Paul Holmes
Takes KTM 505SX ATV to British Podium at Mildenhall
 |
"It’s been fantastic to take
a podium for KTM and the Team on our first
major race meeting, proving that the 505
SX is Ready To Race" -Paul Holmes |
United Kingdome (4/10/2009) - Team
KTM UK quad rider Paul Holmes took a fantastic British
Quad Championship podium at the weekend, Paul and
team-mate James Hellewell making the 2009 ACU British
MMX Quad Championship debut for the KTM 505 SX at
Mildenhall Race Circuit on Sunday the 5th of April.
A purpose built sand based circuit, which got progressively
rougher as the day wore on, the tight and twisty
Suffolk venue provided some exciting racing action
for the many spectators who had gathered to watch
the elite of British Quad Racing.
The race meeting was not without it’s share
of difficulties for both riders. Keen to get the
2009 domestic season of to a good start, Paul put
the excellent power and handling of the 505 SX to
good use, setting a blistering lap to post 2nd fastest
in timed qualification. A great start saw Paul slot
in to 5th around the first corner before moving
up to 4th by the end of the first circuit. Embroiled
in a four-way battle for 3rd until two-thirds distance
with the circuit extremely one lined and yielding
few passing opportunities, a slight mistake and
stalling his bike dropping Paul back to 6th, Paul
quickly regaining his composure and able to make
it back to 5th at the chequered flag.
 |
Though
the bike was stuck on 3rd gear, Paul was
able to salvage a 3rd place |
Taking a fantastic holeshot for the start of the
final race, Paul showed the rest of the field a
clean pair of heels and began to pull away from
the ensuing pack. Quickly finding his rhythm, Paul
had opened up a comfortable lead with almost half
distance run when his gear lever fell off, Paul
stuck in 3rd gear with twelve minutes plus two laps
to go. Riding as fast as the conditions would let
him, Paul put in a valiant effort to hold on to
the lead for the remainder of the race, but at an
obvious disadvantage had to settle for 2nd at the
chequered flag, Paul taking 3rd step on the podium
and a fantastic debut for the Team KTM UK 505 SX.
Making his debut appearance at this level, James
opening race was to prove frustrating and not without
incidents for which he was blameless. Starting from
the second row after struggling to get a clear track
for his flying lap, a downed rider in front saw
James stuck in an eight bike jam on the opening
lap before getting under way and beginning to move
through the field, only to be clipped from behind
and knocked of his bike three laps later, the resulting
tumble damaging the steering stem and forcing James
to retire.
 |
"This is a really tough class to compete
in and it is my first year at this level,
but I feel confident" -James Hellewell |
The second moto was again to prove frustrating for
James. A slightly better start saw James 25th at
the end of the opening lap and gradually moving
in to the points with a third of the race run, but
making a few mistakes in the latter stages while
trying to pass in deeply rutted areas and getting
stuck, James dropped back to cross the finish line
just outside the points.
Paul Holmes
“ It’s been a really good start to the
season for myself and Team KTM UK. The 505 SX is
an awesome bike and handled flawlessly in the rough
conditions, and the way it rocketed of the line
to let me holeshot the last race was amazing. I’d
liked to have won the last race as I’d pulled
away from everyone, but when the gear lever fell
of I had to ride around in 3rd for almost half the
race. It’s no fault of the KTM that it happened,
but it’s a true testament to how good the
bike really is that I was able to hold on to the
lead for so long at such a disadvantage. The bike
is really quick and I have no doubt the results
will keep coming as we progress throughout the year.
It’s been fantastic to take a podium for KTM
and the Team on our first major race meeting, proving
that the 505 SX is Ready To Race, and I look forward
to the next round at Duns on the 19th of April.”
 |
James
Hellewell and Paul Holmes are representing
Team KTM in the UK |
James Hellewell
“ It’s
certainly not been the best of days and not the
way that I would have liked my debut appearance
to go, but overall I’m still happy with my
performance. The results don’t really give
a fair indication of how I’ve ridden today
and just how good the bike is, as my lap times during
both races were good enough to put me well inside
the top twenty. The first race I was really unlucky
to get tangled up twice in the early stages, the
last one leaving the steering stem bent and unable
to continue, and in the second race I made a few
errors which cost me a lot of time. This is a really
tough class to compete in and it is my first year
at this level, but I feel confident that as I gain
experience riding with these guys throughout the
year, and become more accustomed to the KTM 505
SX, I will improve my results.”
| Results |
|
| Race One |
|
| 1st |
John Mitchell |
| 2nd |
Joe Maessen |
| 3rd |
Jason Macbeth |
| 4th |
Paul Winrow |
| 5th |
Paul Holmes - KTM 505SX |
| Race Two |
|
| 1st |
John Mitchell |
| 2nd |
Paul Holmes - KTM 505SX |
| 3rd |
Joe Maessen |
| 4th |
Paul Winrow |
| 5th |
Jason Macbeth |
| 27th |
James Hellwewll - KTM 505SX |
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