Perth International Endurocross 2015 Images B

Perth International Endurocross 2015 Images B by Trevor Hedge

Kyle Redmond conquers Perth International Endurocross 2015 ahead of Daniel Sanders and Graham Jarvis

By Trevor Hedge

While Perth has seen a couple of Endurocross events over the years, the 2015 Perth Motorcycle Show was the first occasion that Western Australians have welcomed international extreme enduro stars to their sandy shores.

American expert Kyle Redmond and World Champion Graham Jarvis were the main draw-cards to the event, staged at the historic Claremont Showgrounds.

The famous venue once held the mantle of the world’s longest continuous running motorcycle speedway venue. From 1927 until the year 2000 Claremont Speedway was the home of Speedway in Western Australia. And it was a place I spent quite a few summer nights as a kid, watching international stars such as Simon Wigg and Sam Ermolenko go head to head with Australia’s best under lights, at a place that was already firmly written into West Australian racing folklore. Evergreen Greg Hancock would be the only current top level international speedway rider to have enjoyed summer evenings racing at Claremont Speedway, and the American enjoyed many a night at the historic venue, situated not far from the banks of the Swan River, only eight-kilometres from the Perth CBD. With that in mind, it’s amazing that Claremont Speedway managed to actually make it to the tipping point into this century.

This Spring, however, it was Endurocross and the Perth Motorcycle and Scooter Show that brought motorcycle fans into the Perth twilight to enjoy the smell of two-stroke and premium unleaded, rather than the pungent fumes of methanol burning sliders.

A familiar voice of speedway called the event though, long time promoter and speedway caller Con Migro commentating, which also brought back some childhood memories for this Perth boy.

Migro was not the promoter of the Perth International Endurocross though, that mantle went to Willie Thompson. A Scottish bred Western Australian that is more widely known for running the Tumbulgum Natural Terrain Motocross events and, more recently, also the promoter of the Manjimup 15,000. Thompson teamed up with Perth Motorcycle Show promoter, Peter Woods, to stage the event.

The major drawcard underpinning the promotion of the event was the star power of World Hard Enduro Champion Graham Jarvis.

This time the British challenge failed to really fire. Jarvis, not completely at home on the man made circuit, which was clearly not the Hard Enduro expert’s natural habitat. The Yorkshireman more accustomed to plying his trade amongst the forests and most challenging mountains of Europe, rather than artificial stadium style endurocross events.

Like so many times before at Claremont, it was a visiting American star that took the spoils.

Kyle Redmond had been called into replace four-time US Enduro Champion Russell Bobbit, who had been originally slated to race the Perth event but recently suffered some injuries that prevented his attendance. Redmond was also highly credentialled, with a swag of titles to his name and the honour of being the highest finishing American ever at Erzberg.

Leading the Australian charge was Daniel ‘Chucky’ Sanders. And what a challenge the 21-year-old Victorian put up. After recently taking E3 glory at the International Six Days Enduro, only weeks ago in Slovakia, and an outright podium at the A4DE, Sanders is very race fit, and he stood head and shoulders above his countrymen at Claremont on Saturday night.

A likeable kid, with the most unruly and comical mop of hair seen on a racer since Marco Simoncelli, had the vocal Perth crowd on their feet as he chased down the visiting American in the latter half of the race, setting fastest lap after fastest lap, and then squeezing past the 27-year-old Californian to take the lead, much to the appreciation of the now apoplectic crowd.

It was going down to the wire, but Sanders tripped at the final hurdle, falling on the final section of rocks before the finish line, his challenge done. By the time Sanders was back up and out of the rocks, Redmond had collected the victory by ten seconds.

Jarvis was third, a further 47-seconds behind the young apple orchardist, from the tiny country Victorian Yarra Ranges hamlet of Three Bridges. Sanders won himself a few thousand new fans of the West Australian variety with his spririted performance at Claremont.

Redmond, for his victory, won $5000 cash, and more than a few young female admirers.

Western Australian race fans were also winners. The sandgropers got plenty of action for there modest $20 general entry ticket.

Daniel Sanders – “Had a great race at the 2015 Perth International Endurocross.

“Managed to snare the holeshot, but made a mistake half way through the opening lap and went down which allowed Graham Jarvis and Kyle Redman to get by me, forcing me to play catch up to Jarvis.

“Had a good battle with Graham, then had to put the hammer down to catch up 15-20 seconds to Kyle. Once I did catch up onto the back of him we had an awesome fight.

“Pulled six seconds on him in one lap and had the pressure on him. For the last five laps of the fifteen lap race both I and Kyle were just fighting it out until fatigue set in. I made another mistake with two laps to go, which allowed Kyle back through.

“It kind of sucked and am a little disappointed getting second overall. However, I enjoyed the race so much it made up for it.

“Another little bonus was setting the fastest lap time, which was nice to have alongside my name.

“It was so much fun having so many fans come up to me and say that was the best come back and race they’ve watched, which was a pretty cool feeling!

“Hats off to Willie Thomson, the organiser. He and his team did a great job at designing the venue and was simply well ran

“Can’t wait to come back to Perth and race it again!”

Stefan Granquist showed glimpses of brilliance to finish in fourth place ahead of Broc Grabham and Jesse Lawton.

The Lites category was won by Perth motorcycle trials expert turned enduro rider Paul Price.

There was also support events for Veterans, Juniors and Trials Riders.

All those non profressional riders that entered the event have my utmost respect for giving the herculean challenge a go. I was exhausted just watching the first five minutes of practice, let alone trying to ride the course.