BRITISH RACING POSTS
NEW ‘RITE GOOD’ NORTHERN ENDURO SERIES
Rumour has that there will be a five race Northern Enduro Series, with events from Manchester to South Scotland, including one in the lakes. There will be no clashes with the UKGE, Scottish Enduro Series, Tweedlove or MegAvalalanche as Kev Duckworth (one of the organisers) is aiming to do all of those himself.
They shall be all one day style races, like the Gisburn Event, except the final, which will be a two day event. The final is looking epic, some great proper mountain biking on the natural bridle-way transitions, not just a route to the next special stage, you could do the transitions just for fun! Watch this space for announcements from Borderline/PMBA.
LEE KERMODE SCOTT THE LOT
After an amazing season at the UKGE, as the fastest Master by far, Lee Kermode will be making the move over to Scott. Lee (even though sharing a name with a bedside bog!) won every single UKGE round, plus the Gisburn Enduro he conquered as his first event in the Elite.
He shall be hooked up with Church Stretton’s Blazing Bikes and Scott UK, riding their gorgeous looking Genius LT Tuned, the big hitting, handlebar adjustable170mm travel carbon weapon. Lee will also be fully kitted out with Scott Kit, ready to take on the other Elites with his step up for next season. We at Enduro mag shall be meeting up with Lee for an off-season interview and ride, so keep-um peeled.
LOOK HUGHES MAKING A COMEBACK
Ex-British DH star of old, Stu Hughes, is to have a stab at Enduro. Stu was really well known during the late 90s and early noughties as a top downhiller and excellent 4X rider in the UK. He was a real short course hero, winning most regional races of old, with his best result being 3rd behind Peaty and Warner at an NPS (pre-BDS) round in Scotland. Stu, who used to be my kind of UK race buddy really has the skills to make a mark if he can train that weekend beer belly off him!!
Shrewsbury’s Stu has hooked up with UK distributor Decade and just picked up his new Commencal Meta AM 650 PRO and is being fully kitted out with Royal, Seven protection, Urge and 100% ready to take on his first race, the Mini Enduro at the Forest of Dean. Stu just keeps saying to me he’ll have a go at Enduro, but I think, with how good he used to be on the shorter pedally local tracks, it will suit him down to the ground, keep-um peeled for his progress.
Words: Jim Buchanan
Photos (in order): Jim Buchanan, Doc Ward, alistairkerrphotography.co.uk
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