UPDATE: HAMISH MACDONALD'S 2020 PROGRESS
“This year has gone so fast - I've got a few weeks break after 8 weeks of non stop racing, so time to recharge the batteries and update you all on my progress.”
“We all know what happened early on in the year - a bit of a hiccup with Covid - changing the plans for everyone this season. The season didn't get underway so I skipped and jumped from Covid hotspots until I returned home for lockdown! Wrapped to have been in NZ to compete in the National Championship and take the overall win before heading back overseas when racing resumed. Things are pretty relaxed in Europe apart from wearing a mask and following social distancing rules.”
“Once the borders reopened and racing rescheduled I was on a plane and back to England. The team had a race bike in England and I was straight into the final British Sprint Championship rounds managing 3 of the 4 outright wins and taking the E2 British Sprint Title.”
“To change things up a bit and push the fitness I took on the big boys Graeme Jarvis and Billy Bolt in the British Extreme Championship round, a bit of fun and was happy to jump on the podium with them.”
“The German Sherco dealer had organised my entry into the German Enduro Championship earlier on in the year. This was orginally 11 rounds but has been reduced to 7 rounds.”
“I was unsure where I would fit into the German Championship as a lot of the tests are MX/Cross style, suiting the German MX Champions. The Europeans are known for their skills in the sand, which is physically demanding and I haven't ridden of lot of that in NZ so was wrapped to finish ahead of them, even in the sand . So far top podium. The last two days are at Woltersdorf, in the same area at the German GP a couple of years ago and that was a great ride, so looking forward to that.”
“Round 1 and 2 in the French World Enduro GP were brutal. The first day was bone dry hard packed tracks, I just had to be smooth and hit the line. Unfortunately I had a crash and lost some time giving me P2 to my Sherco team mate. It rained that evening and Day 2 was perfect, pushed hard but my team mate got me! We were both throwing down times that were right up there with the GP riders.”
“Italy the following weekend was wet, it had rained all week and my riding suits those conditions. The enduro test was 11 minutes long and was exceptional. The Extreme test was demanding and had a steep uphill that caught riders out, including me! I had to ghost my bike up that bit and lot 40 secs to my team mate, I had to be happy with P2.
“Day 2 - no mistakes P1 and first Junior Win!”
“The standings after 4 rounds have me 4 points behind the leader, and with the shortened season all rounds count in this Championship and it is still within reach!
The wrap up of the German Championship is on 31st October/1st November then straight into the last 2 rounds (4 days) of the World Enduro GP in Portugal.Will keep you updated.”
See you on the track - Hammymac #76
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