British Sprint Enduro Championship Welcomes Husqvarna
GMC Events, promoters and organisers of the ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship, are pleased to welcome Husqvarna Motorcycles as a major new sponsor to the series. Recently finalising a two-year agreement that will support the planned expansion of the championship, the series will officially become titled the Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship during ’11 and ’12.
The ’11 Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship will be a 10 round, five-weekend, series. Events will take place at three new venues, as well as returning to two of the popular circuits used during ‘10. The aim of the series will again be to deliver exciting racing for competitors, day-long spectator enjoyment, with all events enjoying a welcoming and sociable atmosphere. Revisions and additions to the class structure for ’11 will be announced in the coming weeks. Championship dates will be confirmed following the FIM Autumn Congress.
During ’10 the British Sprint Enduro Championship established itself as Europe’s first enduro sprint series. A six round championship with events staged in Gloucestershire, Dorset, and Powys, it attracted the cream of British enduro talent, as well as a healthy number of Expert and Clubman level riders all keen to try their hand at the exciting new discipline. Over 80 percent of the riders that competed in the opening two rounds of the series returned to participate in the entire series, indicating the popularity of this championship.
The championship also broke new ground in staging enduro events that encourage and consider the needs of spectators. With live timing, up to the minute information, and exciting racing action at the heart of all events, a friendly and welcoming atmosphere saw riders, teams, support crews, and the general public come together throughout the series.
Newly crowned Enduro 3 World Enduro Champion David Knight topped the prestigious BSEC Elite class in ‘10, having topped each of the six championship rounds. Robert Lynn, Aaron Poolman and David Grimshaw were the winners of the respective Expert ES1, ES2 and ES3 classes. In the ES1, ES2 and ES3 Under 23 classes Joe Deakin, Ollie Moyce and Daniel McCanney ended the championship as winners.
Jonty Edmunds – BSEC Events Director: ‘These are very exciting times for the British Sprint Enduro Championship and on behalf of the GMC Events team I’d like to extend our thanks to Husqvarna – we’re thrilled that they are joining the championship as title sponsor. The primary goal of the BSEC series remains to deliver exciting, well-organised sprint enduro events that all riders, support crews and spectators can enjoy. Finding commercial partners that share our vision and understand how we want to develop the series during the coming years is extremely important. Husqvarna’s support and association allows us to continue to expand and improve the BSEC series. Exact details of the ’11 Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship will be released in the coming weeks.’
Massimo Granata – Husqvarna: ‘We are very pleased to be able to support the British Sprint Enduro Championship as headline sponsor. The series has huge potential and offers riders and spectators alike a great weekend’s racing. We are in the process of relaunching Husqvarna in the UK and the association with the BSEC series is an integral part of our strategy to return Husqvarna to its rightful position as a major force in off road competition.’
John Collins –ACU Trials & Enduro Chairman: ‘The ACU is delighted that Husqvarna have pledged their support to the British Sprint Enduro Championship. Impressed with what GMC Events achieved during ’10, the ACU is sure that the series will go from strength to strength in the coming years. Many riders watched the BSEC series with interest this year, I can only imagine that there will be many more riders and teams wanting to join the series in ’11.’
2010 Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship
Provisional dates – TBC after FIM Autumn Congress
Rnd 1 – Saturday, February 12
Rnd 2 – Sunday, February 13
Rnd 3 – Saturday, March 19
Rnd 4 – Sunday, March 20
Rnd 5 – Saturday, April 30
Rnd 6 – Sunday, May 1
Rnd 7 – Saturday, May 28
Rnd 8 – Sunday, May 29
Rnd 9 – Saturday, July 2
Rnd 10 – Sunday, July 3
About the BSEC
The British Sprint Enduro Championship is the UK’s newest off-road motorcycle race series, promoted and organised exclusively by GMC Events Ltd. Enduro is one of the world’s longest standing off-road motorcycle disciplines, the motorcycle equivalent of car rallying. Sprint enduro is an exciting new rider, spectator, and media friendly discipline that delivers simple to understand, day-long, enduro racing action. The series caters for the best enduro talent in the UK. The BSEC is governed by the ACU – the internationally recognised National Governing Body for motorcycle sport in the British Isles (less Northern Ireland).
NB: The Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship was formerly known as the ACU British Enduro Sprint Championship.
About Husqvarna
Husqvarna is an iconic off-road motorcycle brand. In ’07 Husqvarna became a part of the BMW Group with the German company completely revitalising the Husqvarna brand, which is now the off-road competition arm of BMW Motorrad. A new factory that houses production, design, administration and R&D has since been built in Varese, Northern Italy. Enjoying competitive success at the highest level, in 2010 Husqvarna clinched the Enduro 1 World Championship title with its TE250 ridden by Frenchman Antoine Meo. Building its first motorcycle in 1903 Husqvarna motorcycles were produced in Sweden until ’86 when the company was sold to the Cagiva Group, which later became MV Agusta S.p.A. Enduro greats such as Anders Eriksson, Paul Edmondson, Samuli Aro, Stefan Merriman, Petri Silvan and Antoine Meo have all enjoyed world championship winning success with Husqvarna.
