Jonny Walker makes the perfect start for Triumph Racing with victory at the Indoor Enduro of Champions in Newcastle with victory ahead of Taddy Blazusiak and Brad Freeman.

The inaugural Indoor Enduro of Champions inside the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, England, was a rare treat not seen in the modern era of enduro.

The brainchild of Paul Edmondson, the race took advantage of a gap between the end of the EnduroGP world championship and the start of the indoor seasons to attract elite riders from across enduro disciplines to race against each other.

Enduro worlds collide

The headlining on the night was clearly Jonny Walker on the new Triumph Racing enduro machine and he duly set about delivering a perfect maiden race day by going fastest in timed practice and Superpole.

His challengers were mixed and varied with this being the first time ever the Stark Racing duo of Taddy Blazusiak and Eddie Karlsson have been allowed to race indoors on the Vargs. Through qualifying and Superpole it was Karlsson who put up the closest fight as both mastered the track layout along with Walker.

Adapting quickly to the indoor track, despite not doing much in the way of pre-event training, were the EnduroGP boys Steve Holcombe, Brad Freeman, Jed Etchells and Harry Edmondson (along with Blazusiak and David Knight, that made for an impressive line-up of world championship winners on display at this race).

Walker gelled with new 250 4T

The first of three prestige races set a pattern for the night with the Stark Vargs flying out of a congested gat line-up which bounced through a triple log pile section on the start straight into a rock garden 90 degree turn which caused a few pile-ups.

It wasn’t too tricky as rock sections go but it had a habit of causing enough chaos off the start and in race one that included Eddie Karlsson who’s chain derailed, setting-up what would be a tough night for the Swede who easily capable of a podium.

Walker’s trick, after being out-gunned off the start in each of the three races by the flying Starks, was to come out the first turn mayhem near to the front. from there and looking like he has already gelled well with the new Triumph, the number 22 picked off early leaders like Harry Edmondson, Steve Holcombe and Taddy Blazusiak in each moto and took three dominant wins.

It was an impressive start for Jonny who looks to have carried impressive form on the indoor-style tracks (see Romaniacs prologue, Red Bull Tyne Ride), plus his last seasons of EnduroCross and SuperEnduro, straight on to the new 250 four-stroke from Triumph. 

Taddy sparked into life

Behind him the fight was definitely on between the electric bikes and the EnduroGP riders for the podium places. Despite his lack of racing – it’s been a while since the FIM did a U-turn on electric bikes from racing SuperEnduro – Taddy Blazusiak proved both he and the Varg have got what it takes with a solid set of second places to claim P2 overall.

It was a strong showing from the Stark boys in this, their first proper race indoors against ICE bikes. Karlsson couldn’t buy luck on the night but showed huge potential and if these two are to race the SuperEnduro World Championship, alongside Jonny and Billy Bolt this winter, it will spice up the series.

Foreceful Freeman performance

It was all smiles for Brad Freeman as climbed to third overall on the podium. Adopting his usual, all-action style we’re used to seeing in EnduroGP Super Tests, the E3 world champion clearly enjoyed the racing despite rolling out on a boxfresh Beta that morning.

The more flowing track allowed the EGP riders to pitch themselves against the SuperEnduro specialists and all clearly showed the skills transfer. With EnduroGP Super Tests being broadly similar, and this track being a rapid 30 seconds or so per lap, it was no surprise they were quickly up to speed.

Despite going third fastest in timed practice, Steve Holcombe suffered by his own admission with some costly errors in those rocks, not least in Superpole where he crashed and copst himself on gate picks all night.

Otherwise the Honda RedMoto rider clearly had the flow on the track and told Enduro21 how much he'd enjoyed the event, would happily come back for another shot but ruled out taking on the opening round of the SuperEnduro World Championship (althogh we hear another Honda rider might be in it). 

Harry Edmondson and Jed Etchells also looked good on track. Taking fourth and fifth overall the pair  bolstered the argument that a slightly less technical track layout both opens the indoor sport up for the different enduro disciplines and  clearly makes for great racing.

Lampkin under the lights

The night also saw support races from Expert, Clubman and Under-19 riders which gave the younger riders chance to test their skills and experience racing under the lights in front of a decent crowd.

It was a scenario Fraser Lampkin relished with dominant performances for the U-19 win. The son of Trials legend (and no stranger to SuperEnduro or Hard Enduro) Dougie Lampkin, Fraser has been making waves in the British Enduro Championship and looked at home on the rocks, logs and jumps on the Beta UK 125.

Toby shaw bossed the Experts class while Ryan Staveley took the overall in the Clubmen.

No overall results are available for print at time of writing. Enduro21 will attempt to update.

Photo Credit: Future7Media | Andrea Belluschi