Wyegate Ldt

[pete_scorpa3]

This years Wyegate staged by the WG&DF Club was a fairly tough challenge mainly due to the rain, but was a superb event and really well organised, we had a marvellous day out.

Neil Ludlow and I were lucky to get an entry as the organisers had taken the decision to limit riders to smaller and more nimble machines such as Gas Gas Pamepra's, Beta Alps and classic trials bikes meaning that our larger, less suitable 400's were placed on the reserve list. We were relieved when the email came through from the Jackie the secretary of the meeting saying we were in!

Joining us from the Stratford-Upon-Avon club were John Cart, Dave Hayward and Alan Newman.

With a lap of almost 100 miles and with heavy rain falling all day Saturday, we were never going to have it easy. Starting a fairly late numbers we found the drop through the woods to the first sections seriously scary, bravery didn't play a part as riders had no choice but to go, hold on, and hope for the best, there was no easy option!

Section one was certainly no easy starter, being a wet muddy off cambered climb to an angled root exit. Just as Neil looked like notching up a clean, impressively he launched his XR400 through the ends cards, but as he was flying through the air behind the bike at the time, the observer quite correctly awarded a five mark penalty.

Section two caused few problems but section three took fives from most with the slippy off cambered approach to the turn just a little too testing.

After miles of excellent trail riding and we soon found ourselves at Limekiln. I'm sure there were plenty of clean rides here but we all ended up footing madly to reach the top.

At the time of writing, I can't remember the order of things after Limekiln, until that is, Pant Glas. Last year in the dry I was cross with myself for failing the last step just as I thought a clean was on the cards, so I was happy to escape with a solitary dab here this year. My inspiration came after watching Mike Husband get his Pampera up clean for the first time in six years of trying.

Mile after mile of fabulous trail riding continued, the graded hill climb was in evil mood this year and happy to take maximums from all but the most dedicated. From our group I went first but only managed to reach the three, Alan on his lighter Beta Alp did a little better but Neil was a star on his XR using third gear and hanging off the side of the bike speedway style he reached the summit and a well deserved clean.

The three rocky sections at Wixons I negotiated with a loss of six marks plus a pair of very tired arms. Neil failed the third at the last turn right in front of the video camera, his arms just stopped working and he simply fell off!

Eventually we found ourselves back in the woods, this was where things were going to get hard again. Although the 400's are fairly nimble in the dry, add a drop of rain to a muddy bank and they start to struggle. Simply getting to the sections was a major feat, I can honestly say that I gave it my best shot and did manage to attempt every one but without the help of my team mates I'd have never made it to the last section in the group. Neil on his XR400 saw my struggle and decided to ask of a five and stay on the track, a wise move as it turned out as the necessary pivot turn onto the rock step was not forthcoming and I went over the bars. However this was only my second failure of the day.

Pingry Wood (I think it's named) contained the last three sections of the event. Thankfully these were set out a little more moderate, the observer at the last tipped me off that it was going to be tight for the DRZ400 and told her friend to get ready to give me a hand but fortunately I got round ok to finish the day with three cleans in a row.

Back at the start there were a number of very tired riders, it had been a long day and the speedo on the DRZ was showing 100 miles. I lost count of my score after 30 marks lost, I guess I will have ended up on about 50 which is around double my score from last year in the dry, but was a brilliant day out, the kind of day that makes life worth living.

A big thank you to everyone at the club and to all those who observed for us thought-out the day. We were lucky to get a ride on our 400's and I'm so glad that we did. Thank you.

Pete