Newcastle Emlyn based enduro rider Dylan Davies has been crowned the British Classic Enduro champion for 2017 after topping the seven event series which were held across the UK.
Davies who lifted this trophy for the first time was competing in the Classic Enduro CE1 clubman category and is a member of the Dyfed Dirt Bike Club.
Speaking to Sportsline he said he was delighted with his success but in typical modest fashion he admitted that it was the camaraderie that was more important to him than anything else: “Of course I am pleased that I have won but to me the classic scene is a social sport and it’s great spending time with the biking community and I thoroughly enjoy every aspect on and off the bike”.
Davies who for many years was a tough as teak wing forward for Newcastle Emlyn RFC started racing bikes as a teenager, competing in motorcross as a schoolboy and is still very active in the world of ‘Scrambles’
Enduro though is a totally different form of motorcycle sport and is run on cross-country and off-road courses and the stages are raced in a time trial against the clock rather than in a straight race.
On the enduro front he won the British Enduro Rally championship last year and also tasted title success back in 2006 when he won the British E3 clubman event. During that same year he competed in New Zealand in the world famous ISDE six day marathon. Looking back on another gruelling season Davies said that some of the top highlights for him had been the various tests posed at the home events and added :”All the events have their own challenges but out of the seven of them, competing in the Welsh two day meet stands out as it is a major enduro, which attracts riders from all around the world.
The high level of entry which this meeting brings adds to the challenge and competitiveness of the race”.
All events all extremely tough, but just finishing the course is enough of a challenge on its own as most are extremely testing with a wide variety of terrain to negotiate including deep water, very steep hills and tricky descents and the weather can also have a huge bearing as Davies explains:” Weather can be crucial as drier weather makes the event easier whereas wet weather can make the event very difficult.
“My years of experience have helped me with all the courses and I always try and persevere and complete the course even when things go wrong”.
And things regularly go wrong as during the Welsh two day event he lost the use of the back brake on his machine and had to ride with only a front brake!
“During the Isle of Man event I drowned the bike in deep water, so I then had to drain the water out of the bike and then after all of this I ran out of fuel!
“Luckily I managed to reach the finish just in time, with support from my club mates Kevin and Iwan, who helped me during the day”.
Enduro is very much a team sport and riders have to rely heavily on the support of their fellow competitors and club members and this very amiable motorcycle man is quick to heap praise on those who have helped him along the way.
“I would like to thank all members and friends of the Dyfed Dirt Bike Club for their support and especially club officials in Meirion Scourfield and Dylan Williams.
“ I would also like give a special thank you to Edward Davies for building my bike engine and keeping it reliable throughout the season.
“At the end of the day though I would not be able to do this without my family’s support”.
Sportsline looks forward to keeping tabs on Dylan in the new season and will also follow the fortunes of his fellow competitors at the Dyfed Dirt Bike Club.
What is Enduro?
Enduro is a form of motorcycle sport run on extended cross-country, off-road courses and consists of many different obstacles and challenges. The main type of enduro event, and the format to which the World Enduro Championship is run, is a time-card enduro, whereby a number of stages are raced in a time trial against the clock.
What is CE Classic Enduro?
The CE Classic Enduro class is a competition for classic bikes fitted with two rear shock absorbers, drum brakes front and rear and an air cooled engine.
The British CE Enduro Series.
Series of seven events across the UK including the Isle of Man at Ballymoar, the Fowberry Moor in Yorkshire and three in Wales including two Dyfed DBC run events held at Brechfa and Caio in Carmarthenshire as well as the Welsh two day event near Llandrindod Wells.
The bikes.
Enduro motorcycles closely resemble motocross bikes upon which they are often based and they combine the long-travel suspension of an off-road motocross bike with engines that are reliable and durable over long distances.
Enduro engines?
The engine of an enduro bike is usually a single cylinder 2-stroke between 125 cc and 360 cc, or 4-stroke between 195 and 650 cc.
A large and powerful engine is not always an advantage, and riders may prefer smaller bikes that are lighter and more manageable. In the UK, where enduros are often held in wet, boggy areas such as the Welsh hills, 250 cc may be sufficient. In drier climates, where the dirt surface is firmer (albeit dusty), riders can benefit from having a heavier bike with more power.
