Mundell Masters Hapton! Raw Enduro Metzeler Super Sprint Championship Rounds 3 & 4 – Race Report & Results

RAW Enduro fired their Super Sprint Events back into life at a sunny Hapton Last weekend. Hapton was prime after over 6 months with no events, a spectator friendly test was marked out to give riders and teams a great setting, from the Paddock to the grassy hillsides, teams could track rider’s progress via live timing and line of sight.

Report by RAW Media – Images courtesy of CH-Images

Saturday all riders reported a slick feeling with the dew sat on the fresh grass during the untimed sighting lap. In the first timed test Sam Winterburn found out just how Greasy it was as his did a 360 spin on his Jarvis Husqvarna, costing him valuable time. Beta UK rider Dan Mundell bounced out of the box and fired in a fast opening test fresh from his European events commitments. The lap was made up of fast open grassy hillside behind the paddock, then a plunge down a steep bank into the stream before a fast uphill across to the old Quarry. The exit to the quarry caused riders some issues if they didn’t get a good drive. Clerk of the course Wayne Braybrook said this would be an Enduro Sprint and these aspects ensure the enduro theme was kept firmly in place.

Mundell continued to be very consistent during Saturday’s tests, his best lap was a 5.21, Jack Spencer kept Dan on his toes with all seven tests getting faster as the day went on. Max Ditchfield was top 4t runner barking his WR Yamaha around Hapton in fine style for a solid third place on the day. Reece Gazzard Ran out top expert after a day long battle with Ryan Burton finishing just 14 seconds a drift. RAW Enduro team runner Josh Knight was the clubman winner, whilst Hayden Stansfield kept the RAW team winning run intact in the Sportsman class. Local Ace and vets top runner Aaron Crowder grabbed the vet’s class win just ahead of Kev Hipwell and Karl Greenall in third. Hipwell suffered a suspected concussion after a final test crash which kept him out of action for Sunday. Youth riders were also included in the Sprint in their own class, Fraiser lampkin topped the Youth Ranks on his Beta 125RR, Harry walker placed P2 with Jack Leonard improving by the week on his KTM 85.

Josh Knight

Sunday Morning saw the paddock spark into life ahead of forecast Rain showers which ironically never arrived. The RAW crew opted to crack on and get the first 4 tests in and banked just in case the showers arrived. So the paddock and teams were kept busy with just a short break between each timed test.

With some parts of the track getting rough, line choice and a good bike set up was key. Mundell again topped the Championship class but Ryan Crowder, out on a 2t Rieju, found his rhythm and used his MX experience to run closer to overall winner Mundell. Fast Eddy rider James Palmer upped his game Sunday and looked every bit on form taking 3rd place home for his efforts. Aaron Crowder took the Vets win again despite some added pressure from JSM owner John Shirt on his Gas Gas 4 banger. Shirty found his feet a little too late in the day missing the top spot by just 8 seconds at the end of day.

Louis Young took the Novice win and looks set to have a new found love of Enduro on his KTM. Fraiser Lampkin upped his game considerably from Saturday, an overall youth win would have seen him P1 sportsman, and 3rd Clubman such was the pace of the lad as his confidence went up. Josh Knight was the most consistent clubman rider on Sunday, less than 8 seconds between any of his test time’s shows that his rehab and return to fitness is almost back to where he wants to be. Saturday’s Sportsman winner Hayden Stansfield had a big crash in the second test, after a big hit, the team withdrew him on safety grounds after he reported a sore head.

Reece Gazzard

Sundays Expert class battle literally went down to the Final test of the day. Reece Gazzard grabbed the win with Ryan Burton again placing P2. P3 was sorted out by 1 second!!! William Cawte and Callum Hughes posted exactly the same 5.55 final test time as they duelled for the final podium place. Team Steer rider William Cawte just grabbed it on the line.

A fantastic weekend was enjoyed by many riders. Thanks to everyone for the support, the decision from RAW to run six Sprint rounds over just 3 weekends seems to be working, helping riders keep travel costs low, in a testing time for everyone has gone down well.

The Final two rounds of the Metzeler Super Sprints will run at Grange Moor Wakefield in September with a Mix of MX track, Woodland, and the addition of a loamy Stubble X field section.

NEXT RAW Enduro Event May 29th Entries are open now for Gilgarren Cumbria, where again Metzeler will be the headline sponsor of the RAW Extreme Series opener high in the Cumbrian hills.

More info on the RAW Enduro APP available on Android and Apple plus Socials @RAWEnduro
www.rawenduro.co.uk

Results

Saturday – Round 3

Sunday – Round 4