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Patchquick Trophy (Jul 1, 2010)
The well known motocross facility of Whiteway Barton in Kingsteignton, Devon played host to the 60th annual Patchquick Trophy meeting this past Wednesday evening and TM rider, Stuart Edmonds, was there to pitch battle against some of the UK's top riders for one of the most prestigious Trophies in UK motocross.
The recently re-vamped circuit, which now runs in the opposite direction, was certainly different to what many had become used to, the loose nature of the soil and the dust it can create would also play its part in proceedings this evening. Qualifying began for Stuart at 5.30pm and for a rider that had never even seen this track before he took to it well, decreasing his lap time on every lap right until the end of the session, leaving with fourth pick of the gate for tonight three main event races.
After missing his start gate pick due to a small issue with his helmet peak Stuart lined up on the concrete start in the nearest available gap ready for race one. As the gate dropped and the pack accelerated forward into the first 180 degree left hander Stuart utilised his experience, with the pack to pushing themselves wide Stuart tucked himself and his TM 450 underneath the crowd on the inside and exited the first turn in the top 10. Settling into his rhythm Stuart began to pass his competitors and after disposing of Mellows, May, Blizzard, Pocock, Eastwood and third paced rider Elderfield he began to set off after second placed rider Sword. With only two laps remaining Stuart pushed hard in the dust and closed on Sword lap by lap, however time ran out and as they passed the chequered flag to conclude race one Stuart had pulled himself to within 5 seconds of Sword and took a very well earned 3rd place.
Race two saw Stuart get the start he wanted and as the gaggle of riders exited the first turn he was sat in third place behind May and Blizzard, with Pocock and Mellows in tow and with Sword and Anderson playing catch-up it was time to put in the early fast laps and make a break. Sadly for Stuart his charge came to a sudden end as he also became one of countless victims to suffer a puncture, the hard rocky track had split his TM's front tire wide open but luckily his Tubliss pneumatic rim lock kept the tire on the bead and allowed him to continue, albeit at a reduced pace. Pushing as hard as he could on the loose dusty surface Stuart fought on and came home in a valiant 6th place, not the finish Stuart was hoping for but a finish nonetheless.
The last race of the day was going to be the most difficult, the track surface was now incredibly rough in places and the dust was almost blinding when combined with the setting sun getting lower and lower in the sky. Another good start saw Stuart in the top six and ready for action, working hard Stuart soon found himself and his TM 450 in fourth place and chasing down Elderfield, with a battle that lasted 5 laps, and with numerous passes and re-passes between the two riders, it was Stuart who made the convincing move, elevating himself into third place on the last lap and remaining in that position until the flag. With a 3 - 6 - 3 scorecard Stuart secured himself 4th overall for the event, narrowly missing out on the last podium place by only two points.