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| 25.02.2008 |
| TOM SAGAR TOPS ’08 BEC OPENER |
| D3 Racing KTM rider Tom Sagar got the defence of his ’07 ACU Solo British Enduro Championship title off to the best possible start by winning the Diss MCC organised Muntjac Enduro, round one of the ’08 BEC series. |
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Staged in the Thetford Forest close to the town of Brandon, Sagar, aboard his 250 EXC-F, placed an eventual 2.79 seconds ahead of his closest rival at the end of an exciting and tiring days competition. Making it a fantastic opening round to the new championship for KTM, Tom was joined on the podium by his teammate Greg Evans, who placed third overall. Competing in the Enduro 2 class Greg claimed a deserved runner-up result as well as finishing as the event’s highest placed 250cc two-stroke rider.
With all Championship class riders faced with a challenging six laps of a 20-mile Muntjac course, it was the three timed special tests that were to decide the day’s finishing order. With none of the expected Championship class favourites losing time on the going, the three tests – ridden on laps one, two and six, saw just a handful of seconds separating the top riders after the first two timed runs. With Tom placing second on both the first and second timed special tests on lap three, a winning special test performance coupled with a mistake by his closest rival Daryl Bolter saw the defending BEC champion move to the top of the results sheet and claim a maximum points haul. The third and final test of the day was also a good one for Greg as having placed sixth on both the first and second tests of the day he finished third on the final test, moving him into third overall, just 12 seconds behind Tom.
Tom Sagar: “I’m really happy with the way things have gone. To be honest I had settled for second going into the last test because Daryl was riding really well, but things worked out for me in the end. I didn’t push too hard all day. I tried to keep it smooth on all of the tests and not make any mistakes, which I did. I have more speed, but I’m still getting used to the 250 after a season on the 450 so I know I will get faster as the year progresses. Each test went exactly the same for me – I rode smooth and mistake free on each one. I could have been faster if I’d let it hang out a bit more but it’s a long season and I didn’t want to take any chances. It’s great to get a good result in early in the season.”
Greg Evans: “It’s been a great day for me. I’m really happy with the way I rode – I didn’t have any problems on the going and I put in three consistent test times. The first test wasn’t too good as I made a few mistakes. The second went well because there were a few more lines available. Then I struggled to get to grips with the first half of the last test, but things fell into place on the second half. My fitness was good and I didn’t feel tired at all. It was a really good day.”
Results – ’08 BEC Rnd 1, Muntjac Enduro
1. Tom Sagar (KTM) 14.15:76;
2. Si Wakely (Husqvarna) 14.18:55;
3. Greg Evans (KTM) 14.28:19;
4. Euan McConnell (TM) 14.30:86;
5. Daryl Bolter (Husqvarna) 14/42:96;
6. Gordon Crockard (Gas Gas) 14.44:81;
7. Ollie Moyce (Yamaha) 14.45:45;
8. Ashley Wood (Honda) 14.46:86;
9. Darren Carter (Honda) 14.47:23;
10. Dylan Jones (Yamaha) 14.48:35: |
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