'THE BATTLE OF DRUMCLOG' 14th & 15th August

Enduroland presents two days of Enduro riding - cross country/Mx action at Drumclog near Strathaven, ride Saturday, ride Sunday or ride the whole weekend using the MX track and the full Monty enduro loops thru the woods etc
Either day is £40 for non members or £60 for both days.Circuit will be a fully marked out 20km loop with travelling marshalls, break down quads, catering and medical cover. To enter/register email nigelmic@aol.com or call 07958 101833 for more details, camping overnight is available, you must book in and pay on the day. full details www.enduroland.co.uk

Ryan Maclean pictured below taking 2 out of 3 wins in the Adult 125 class at SYMCC Club round - full report here..... Picture curtsey of Paul Stewart photography more pictures available from this event

Craig Trew wins Delayed Start Melville Motocross 21st Feb 2010

The track at Lochhouses was frozen on Sunday morning which led to an hour and a half delay to the start while the farmer raked the whole track. Once the ground was broken up the sunshine melted the ice and softened the sand leading to perfect racing conditions for all classes. There were fewer riders than previously as there were events at Tain and Brampton although these events were cancelled and a number of additional competitors made a mad dash to East Lothian and of course the delayed start helped.

Craig Trew was out to complete his domination of this winter series and he was in no mood to concede a win to anyone since returning from the Le Touquet beach race last week winning all three races. Ryan McLean pushed as hard as he could to try and force an error from the sand master but to no avail, ultimately finishing second. Neil Chatham took the holeshot in the final race but he too could not hold off the hard charging Suzuki mounted Craig Trew. Colin McLuckie rode consistently all day now he is almost back to full fitness finishing third with George Walton fourth, Neil Chatham fifth and Drew Harvey sixth. Neil had driven all night to get to the race following a test session with the Mucci Racing team in Italy on Friday and Saturday, no sleep and riding a borrowed RMZ450 he was out to consolidate his position in the Melville Motocross series.

The B class ran amoungst the A’s with Paul Benham taking the overall win, Ivan Williamson Jnr finished second with Bob Jack third. Bob has been involved with his Dad at Lochhouses for many years and it is great to see him have three excellent rides to third at this final round. Ian Wilson finished fourth with Belgian student Max Godin fifth. Max is over from Belgium on work experience and he is racing in Scotland at the weekends. James Harvey matched his brother’s sixth place as he prepares to ride in the British Enduro Championship next week.

The C class was almost full with a healthy number of riders out in this final round. David Williams won the first two races and finished third in the last race to take the overall. Barry Macpherson finished second with Ivan Williamson snr third. Crasher Chris Ketchin finished fourth despite trying to take out the clerk of the course and a fence at the start finish area, no major damage was done except maybe to his pride. Dale Hynd finished fifth with Lochhouses regular Hamish Patrick sixth.

Youth MX2 was dominated by Matt Fleming who had transferred from the cancelled Brampton meeting winning every race. Andrew McNicoll rode brilliantly all day finishing second on his 125 with Fraser Flockhart third after fearing the worst with gearbox noises in the second race. To great relief the problem was traced to a toothless front sprocket and business resumed as usual in the final race. Ryan MacDonald finished fourth with Harry Cooper fifth and Robin Bertram sixth.

Stuart Robertson won the first two Big Wheel 85 class races to take the overall although he had to concede the last race win to Reece Wilson who had been on a mission all day for that illusive win finishing second. Sean Williamson finished third with Jack Taylor fourth, Josh Hurley fifth and Robert Bell sixth. Michael Blair was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg and the Melville Club would like to wish him a speedy recovery.
Kyle Oliver also won the first two races and had to concede the final win to Bradley Mann. Elaine MacEachern was a model of consistency finishing second in each race and finishing second overall.  Bradley Mann finished third after his third race win with Oscar Cochrane fourth, Ben Thomson fifth and Steven Lennie sixth.

With a pattern developing at Lochhouses Aaron Macdonald won all but the final race to take the overall with Aaron Stewart taking a well deserved final race win to second place overall. Brett Baillie finished third with Corey Dodds fourth and Kristopher Crowhurst fifth.

Daniel Chisholm won the Auto class on the separate track that also had to thaw out before any racing could take place. Ryan Thomson finished second with Kyle Crothers third, Lewis McLeary fourth, Kyle McNicol fifth and Ciara Robertson sixth.

The track will be cleared up for another year next weekend after another winter series with fantastic weather and great racing. The numbers were a little down at the turn of the year with riders feeling the pinch and the ‘no one day licence’ rule causing problems at the start of the year. The sandy track gives everyone a great work out and it is popular with riders of all abilities.  The Melville Motor Club owes Robert Dale of Lochhouses farm a huge thank you for allowing us to race at this brilliant location. I am sure all the riders would also like to thank Bobby Jack, Steven and Ian Gilhooley for organising these excellent events with Diana McLuckie and Tracy Thomson lap scoring for all the classes with Gordon Paterson pulling the totals together for the final series results due shortly.           

Melville Scottish Championship Hare and Hound 7th Feb 2010

Neil Chatham wins Metzeler Melville Scottish Championship Hare and Hound

Results in "Excell" here...... "Pdf" here.....

There was a battle royal at Lochhouses Farm on Sunday, one of the best ever. A cold cloudy wet day greeted all on Sunday morning although it did not actually rain. There was less of an atmosphere than in December although that was to change very quickly once the race started despite the relatively low entry of 125 dedicated competitors. Ecosse MX supplied a pair of goggles for the holeshot in each class.

D3 Racing’s Murray Thomson took the Ecosse Mx holeshot prize in the Expert class with Fraser Norrie, Derek Little, Darren Carter and Drysdale Motorcycles Neil Chatham all in hot pursuit. Fraser charged through to the front and was never headed for the remainder of the first lap. Neil was within sight in second and for the next hour they swopped the lead more times than either of them could remember. There was never more than 13 seconds between them as they carved there way through the backmarkers.

There was an extreme section for the first time at a Melville but it did not seem to slow the two young terriers as they made it look easy. Fraser stopped for fuel allowing Neil to build up a gap but with a lightening fast pit stop he was soon on his tail again. Neil managed a quick stop and re entered the track right behind Fraser although he needed another stop with Neil having enough petrol in his big tank to make it to the finish. Unbeknown to everyone Neil’s brakes had worn out with the earlier battle and he was struggling to stay ahead. It looked like Neil was going to be caught but Frasers energy was spent with the frantic pace of the early laps allowing Neil to maintain his lead after the Dennis Irvine Superbike ace refuelled. Neil could not believe it as he had considered stopping once his brakes had gone but he persevered and took his most satisfying win so far. Fraser Norrie looked exhausted but the two shook hands at the finish, they both knew they had put on a great show and they had both ridden brilliantly.

Murray Thomson finished third having looked like a circling shark waiting on his pray to fall and pick up the pieces, Derek little was fourth with a gaggle of experts making the finish, Allyn Scotland fifth and Drew Harvey sixth. The old guard have to give best to the young guns coming through the ranks in Scotland on this occasion.

In the Over 40 Class Mark Ritchie took the holeshot prize winning with 9 laps after a problem on the second lap he managed to haul himself back to first place with Alex ‘Ivan’ Kirk in second. Bill Bruce finished third with John Henderson fourth, Steven Currie Snr fifth and Andy Gray sixth.

Fraser Flockhart was overtaking Experts on his first lap despite starting on the third row at the start. Fraser is another young talent coming through for Scotland with another excellent performance, completing one more lap than all the other Clubmen. 2009 Scottish Clubman Enduro Champion David McArthur finished second with a welcome return to the podium for Hamish Patrick who has been busy at university missing the early rounds. Adam Brayton finished fourth with Richard Dakin Ecosse Mx holeshot winner in fifth and Steven Currie Jnr sixth. Belgian rider Max Godin is over in Scotland on work placement for four months having met Neil Chatham at the Everts race school, in his first hare and hound he rode consistently to fifteenth place in the clubman class. 

Alistair Millar won the Clubman B class with Ecosse MX holeshot winner Andrew Brass second, Seamus Clyde third, Doug Thomson fourth, Brian Middleton fifth and Gordon McGregor sixth.

In the Sportsman class Lee Philip won with eight laps with Ross Hilton taking the holeshot prize in second, Jordan Hayes third, Scott Macbeth fourth, Robin Bertram Fifth and Stuart Jenkinson sixth. This class is certainly seeing some new names come through with some strong performances. Sean Henderson was riding for the first time and bravely rode the full course and it came as a shock how tough it was although he can be satisfied with finishing his first event.

The Motocross classes rode for two hours with just a short route around the edge of the woods. The motocrossers run at a frantic pace for the two hours with a mixture of techniques, some taking it at a steady pace with others running at full tilt. The highly experienced Colin McLuckie won the Motocross A class with a mature ride now fully recovered from his injuries sustained last year. David Houston took the holeshot prize and led early on but struggled to re start his bike at his fuel stop. The bike restarted but it had cost him dearly, Richard Houston followed him home in third. Bob Jack retired with terrible blisters and Jason Martin retired with a technical issue.

Another rider who has had a tough 2009, not bike related, Daniel Stewart back to full fitness with a very strong performance to take the win in the Motocross B class and he was up with the leaders in the A class. David Wheatley finished second with Ian Wilson third, Craig Pearson fourth Chris Ketching fifth and Jason Shill sixth.

There is one more a motocross at Lochhouses on the 21st February. Regulations are available form www.melvillemc.co.uk I am sure all the riders would like to thank everyone who helped with this event especially the ladies who stood in the tattie boxes all day in the cold. It is amazing that the Melville can run events despite the rain on the days leading up to the race. Many thanks must go to Robert Dale for the use of this fantastic venue.

Twisted 7 to set Pulses racing in 2010? You bet!

Long standing Twisted 7 rider Bryan Mackenzie returns after his sabbatical from the team after he took an opportunity given to him by CAS Honda to follow a lifetime ambition to race GP’s. And now with “a few things ticked off the list” as he puts it, a confident

Drysdale motorcycles test day January 31st 2010

Dear valued customer,
Winter is here and there is not much cheer and the January blues are not far away, but that’s okay because it’s almost time for our legendary enduro bike demonstration test day!
We are hosting the event at the famous Loch houses enduro circuit in East Lothian, one of Scotland’s top enduro venues.
There will be the very latest models on test from KTM, the full range of 2010 models including the 125EXC, 200EXC, 250EXC, 250EXC-F, 300EXC, 400EXC, 450EXC and the 530EXC.
Also available to test will be the exciting new HUSABERG enduro range, the 390FE, 450FE, 570FE and the 450FX.
The event kicks off at 9.00am and we will be running 20 minute sessions every half hour, through to 3.30pm or when bad light occurs.
Pre- booking for this event is the only way you get to this event and there are limited spaces so book your place now!
The cost per rider per machine will be £30 for one bike or £40 for two bikes payable in advance.
You will also be able to take your current machine out on track to do back to back comparisons with the new models.
Photo identification will be required on the day, Drivers licence or passport and this must be produced prior to riding.
Bookings can be made by e-mail, by telephone or by simply popping into the shop.
 The address for the venue is as follows: Loch Houses enduro circuit, west Aniston farm, Tranent, East Lothian, EH33 1EA.
We look forward to seeing you there,
The Drysdale motorcycle team.Email: alan@drysdalemotocycles.com Phone: 01738451050.

Paul Chiappa turns the half century

With more than 35 years of motocross racing to his credit Scottish Motocross rider and seven times Scottish Twinshock racing champion Paul Chiappa celebrated his 50th birthday with a few friends at his local watering hole last weekend.

There were plenty of stories being banded about on the night with tales from his first schoolboy race at the start of his racing career in 1974 with the Scottish Formula Bantam Club, and that wondrous story of the amazing Hawkstone double jump over the bomb hole in 1984, where Paul told us he had entered the race for one reason only and that was to try the double jump at this legendary racetrack, Paul completed his mission in fine style that day only to land on the travelling marshall who was parked trackside in the process.

Paul says the not so memorable ones in the last 35 odd years were when he broke down on a CR 250 Honda in the lap scoring lane right in front of his then hero at the time Dave Thorpe. . . which he says was a major embarrassment to him at the time.
And of course there was his big crash at a Scottish Twinshock event at Kincardine in 2006 , these are some of the events he would rather not remember.

Now as Paul has past his first half century the veteran campaigner shows no signs of slowing down or hanging up his motocross boots just yet and has already got his sights set on an eighth Scottish Twinshock championship for 2010, and who knows he might yet add another motocross title to his already vast and somewhat impressive motocross racing CV.

Paul is pictured with a personalised raceshirt to commemorate his half century from all who attending his birthday bash

Many thanks to Bill Brown at Wulfsport for supplying the shirt and also to Calum Sangster for the framing.

Submitted by
Chris Montignani

Motone KTM 2010 team line up released

Team owner Darren Wilson has released details of his KTM/ Drysdale Motorcycles/ Safe Access/ Rockstar backed team for next year with Ace Spannerman Bob Bratcher as the newest signing for the Team. Gp Bob will oversee the set up and testing programme with his vast experience at World and National level with the riders as we start our journey into 2010 and hopefully bring a Championship or two for our sponsors faith. 'Welcome to the Team Bob!'