MKM Rocketman Suzuki fly the flag for Britain.
Apr 2008
Team MKM Rocketman Suzuki packed up their kit and headed over the channel last week to participate in the 10 hour Endurance race at Floyon in France (12–13/04/08).
There were three teams representing MKM Rocketman Suzuki each comprising of three riders. The most senior of the teams was made up of current British Enduro Champion Steve Atkins, Andrew Davies and Jason Wildman. The junior team were made up of Lewis Hill, Josh Chilcott and Sam Barrett and the third team was made up of Anthony and Nick Deacon and Ryan Wildman.
With the team arriving late Thursday, they had all of Friday to get the bikes into action for final checks and adjustments. All went well, however a impromptu rear disk guard had to be fabricated for one of the bikes in the middle of a field. A testament that the team has a strong support crew as well as riders.
The racing got underway on the Saturday with two sets of three hour racing sessions. All the teams qualified well and with all getting good starts, the race seemed to go well despite one setback in the first lap.
Wildman took a spill and knocked himself out cold. Fortunately, despite being a little dazed when he came round, he was ok. The spare bike was pulled into action with team-mates Deacon and Deacon making up valuable time whilst Wildman got checked out in the medical tent.
With the second three hour section of racing taking place in the dark, the senior team, Atkins, Davies, Wildman were required to come into the pits due to a light problem. This resulted in them losing 2 laps as there was only 5 minutes of the session left to run.
At the end of the racing on Saturday Atkins, Davies, J Wildman were sitting in 12th. Hill, Chilcott, Barret were in 15th and Deacon, Deacon, R Wildman were in 26th.
Sundays racing was made up of one four hour long session. This went without a hitch with all teams climbing up a few places and all finishing. Atkins, Davies, J Wildman finished in 6th. Hill, Chilcott, Barret finished in 10th and Deacon, Deacon, R Wildman finished in 21st out of a total of 65 teams.
Tim Wedgwood, Team Manager commented, “this was a really good trip, we all had a lot of fun and the guys and the bikes all finished in great working order. Out of 65 teams we certainly flew the British flag”.
