SCOTTISH TEENAGERS SET THE HEATHER ALIGHT IN FRANCE


August 26 2014.


Murray Graham and Taylor Gibb, the Scottish teenage team who made their endurance quad racing debut at Pont de Vaux last weekend were denied a podium place thanks to a gremlin in the shape of an electrical fault.


They were competing in the Kenny Quad Contest, and made a brilliant start during the free timed practice when they qualified fifth out of 84 teams. So tactics were discussed and it was decided that Murray Graham would ride first, which meant he had to sprint to the bike for the Le Mans style start. Murray is well known for liking a challenge and the start was certainly that – once he got his lanky legs to, and then astride the bike, thirteen bikes were ahead of him. Lucky for some! Murray then proceeded to reel them in, in a style Scottish competitors are used to seeing of Murray. With lap times of over 4 minutes, within half an hour he was lying 4th, next lap he was 3rd and then the two riders in front came in to the pit.

Taylor’s father, James Gibb continues, “We decide to leave Murray out for 50 mins which gave him the lead until he pitted on the next lap. We did an impressive pit/fuel/nut and bolt check and dragged the wee champ off the bike in 1min 22 secs, Taylor jumped on and got back out in 8th.”

It’s all very strict in the pits with officials observing the pit crews - making sure they wear fireproof overalls etc. and applying penalties to the team if they break the rules. But with 16 times PDV competitor Ian Neill as team manager, guiding the senior Messrs. Graham and Gibb, they were “good boys” according to James, so it was all down to Taylor then, to get back up through the field. Following Murray’s lead he picked them off one by one, finishing in an awesome third place at the end of the first leg.

Day two was to be a different story though. The pair was up for it on Sunday morning, buzzing about, long before the scheduled 9.00am start. With their dreams of bringing home a trophy now looking like a real possibility, it was Taylor’s turn to do the Le Mans style sprint to the bike.

Described by one onlooker as running like Zola Budd, (which really conjures up pictures of a bootless rider), Taylor got to the bike in one piece only to find nothing was going to make it start. Murray was the only one allowed in to push, but to no avail, so it was back to the pits as the seconds ticked by. Some 45 minutes later, the fault was traced to the brand new kill switch, and finally Taylor was off, albeit in last place.

Both lads rode their hearts out after that, each setting a blistering pace that matched the leaders. Their combined efforts amazingly got them from last to 43rd overall in just 45 minutes of actual riding time, and while that’s a long way from the podium, they have proved they are a force to be reckoned with next time.

(Photo: Tony Anderson)
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