Suzuki GB race teams, Anderson ATV and MKM Rocketman Suzuki, both fielded riders in this year’s Weston Beach Race. It was Anderson ATV’s David Baldwin who blasted his LT-R450 to the best result of the weekend, scoring a spectacular 5th place out of 400 competitors.
MKM Rocketman Suzuki’s Sam Barrett claimed a highly respectable 18th position at the end of the 3-hour endurance race. Barrett combined his specially prepared QuadRacer 450 with his enduro riding experience to work his way around 18 laps of the rutted, sand course.
Current QRA pro class rider Jason Wildman also represented MKM Rocketman Suzuki. Despite being caught up in an accident on the first straight and subsequently getting stuck on the notoriously difficult first dunes, Wildman went on to finish the race in 48th place.
Carl Bunce looked set for another top result after claiming 3rd place at the previous two beach races. A perfect launch saw Bunce near the front of the pack, powering his Anderson ATV Suzuki LT-R450 into 2nd position. After seven blisteringly fast laps the deeply rutted, wet and sandy conditions conspired against Bunce, forcing him to retire early with overheating issues.
British Quad Cross Country expert class leader Liam Ryland suffered the worst luck of the weekend. After being caught in an accident on the first straight, Ryland was taken to hospital with a broken wrist, meaning the race was a complete write-off for the young rider.
Anderson ATV Team Manager, Paul Anderson, commented “David was unlucky not to get 3rd place, however we are very pleased with his riding and 5th place overall. Carl was definitely on the pace from the word go, his early withdrawal was unfortunate but that’s often the way it goes at Weston!”
MKM Rocketman Suzuki Team Manager, Ant Deacon, summarised “Sam’s 18th place finish is a good result for the team and a great personal achievement for his second attempt at the beach race. Jason was flying around the course and if it wasn’t for the incident in the first lap he would have been much higher up the rankings.”
Weston Beach Race 2009 – Overall Results
1 Jason MACBETH
2 Steve ATKINS
3 Stefan MURPHY
4 Paul HANNAM
5 David BALDWIN (top Suzuki rider)
18 Sam BARRETT
48 Jason WILDMAN
DNF Carl BUNCE
DNF Liam RYLAND
For more information on Team Anderson ATV Suzuki and Team MKM Rocketman Suzuki
