair on the riders who cleaned it but at the same time it wouldn't be fair on the riders who stopped to attend to Richard if it was left in.
The event, as usual in Enduros nowadays, was decided on the test. I really struggled to find grip and found some parts as slippy as ice. The 2nd lap felt OK as there was a dry line but on the 1st, 3rd and 4th I felt really slow. I'm blaming my new mooses which were a little too hard for the conditions. The real reason was that I hadn't put the practise in on the muddy conditions.
At the end of the day I finished 7th on test times which considering the way I felt I was riding I wasn't too unhappy about. I'm glad I finished and I've learned a bit more for the next time we have a muddy event.
Well done to the organisors for laying out a superb event. The course was real fun, and I'm not the only one who thinks so, just a shame about the weather. I hope this will pave the way for other clubs to lay on a classic type enduro as part of the British Enduro Championship.