Dan on the Gas! 2024 Lincolnshire Enduro Club Championship Round 4 – Race Report & Results

Finally, Jack Rowland’s stranglehold on the 2024 Lincolnshire Enduro Club Championship may have been somewhat compromised. In the club’s latest race, and heading for his 4th straight win of the year, Jack had built a minute lead-up over his nearest rival, Dan Johnson.

Race Report by Martin Southwick – Images courtesy of David Chapman and A.N.Other

However, heading towards the 11th lap of the 3-hour race, Jack’s bike suffered a ‘mechanical’ when the GasGas spat its wheel bearings out. This DNF for Jack allowed Dan to move into the race lead and take his first victory of the year.

This win now sees what was a 5-point deficit at the top of the year’s standings turn into a 10-point lead for the Judd Racing/JBEC Construction GasGas rider. Second home at this, the ever-popular North Willingham track was Lucas Travers. Lucas now moves into 2nd overall, with 50 points. Jack Rowland slips slightly down the table to 3rd spot. While both Dan and Lucas were on the same number of laps at the end, Dan’s winning margin was 8 minutes when the finish flag descended. A further lap back was Wesley Bell. This keeps him in 4th place for the year.

The 5 mile route in the Lincolnshire Wolds, utilised some of the local wooded areas, which were surprisingly damp even after the recent warm and dry spells that the area has witnessed. However, that dry weather meant that the fast field sections were hampered by filter-clogging dust in one or two places!

The club has had several cases of father and son racing in the same event over the years, but never has it had father, son and grandson! The aforementioned Dan Johnson had not only his son racing on Sunday but his father too.

At the age of 73 (and riding under the same number), Dan’s father, Barry, was not only the oldest member of the club out there on the day but finished the event well placed in the Over 60’s class. Very much proof that there are no barriers to the competitive spirit. At the other end of the age spectrum, 16-year-old Ted Johnson in the Sportsman 2T group finished well and hopes to follow in his family’s tyre treads!

Staying with the Sportsman class, Jodie Lambley increased his slender lead by just 2 points at the top of the 2024 standings with his 2nd victory in the 2T campaign. His win was a little under a minute from his rival Jake Wilson, and ekes out another couple of points advantage. Whilst Jake doesn’t feature right at the top for the year, Christian Humphries in 3rd spot on the day keeps up the pressure for a title bid, finishing just over a minute adrift of the top two.

Staying with the Sportsman class again, Charlie Edwards won a clear win in the 4T’s. In the runner-up spot was Paige Felipes, but some 6 minutes behind. The time difference between Paige and third-placed rider Simon Owen couldn’t have been much closer, though; just 2 seconds divided them. This is probably one of the tightest groups for the year, with just a small handful of points separating the top 6 or 7 riders. As yet, nobody can be considered as the odds on victor. One rider who may have a few fingers on the 2024 trophy in his class is Nicholas King.

In the Clubman group, a win on Sunday was his third of the year and stretched his title bid out to 15 points. Darren Wells came home in the runner-up place, some 40 seconds behind, but the gap between himself and third-placed jockey Thomas Hodgkinson was much larger some 8 minutes. Obviously, it’s only halfway through the season yet, but on current form, Nicholas’s rivals will be scrapping for the runner-up spots.

As per the norm, the Over 50s produced the biggest class of the event with 24 entrants. The group was another to produce a hat trick of wins this year, this time with Gareth lodge adding victory to his top places in rounds 1 and 2. Gareth leads the charge for the title but is followed closely by Ian Shepherd, who took 3rd on the day, albeit a lap down from the winner and 2nd placed rider Alan Vissian. It could not be closer in the Over 60’s, for either the year spoils or the actual race on Sunday. Mark Peckitt also took his 3rd win of the year but must have been formation-riding with Kev Bartle Sr, who came home just 2 seconds behind. Mark is heading the 2024 table by just 2 points. Third home on the day and holding the same position for the year was Paul Oates.

Whilst there may be favourites in one or two classes, one group that does not see anyone taking charge is those in their over 40s. To add to his win back in round 1, Lee Hattersley took another victory, this time by a full lap over his nearest rival, Andy Myers. Both Lee and Andy have had 2 wins each this year. Andy was 2nd this time out, and it’s these two who headed the table, with Lee now just one point in front for the year. Richard Cookland came home in 3rd place. The Trail/Classic bike section saw just 2 riders this time out, with Sean Price taking the win from Andrew Malkinson. The Slam series continues with ever more interest. Neil Tapper had to bow down to Harry Hinkley this time out, after a win in every round so far this year. Harry was a full lap in front when the flag fell, with 3rd placed lad Kyle Ardito some 7 minutes in arrears. The beginners class had 11 entrants this time out, and whilst no points were awarded in the group, Rob Carter was the ‘winner’.

Riders are reminded that the rules & regs are out for the next event already. This event is on the 14th of July at Ashby Puerorum.

Details are here for members https://www.facebook.com/groups/LincolnshireEnduroClub…..or for non members here https://lincolnshireenduro.wixsite.com/lec2016

Results