Husqvarna UK rider Si Wakely has finished fifth in the competitive Elite class at rounds one and two of the British Enduro Sprint Championship, staged at Chavenage farm, Gloucestershire. With the weekend long event marking the start of the exciting new championship TE250 mounted Wakely put in two solid days of racing finishing as the third placed 250f rider on both days. In the Under 23 ES1 class Husqvarna UK's Joe Deakin also performed well placing his WR125 in the runner-up position on both days, finishing behind newly signed MPS Husqvarna rider Alex Rockwell.

Continuing the good form he showed at the opening round of the British Enduro Championship Wakely made an impressive start to round one of the BESC series as he recorded the second fastest time on the opening special test before again placing second on test two and then third on test three. Frustratingly, test four didn't go as well as Si dropped precious time to his rivals. Not quite managing to find the speed he showed in the morning Wakely nevertheless pushed hard to the end of the day finishing fifth in the Elite class and just 17 seconds behind fourth placed rider Phillip McLaughlin.

Enjoying the drier conditions on day two a little more than those of day one Si's opening test wasn't to be his best. A little off the pace he then spent the remainder of the day working his way back into contention and after more than one-hour of racing closed to within nine seconds of Welshman Greg Evans. Matching his fifth place result from day one Wakely ended the weekend pleased with his performances and having enjoyed the BESC series opening events.

In the highly competitive Under 23 class Joe Deakin delivered two impressive results finishing as runner-up on both days to Alex Rockwell, ensuring a Husqvarna one-two. Although some way behind Rockwell at the end of the first day Joe finished comfortably ahead of the third placed rider. Day two ended with Deakin again finishing as runner-up in the ES1 class, but by a considerably narrower margin following a day-long battle with Lewis Belfield.

Twenty one year old Alex Rockwell (pictured left) appeared from almost nowhere but in his first ride for the MPS Racing Team onboard a 2010 TE250, the young Manxman went on to dominate the Under 23 class finishing first on both days and a clear five minutes ahead of his closest rival. ‘Rocky' had only spent the previous week practicing on his new Husqvarna TE 250 machine and coming from a motocross background feared he may fall short in the woodland sections of the course but nothing could have been further from the truth, as he ploughed his way through the ruts and roots on both days to take two very convincing wins. Alex's MPS team mate Tom Braddock rode a more reserved race and came away with fourth in the Under 23's class in round one and fifth in round two. After the event Tom admitted he was finding it hard to put his team mate, Matt Ridgeway (who suffered a major testing crash recently) to the back of his mind but by the end of each day it was getting easier. Not wanting to push too hard and risk injuring himself, Tom rode a mature race on both days, steadily improving his times as the two rounds unfolded.

Alex Rockwell “I made a few mistakes during round one and had to get used to riding in-between the trees in the woodland sections but I seemed to get quicker as the day went on. The track was pretty slippery after the rain on Friday night but after a few laps the track drained quite well. On Sunday we rode the course the opposite way round from the previous day so the ruts and lines were in the wrong place sometimes but as I relaxed again my test times began to fall. All in all I've had a fantastic result at the first rounds of the BESC and couldn't have really asked for any more.”

Tom Braddock “I started the first round well and felt reasonably comfortable but I crashed mid day and I struggled to get back into the right frame of mind. I was worrying too much about crashing and thinking about Matt's crash to be honest, it's just something I'm going to have to get over. The second day was pretty much the same again really; I know I could have gone quicker if I'd have pushed myself. The event was really well organised and easy to understand but I found it hard stopping and starting all day, I'm one of those riders who once I'm riding I just like to keep going, I'll have to work on my technique for the next round.”

Si Wakely: ‘The first day was a little frustrating to be honest. Things started well when the test was a little slippery in the morning but I think it was my fourth test that wasn't good. After that I wasn't quite as fast as I needed or wanted to be. I finished fifth and third 250f rider, but it could have been better in terms of my result. The second day was much better. I was riding well and more on the pace and although I'm not quite where I want to be I was happy. We made some suspension changes and they made a big difference, I instantly felt more confident on the bike. Having a 10-minute test and having to do as many tests in a day as we did is a great thing for all levels of riders. It's been a tough two days. With an hour and a half of sprint racing on the first day it was physical. I've really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next round of the championship now.'

The next round of the British Enduro Championship is at Rogers Hill Raceway, Dorset on April 24th / 25th.