GH Motorcycles Santon Enduro – 23rd February 2020

The Enduro season kicked off on Sunday 23rd February with Round One of the 2020 GH Motorcycles ACU eastern Enduro championship at Santon, Thetford Forest, organised by Diss MCC.

Torrential overnight rain and the predicted stormy weather did not put off the 190 strong field of riders, including many out of centre riders.

Mixed Results in the Special Test

The rain stopped by about 8am and despite the amount of rainfall overnight, the special test was in remarkable condition, meaning competitors were able to set some really good times. GH Motorcycles/G & B Finch Team rider Ben Cole on an FC450 Husqvarna managed a 2nd over the two special tests, behind Luke Parker and ahead of Daryl Bolter on a Husqvarna FC250, in the Championship Class.

Unfortunately, GH Motorcycles/G & B Finch Team rider Jason Moreland on a Yamaha YZ450F stalled on 1st test, so ended up eighth overall after the two tests. To make matters worse he eventually had to retire after breaking his chain in the 5th lap.

Husqvarna Shows its Strength in the Championship Class

Just as the championship riders started their 3rd lap there was a torrential downpour which softened the course making some big ruts and riding more technical.

The final time control for the championship riders required them to ride the 11 plus miles in just 24 minutes. Luke Parker on a Kawasaki cleared with just over a minute to spare, but only Husqvarna riders Ben Cole, Daryl Bolter and Henry Yardley (on a 125 MX Husqvarna) stayed on time and finished in that order, with Husqvarna’s taking the 2nd, 3rd and 4th places.

Joe Phillip’s Debut in the Experts Class

Young GH Motorcycles/G & B Finch Team rider Joe Philips a first time in the experts struggled with the extra lap especially with the track cutting up and strong competition from out of centre riders. The last time control would challenge all the experts and no one went clean. Joe dropped 3 mins but despite this he ended in a respectable 12th place out of 28 riders in the class a good effort for his debut into the class.

GH gets a 3rd in the Expert Vet (40+) Class

GH Motorcycles Managing Director, Gavin Hockey, who had not ridden since the ISDE in Portugal in November 2019, jumped on the shop Husqvarna TE 300i demonstrator and managed to get a 2nd place in the first special test ending in the Expert Vet (40+) Class with 3rd overall after the 2nd test. A testament to how good the Husqvarna Enduro bike is straight out box!

In the final 27 minute time control, Gavin Hockey dropped a minute but hung on to his 3rd place behind Julian Harvey & John Shirt who both cleaned the final lap.

GH Mot would like to thank the Diss Motorcycle Club and all their helpers for putting on yet another amazing event. See the latest deals on new Husqvarnas here