2009 WTRA Trail Bike Rally's

[Bob Jeffries]

There’s quite a few Tosser’s who ride Trail Bike Rally’s and I thought I’d let them know of WTRA’s 2009 dates.

Last night WTRA (The Welsh Trail Riders Association), the off-road bike club that I’m involved with, held its AGM and has confirmed the dates of it’s Trail Bike Rally’s for 2009.

The Red Kite Rally – Sunday the 12th April.

As usual the Red Kite Rally will be on Easter Sunday, and in 2009 that’s the 12th April. The event will be a one day event based in Llandovery and run over the MOD Training Grounds at Sennybridge.

We regard the course to be of a similar standard to a trail ride with a mix of gravel roads and moderate off-road tracks suitable for all big trail bikes using off-road tyres.

The Beacons Trail Bike Rally – Saturday & Sunday the 22nd & 23rd August.

The Beacons Trail Bike Rally will be a completely new two day event based in Llandovery and run in the Crychan Forest.

We expect the course to be more challenging than the Red Kite Rally with more off-road forest tracks but still suitable for all big trail bikes using off-road tyres.

The Cambrian Rally – Saturday & Sunday the 17th & 18th October.

The Cambrian Rally will again be based in Llandovery and run in the forests around the Llyn Brianne Reservoir.

We regard the course to be of a similar standard to an easier trail ride with a mix of mostly gravel roads and moderate off-road tracks suitable for all big trail bikes using off-road tyres.

With 5 days of competition available WTRA have also decided to have a club championship run across the three events with “Championship Points” awarded for each individual day’s results in a number of classes. The winners of the classes included in the Championship will be invited to attend a dinner in Llandovery and presented with suitable awards recognising their achievements.

WTRA also hope to attract additional sponsorship of the series with prizes being given for other achievements at the events, not just for winning a class.



For anyone also interested in traditional time card enduro’s WTRA will also be running the Snowrun Enduro on Sunday 8th February, also based in Llandovery and run in the Crychan Forest. The Snowrun is classed as a moderately difficult clubman standard forestry enduro.

Finally, after running an ACU British Championship Enduro for over 35 years WTRA has decided that they will not run one in 2009 but will consider running one again in 2010 if suitable land can be found for a motorcross special test worthy of a British Championship.

 

[earthmover]

Excellent Bob, thanks for the notice, will get the diary filled in now. Erm, well I would, if I had a 2009 diary.
Just a note though, the Snowrun, moderately difficult? Not when I last rode it it wasn't! Toughest event I've ever done in my life!
Mark

 

[Richeyroo]

Thanks

Cheers Bob

Thanks for the advance warning - always useful for work and family
I shall try and do all 4 events, and as ever, will not do justice to my xr650s abilities
Rich

 

[foolonastrom]

Really helpful to have dates so far in advance! And a third rally Dates in diary duly marked.

 

[Henry Mawson]

I think it's time to get the Tenere dirty Bob.
Henry

 

[FERRET]

Thanks BOB , as already said thanks for the early heads up , dates now in my diary, hope to see you all in 2009, as with Richyroo, hope to ride all events and ill even have a go at the snowrun

ferret

 

[Deleted Member MS]

Nice one Bob.
Im booking days off work already !

 

[Pipster]

Thanks Bob

Missed the Cambrian this year

Hoping to do a few more of the rallies in 09

 

[earthmover]

Red Kite cancelled?

According to enduronews.com, the Red Kite rally has been cancelled.
Anyone heard anything?
Mark

 

[Brian E]

I did here there was a problem with the land for the event they where looking at other venues but i presume it didn't come off I will catch up with the club in the next couple of days.

 

[Bob Jeffries]

I can confirm that the Red Kite Rally has had to be cancelled

After running over the MOD training grounds at Sennybridge for more than 10 years without any MOD related incidents a new commandant had decided that some areas are too dangerous for us to use any more and it would mean us having to use an unacceptably high percentage of tarmac roads to make a decent lap possible

Instead we will be running the Red Kite Enduro, a time card enduro, which will use a lot of tracks in the Halfway Forest that we haven't used for 20+ years as well as the MOD off-road training course

The rest of our events are expected to remain as planned.

 

[earthmover]

Ta for the clarification Bob, may have to enter the enduro instead then!
Mark

 

[Grimmy]

Bob
Is the Red Kite enduro goimg to run on the same date as the rally?
Grimmy

 

[Deleted Member MS]

. . and can we presume the Enduro will be harder, especially for the bigger bikes ???????????

 

[Taff]

I can confirm that the Red Kite Rally has had to be cancelled .... Instead we will be running the Red Kite Enduro, a time card enduro, which will use a lot of tracks in the Halfway Forest that we haven't used for 20+ years as well as the MOD off-road training course

An enduro you say? Now you've really set my arse twitching Bob.

I've never done an enduro in my life (only ever done 2 off road events, and I ended up in casualty after one of those) but am I right is assuming that an enduro is much more difficult than a rally?

 

[earthmover]

You dont get many people (if any) entering an enduro on bikes bigger than 450's.
For what it's worth, I certainly wouldn't. That's what my CRF250x is for.
HTH
Mark

 

[Harv]

I put my 690 into an Enduro... it was fine for the first 40 minutes or so....

 

[Bob Jeffries]

The Red Kite Enduro will be on the same date as was planned for the Red Kite Rally.

I'm with earthmover on the suitability of big bikes for enduro's - I used to ride a 620 KTM but it was hard work, and I'm 6'1" and had been riding/competing bikes off-road for 30+ years. I eventually changed to a 400 KTM and it was like I had become 20 year younger and my riding skills had improved several quadzillion percent it was that much easier.

Most (but not all) of the tracks are rideable on a GS for a good rider but it's not much fun when your trying to keep to an enduro time schedule.

My advise - rally's only for "big" bikes - that's what we "invented" rally's for.

 

[Deleted Member MS]

is it worth one or two of us writing, politely, to this here new commandent at all ??? (Maybe with 2010 in mind)

 

[Brian E]

I put my 690 into an Enduro... it was fine for the first 40 minutes or so....

The bike did well to run for 40 minutes from my experience with them.