For the third consecutive year the Annual Gorrick100 mountain bike endurance race took place at Porridge Pot Hill near Deepcut in Surrey on Sunday the 3rd of May.
The highly popular event sponsored by Kawasaki Motors UK gives riders the option to choose how many 10 mile laps they wish to complete in order to provide a true challenge for all abilities from Novice right up to the Pro riders.
This year, Kawasaki Motors UK entered a team of six riders to ensure there was a real green presence not only around the impressive Kawasaki Display in the paddock, but also out on the circuit meandering through the lush Surrey countryside.
General Manager of Kawasaki Motors UK, Howard Dale #287 and was joined in the two lap race by brother Doug Dale #288 and Paris-Dakar Rally legend, Mick Extance #289, along Kawasaki’s new truck driving “mover and shifter”, Paul Henry # 293 competing in his first ever MTB event.
Also new to the sport was KMUK Marketing Coordinator Alan Ward #121, who chose to put aside his championship winning kayak for the day and compete on terra firma for a change taking on the single lap dash.
Finally - and to provide some credibility and ensure that Team Kawasaki was also represented in the expert classes - ex moto-crosser Steve - 'fit as a butchers dog' - Wells #445 was drafted in for the day to compete at the sharp end of the four lap race.
With each 10 mile lap containing a variety of twisty, hilly and very technical terrain - and taking somewhere close to an hour to complete - the boys in Kawasaki’s characteristic green were in the saddle for some considerable time as the race wore on into the afternoon.
Alan Ward had the worst of the conditions with an earlier start time coinciding with some heavy rain, but, by the time the two lappers were away, the course had dried considerably bringing with it faster lap times.
Alan had put on a great debut to finish 8th in his chosen race. The two lappers all put up a respectable showing with Doug being the best of the group in 13th place followed by Mick Extance and Howard Dale in 19th and 23rd place respectively. Paul found the going tough but battled through to the bitter end having thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Star of the show however was undoubtedly Steve Wells in the four lap event. Despite suffering a puncture on the first lap, Steve peddled on after repairs and battled back strongly from almost last position finally finishing 23rd in a field of 56 riders.
Tired and weary, the intrepid sextet all managed to make it back to the 'Factory' Kawasaki Awning unscathed and in one piece, exhausted but happy armed with a great excuse for a beer in the evening!
As Howard Dale commented, the Gorrick 100 remains a great way to celebrate all things two wheeled and an ideal platform to profile the benefits of adding power to two wheels.
“The daily commute is often simply too far for cycling but car journeys are perennially interrupted by traffic jams and other urban frustrations. Every year at the Gorrick 100 we show the motorcycling alternative for commuting and leisure use. I am proud of our team effort this year and I am sure at least some of the riders out there would have been glad of some powered assistance during the day!”