North Lincolnshire woke to temperatures down to minus five on Sunday morning, with a sharp early spring frost. Things soon got heated up though as over 160 riders warmed their bikes on the grid for the second round of the LEC/Back Office Pro 2022 season, this time in the “quiet” village of North Willingham.
Report by Martin Southwick – Images courtesy of Graeme Taylor
In pretty favourable conditions, and with mixed terrain, fast open fields and wooded sections, the race overall was won by a shade over one single minute. Looking at the lap times of the first three riders home, they must have been swapping paint around the five-mile course.
Indeed, the top three all had better times than any of his rivals on at least one lap. Travelling from just a few miles away, Grimsby man Elliot Milburn riding his “Donkz” 350 Husky went one better than a few weeks ago and came away with the victory. His winning margin by that one minute was enough to beat Dan Johnson into the runner up spot. Dan had five lap times just a few seconds quicker than his closest rival but Elliot returned the favour, being quicker over more laps. In the end, it told . . the winning margin being just sixty-four seconds over the three hours!!. A further three minutes adrift was third place man Mark Lonsdale. The fastest laps for each of the top three were within just a few seconds; all of them being on thirteen laps
The biggest class of the day produced the closest finish. In the Clubman group, three minutes covered the first four riders over the one hundred and eighty minutes of racing. With a large field of nigh on 40 entrants, Rob Minnitt had his nose in front by under a minute once more from second-placed rider Luke Taylor. Not fifty seconds had passed before third-placed man Matthew Woolridge went over the line. Another nine riders accompanied the top three on twelve laps.
Perhaps the biggest winning margin on the day was in the Two-Stroke Sportsman class. Whilst five riders in class put in eleven laps, Scott Stone went one further than his nearest rivals with twelve to collect the spoils. Christian Humphrey was second but only by some forty seconds from third place rider Jamie Burt.
Another big winning margin came in the similar Four Stroke version of the class. Five riders attained five laps but Carl Smalley’s winning margin was some eight minutes or so from Scott Snell. The third spot went to Simon Owen, three minutes adrift of that. On to the equally competitive “Club Stalwart”/”Gentlemens” classes.
The over 40’s group was won by club regular Lee Hattersley on twelve laps. Whilst Nicholas Whitehead put in some faster late laps than Lee, the damage was already done and he slotted into runner up spot. Andrew James was third, also on twelve laps. One or two riders have taken their 2021 form into the new season it seems.
Alan Vissian continues his winning run of victories from last year with another win in the Over 50’s, taking the class by over two minutes from rival Ian Shepherd. A further two minutes adrift of Ian was Sidney Richardson in third place. The over 60’s was won by ever-present winner Kevin Bartle Sr, beating Keith Rowland into second spot. Sean Avison won the Trail/Classic class, and whilst no points are awarded in the Beginners group, Patrick Burman “won”.
“Properly Protected” gave out the “award” this time for the mystery hours/minutes across the finish line. Callum Cowlishaw in the 2T Sportsman class came away with a brand new race helmet.
The club’s next event is on May 15th at the same venue, North Willingham.
Details are here for club members >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/LincolnshireEnduroClub
And for non-members https://lincolnshireenduro.wixsite.com/lec2016
Full Results
Willingham Rnd 2 2022 – Finalised ResultsChampionship Standings
LEC 2022 Championship table
