The weekend of 15th and 16th of June saw a fantastic full line up of riders head to the Sweet Lamb Adventure Bike Centre near Pant Mawr in Wales. The ocassion was round one of the 2024 Adventure Bike BAJA with a full entry of 150 riders.
The event caters for many varieties of bikes from 250cc trail bikes right through to big 1000cc + adventure bikes, all compoting on the same course around around the hills and valley of the river Wye.
Taking place over two days with two 3 hours runs on Saturday and one linger four hour run on Sunday, finishing around 1pm. Saturday heralded a mixed bag of weather with intermittent haevy rain interspersed with spells of sunshine. Unsurprisingly it was the Rally bike class that were setting the early pace with Harry Hillier-Rees leading the way for the first five laps of the first run on the Kove 450, closeley shadowed by Nick Tucker on the KTM who became leader on the track on the sixth and final lap. The overall win went to Hillier-Rees however having set the fastest lap time with the only sub 20 minute lap. Lee Green brought the big 937 Ducati home in third and at the head of the Twin 800-999 class ahead of Steve Jose heading up the Twin up to 800 class on the 690 Yamaha Tenere. There was a battle going on in the Big Bike 650cc + class between Michael Fowell and Loy Wade, both riding Husqvarna 700’s with Fowell coming out on top, finishing in 6th overall and first in class.
With the weather closing in there was a slightly depleted line up for run 2 with the weather once again turning nasty but once again it was Hillier-Rees and Tucker setting the front pace, with both riders taking it in turns at the front. Hillier-Rees leading 3 of the 7 laps but it was Tucker that took the chequered flag but again lost out to the fatser best lap time from Hilker-Rees. Green and Jose weere again fourth and fifth overall, but also completing 7 laps and within ten minutes of the leading duo. Simon Dobinson crossed the line in a credible tenth overall and was the leading rider competing in one of the Over 60’s class on the 450KTM Rally Bike. Wade and Fowell continued their Big BIke battle and although being beeten across the line by Andrew Barratt and Joe Ryder, their faster individual lap times saw them finish one and two in the points race.
Saturday night saw the venue hit by terrential rain in to the early hours but by Sunday nmorning the sun was out and the riders were treated to a glorious day with the course in prime condition. HIllier-Rees and Tucker weren’t holding anything back for the longer session and both posted sub 20 miniute laps early on with fellow Rally Bike class rider Rob Relton on the 500 KTM tagging along just a couple of minutes adrift. Tucker made a last minute dive in to the pits at the start of the final lap allowing Relton to cross the line 8 minutes adrift of Hillier-Rees. With the race result being decided on fastest lap time it was Hillier-Rees taking the win from Tucker with Relton third in class. Jose brought the Yamaha home in third on the track and top of the Twin 800 class and Simon Dobinson in the Rally over 60 class finished in fourth spot. Fowell and Wade once again were never far apart in the Big Bike class, Fowell crossing the line first but only to be pipped to the win by Wade setting a fastest lap time, just less than 3 seconds quicker!
The overall win in the Rally Bike class went to Hillier-Rees with a max score of 60 points with Tucker in second and Relton third. Simon Dobinson took the OVer 60 class. Trail 450cc honours went to Rory HIll ahead of Sam Curran and Paul Baker with Steve Debidaph taking the over 60 class. Wade took the eventual overall in the Big Bike 650+ class from Fowell with Lukas Hoedelmoser in third. Robert Stevens took the BIg Bike 450-650 win with a maximum score. The twin cylinder 800-999 class victory was secured by Ryan Aspland on the 890 KTM with vistory in run three. The well supported Twin up to 800cc class victory went to Steve Jose with wins in all three runs ahead of Kai Samlofski and Pete Farwell with John Gilbody taking the iover 60 victory.
Follow the links below to download the PDF results from each run and overall.
Main Image – Rally Bike winner – Harry Hillier-Rees (Image courtesy KOVE)
Left Image – Will Best – Twin 800-999cc
2024 SWEET LAMB BAJA SERIES – ROUND 1 – RUN 1
2024 SWEET LAMB BAJA SERIES – ROUND 1 – RUN 2