Sunday June 25, 2006. Up at 5am to get to Wales by 10 am for race registration for a race I wouldn’t have made it to if it weren’t for one of my friends hooking me up with a rental van for the weekend.

My 1992 Mitsubishi Pajero (Think Montero) lost a diesel fuel injector two days before the race. The engine was dripping diesel fuel down the engine block and something told me my truck just wasn’t safe for a four hour road trip, but a friend of mine, recently returned from his second tour in Iraq, rented me a panel van for the race and paid for the gas.


That’s friendship.

Rental van packed, coolers loaded, and iPod pumping out some tunes, Aaron (my friend that rented the van) and I were on the road.

Thanks to AA’s directions we pulled into the race prep area in Moelfre, Wales after 2 hours and 30 minutes after leaving my home in Newmarket. Not to shabby for a couple of Yanks that have never been to Wales before.

I put the van in park, set the emergency brake, then got out of the van and examined the track. My first impression wasn’t a good one. The location was awesome. The track was built into the side of a hill. Not facing down the hill mind you-it was actually built into the side.

The Moelfre track looked like something some neighborhood kids put together in an afternoon with a couple of shovels and a bucket of water. The first half of the track was mountain cross (ish) with five “s” style berms and some grass covered singles and one giant double, but the second half of the track was actually a large seven pack that curved around the hill like a lazy backward “s” so that no jump was in line with the next one and the lips and backside of each jump were super steep. Over shoot the jump and your front tire slammed into the next jumps face, that’s how tight the jumps were to each other and Lo’ did the jumps eat all of those who tried to speed through it-world elite through novice.

The line that connected you to the second half of the track was non-existent, but three flags marked the boundaries in the grass were the line would be once the track was opened for practice.

I checked in, grabbed my gear, then I headed to the top of the track for some gate practice.


My first impression was wrong. The track, despite its ghetto looks, was an awesome ride.

After two hours of gate practice and some quick track repair, the races started promptly at noon.

Being late June you would think the biggest problem would be the heat, but that wasn’t the case in Wales. As I waited at the riders holding area, a steady cold rain fell and punished us for not wearing our rain jackets. Temperatures hovered around 50 degrees all morning, but the constant cold breeze pushed those temperatures down even further.

Everything was perfect for a National Points race in England and my results were as follows:

Round One: 2nd
Round Two: 2nd
Round Three: 3rd
Run Off One: 1st
Quarter-Final: 1st
Semi-Final: 1st
Final: 3rd (Please see attached picture. I was in first place for ¾ of the track until seat met back tire.)

It was a great day for racing and while the track wasn’t great looking, it proved you can’t judge a book by its cover. I’m looking forward to racing on it again next year.

But until then, I’m preparing for the August 6th race at Portwreath. A HUGE thanks to all my family, friends, and sponsors for their support!

Bob Burnes