Keep a look out for the all new MOTO-WARD Blog launching soon. In a complete re vamp of its customer information system we have improved and refined our ability to keep you in touch with new products, team information and whats going on at MOTO-WARD. The new blog features team profiles as well as news and products and also has an online calendar of all the major events  that the guys will be competing in over the coming year as well as events happening at the shop.

 

 

Sam Simmons heads north this weekend for the first round of the Maxxis British championship that kicks off another year with round one at Fat Cat motopark Doncaster, then a week later at our home circuit of Canada Heights on the 24th.

 

Riding Number 1 at his first event in the championship class proved no pressure for Max Varney as he piloted his MOTO-WARD Yamaha to a second overall position. The event was planned to be fought out on the course with the championship times decreasing by half in two sessions but due to injuries and an hour long stoppage of the event the tests became all important and each championship rider had issues with at least one test. Test two had to be cut as only part of the entry managed to get it completed before the stoppage and in the final tally Max narrowly missed taking the top spot, beaten by seasoned championship runner Richard Ely. A good start to the season.

photos by Teamsnapper.

 

The MOTO-WARD Enduro squad [ of 1] is ready for action. Max will be contesting the south east centre enduro combine championship class in 2013 as well as the National sprint championship and selected BEC rounds. Max is also on the short list for this years ISDE in Sardinia. Look out for the MOTO-WARD YZ250 at local rounds at a venue near you.

Back from 10 days riding and training in Spain Sam Simmons leads the Moto-Ward assault on the Hawkestone International this year at the legendary circuit in Shropshire on Feb 10th. This will be the first time Sam has been out in competition since his double knee operation at the end of 2012. With the British championship kicking off next month at Fatcat motoparc the season is fast approaching ! Are YOU READY ?

The traditional Boxing day enduro normally held at Weavers Down had a change of venue to Bagshot heath, but with heavy rain the week before a 300 strong entry lined up in front of a waterlogged straight. Soon riders were fighting there way around the drenched 10 mile course. 1/3 of the entry never managed a lap and half of those left never finished ! Max rode well to a third podium place in the competitive championship class. said Max ” we only ran the bike in 48 hours ago and i really loved riding it today” On a 250 two stroke this year Max is contesting the south east enduro championship and british sprint series enduro.

The last round of the Maxxis Championship kicked off on a beautiful sunny Devon day to conclude what has been a very competitive championship and season. Sam riding with a wrist injury picked up the week before scored a 22nd and 18th scoring points once again against some top class competition.

This gives Sam a 27th overall in the championship table out of 60 riders scoring points throughout the year, which added to his 9th overall MX1 Redbull CHAMPIONSHIP finish and overall win at the British Masters MX1 championship means that his year has been extremely succesful and no serious injuries

The recent Six days international enduro held in Eastern Germany saw MOTO-WARD Rider Max Varney bring home a bronze medal on his first attempt. Although not as technical as some years the Germans still managed to throw in some devilish hills and combined with long days in the saddle it was by no means easy, just getting your head around riding for that length of time takes some doing

 

The weather was kind and Max brought his little 125 home in tact without major issues. Well after all it is a YAMAHA !

Extract from ACU report.
In the Junior Championship class there was some really fast racing, especially in the opening race as it was Ryan Allen who stormed away at the front and looked like he was going to run away with it, but on lap 3 his lead was coming down as Ben Butler was absolutely flying and was to catch and pass Allen on the next lap and went on to take the win with Allen 2nd and visitor to the country from South Africa Dima Fircks taking 3rd. In race 2 it was Championship leader Ryan Blee who had the early lead from Fircks who got past Blee on the 2nd lap. Blee try his up most to stay with the South African, but was to take a nasty kick dropping down one of the hills and was thrown from his bike. Lougas Maggio was now up in to 2nd and within no time was to catch and pass Fircks to take the lead, but Fircks was to stay with him and hit the front again later in the race and went on to take the win, Maggio 2nd with Rob Holyoake taking 3rd. In the last moto it was Josh Taylor who led for most of the race, but was followed by Fircks all the time until 2 laps from the end when Fircks made his move and took the lead and went on to take the win with Taylor 2nd with Butler a close 3rd.

Whilst most normal folk were dodging the showers at the garden centre or applying another coat of bank holiday emulsion the Moto-Ward team was doing a double header of Redbull Pro Nationals and Brit MX. The Red bull running on Saturday and Sunday proved successful for Sam Simmons walking away with a 7th and 9th in the pro class races. In the Youth Dima Fircks struggled a bit in the deep Hawkestone sand, the circuit cutting up quite badly. Then a dash from Shrewsbury to Langrish for the penultimate round of the British. Luckily the hampshire hillside circuit was spared the forecast rain and racing was fast and furious with Simmons achieving personal bests on the day of 14th, 11th and 16th loosing out on a top ten place overall when a puncture on the final race sighting lap made him late for the start of race three and came from the back to 16th. Dima had to learn fast as never having ridden the circuit before he came home with 16th and 14th place results, well worthy of his limited riding experience against some of the top youth riders in the counrty