Team Can-Am Fantastic 2nd At Llangrove

Sunday the 28th of June saw Team Can-Am return to Llangrove for round four of the 2009 QRA ACU British Quad Cross Country Championship, Tony Nash and the hard-working QRA crew carrying out an extreme make-over at the Herefordshire venue that included more woodland sections and a new clockwise layout, the changes providing an enjoyable but demanding test for all levels of riders and some spectacular racing throughout the day.  Despite heavy rain and flash floods in the week prior to the meeting, a hot and dry race day saw a quickly drying surface, dust evident in many of the fast open sections in the latter stages of the meeting and the heat testing the fitness and conditioning of the riders.

Campaigning the all new Can-Am DS450 Xmx at the technical circuit, the Team Can-Am quartet put in an outstanding performance to deliver yet another fantastic result, Justin Reid taking a superb 2nd step of the podium in the PRO class with Chris Cooper battling through to 7th despite a rear brake problem, Iain Johnston making a return to racing after a two-month layoff and putting in a solid performance for 11th, while Beverley Barnes strengthened her grip on 3rd place in the Clubman series with another magnificent ride for 4th.

Beverley Barnes

A fantastic start to the Clubman race saw Beverley round the first corner in 2nd as the field charged out for their first of fifteen laps.  Dropping back to 5th as she settled in to a comfortable pace in the opening lap, Beverley used the excellent handling of the DS450 Xmx to negotiate the many challenges around the complex circuit and began to work back through the field, slotting in to 3rd as the race approached the one hour mark.  Maintaining her pace and involved in an epic battle for position for the remainder of the race, a missed gear on the motocross part of the circuit dropped Beverley back a position in the closing stages, charging to the chequered flag after just over three hours for a hard fought 4th.  “ I’m really happy with my 4th place today and it’s been a really good meeting.  The circuit is really demanding and has a little of everything, which I really like, and with the Can-Am DS450 Xmx working really well I had a lot of fun out there.  I got a great start and just settled in to my own pace at the beginning, there were quite a few people who passed me in the opening laps, but I felt confident that as the race progressed I could get back through, which I did.  I had a really good battle for 3rd and it would have been nice to have held the position, but the result has helped me to put another five points between myself and 4th in the tables, so it’s been a fantastic day and I’m delighted with the way things are progressing.”

Chris Cooper

Getting good drive off the line for the start off the Pro Class race, Chris rounded the first corner in 2nd and took the lead two corners later only to drop to 4th with a slight mistake in the first wooded section.  Quickly getting back up to speed and fighting his way through to 3rd, Chris was comfortably holding position and closing in on the leading duo with the one hour mark approaching when lady luck struck a cruel blow, Chris losing his back brake and getting stuck behind a back marker, his bike stalling and refusing to fire up initially with a blown fuse.  Dropping back to 9th as he worked furiously trackside to get underway, Chris set off at a blistering pace to make up positions, and despite having lost over five minutes to the group in front began to work his way back through the field, taking the chequered flag after sixteen gruelling laps for an amazing 7th position and moving up a position in the overall standings.  An upbeat Cooper commented after the race “ I’m happy with the way I’m riding and the way the Can-Am is performing, it’s just all down to luck this year for me so far, and I’m not having any of it!  It is a little frustrating as the DS450 Xmx has proven to be a really competitive bike, but with a little luck on my side I’m confident of being on the podium.”

Iain Johnston

Starting from the second row in the Pro class, Iain got a decent start from his disadvantaged position and quickly settled in to a comfortable pace as he worked his way through the dusty conditions.  In only his first outing on the bike since an injury sustained at the opening round in April, Iain began to increase his pace as he became accustomed to the circuit and conditions, valiantly battling through to take 11th at the chequered flag in only his second race meeting in almost two years.  “ It’s really good to finish the race in 11th and get some more points on the board, but I’m a little disappointed with my performance as I feel I’m capable of more.  I didn’t get the best of starts because of my second row position, and with the dust in the opening laps I just settled in to a pace that I felt comfortable with.  As the field got spread out a bit and the dust began to settle I was able to increase my speed, and with the DS450 Xmx working like a dream I was able to make my way through for 11th, so I suppose it’s not a bad result given my lack of bike time.  There are still three rounds remaining and a lot of racing still to do, so I’m confident that I will get back up to speed and my results will improve.” 

Justin Reid

Rounding the first corner in 4th as the Pro class charged out on the opening lap of the demanding circuit, Justin used the excellent handling of the Team Can-Am DS450 Xmx to challenge for position and by the exit of the first wooded section had moved in to the lead.  Setting a blistering pace from the off and taking fastest lap of the meeting on his second circuit, Justin gradually pulled away from the ensuing pack and held position until his first fuel stop, temporarily dropping back to 2nd but re-taking the position on the following lap.  Maintaining his pace as the race progressed, a second planned fuel stop as the race entered the final hour saw Justin drop back to 2nd, but setting a relentless pace Justin was quickly closing the gap when his progress was temporarily halted, clipping a post and taking a tumble on a fast part of the circuit.  Quickly regaining his composure as he remounted and got under way, Justin set off in pursuit but was unable to get back up to full race pace, some damage to his handlebars and the bike feeling under power with a broken plug cap limiting his speed, Justin nevertheless taking a fantastic 2nd step on the podium and moving to 6th in the standings with only a five point deficit to 3rd. “I should have won this easily today but I was pushing harder than I needed to and clipped a tree stump that was buried in a berm, as I thought that my main competition was fuelled until the end of the race. As it turned out he had to pit again and that would have gifted me the lead again. Unfortunately I hit the tree stump pretty hard which tweaked my steering alignment slightly so when I came back into the infield section I misjudged a corner and skimmed a post, which made me spin out and flip over. I was able to remount and finish in second but I was unable to challenge for the win. My results have been improving steadily and the DS450 is running brilliantly so I will be pushing for the win at the next round.”

Results 

Pro Class
Winner – Paul Winrow, 2nd – Justin Reid, 3rd – David Baldwin, 4th – Martin Benbow, 5th – Stefan Murphy…7th – Chris Cooper…11th – Iain Johnston

Clubman Class
Winner – Jamie Hall, 2nd – Sam Barrett, 3rd – Christian Bye, 4th – Beverley Barnes, 5th – Elizabeth Price 

Championship Standings (after 4 of 7 rounds) 

Pro Class
1st – Paul Winrow 100, 2nd – David Baldwin 72, 3rd – Stefan Murphy 65, 4th – Martin Benbow 63, 5th – Jason Wildman 62, 6th – Justin Reid 60, 7th – Chris Cooper 51…18th Shaun Gunther 14…20th Iain Johnston 13 

Clubman Class
1st – Jamie Hall 97, 2nd – Christain Bye 83, 3rd – Beverley Barnes 76, 4th – Peter Gallagher 63, 5th – Nick Grant 55