The final round of the Whyte Winter Series for this season was almost held underwater it was so wet. The appalling weather didn’t deter the hardy riders and Whyte racer Billy Whenman was on the podium with a win in the shortened four hour race on the day and a third overall. (His colleague Luke Smith rode to a superb third place on the day too – making it a double whammy for the Whyte lads!) Billy also won the Under 23 series.

 

To really rub in the boy wonder’s ability – in some of the worst riding conditions they have seen at Thetford he managed to record a record fastest lap. This is his report:

 

We arrived at Thetford with my mate Chris Jarvis, since I have written off my car again.

 

I got my umbrella out and made my way to sign on in the pouring rain.

 

Due to such poor conditions the four hour race was curtailed to 2 hours 30! And once I heard that I determined to ride hard to show my true colours in Whyte kit!

 

Setting my bike up with my intermediate tyres on I was soon lined up and at the back of the pack with my rain cape on.

 

We were off! Ii clipped in and soon got to the front, I was second place to the first corner. Out of the corner I put the hammer down! IO didn’t want anyone near me.  I soon had a gap and was away in the driving rain and mud.

 

I rode hard until half way around when I got a flat front tyre! I rode around to the technical zone, stopped and changed the wheel had a drink then carried on still leading!

 

Lap by lap I churned away in the deep slippery mud and built a healthy eight minute lead!

 

I finished four laps in a time of 2 hours 32 minutes taking a very muddy race win for Whyte UK and also placed 3rd in the overall series and first in the U23 cat.

 

Whyte UK manager Justin Stevenson was there in the rain to see his boys triumph. He had this to say:  “Huge amounts of rain fell before and during the race, requiring much pushing and slip-sliding – a real battle of attrition especially for the last few finishers of the longer race who looked truly spent.  Great result for Billy and Luke who did extremely well in the conditions.”

 

 

Full results are posted here.

 

http://www.thetfordmtbracing.com/ws4results.htm

 

 

Lap times including Billy’s record here.

 

http://xcenduro.co.uk/racing/lapbylap/WhyteWinterSeries2009Round4.asp

Print