The star studded pro line up included ten times world motocross champion Stefan Everts, MX2 World Champion Tyla Rattray, two times World Endurance Champion and Grand National Cross Country Champion, David Knight, MX1 Grand Prix racers Marc De Reuver, Tom Church, former World Endurance Champion Paul Edmondson and World Superbike rider Chris Walker.
Over 100,000 people hit Weston Supermare to watch the race and visit the dozens of trade stands along the promenade including our own 150 square metre marquee.
It's a unique experience, both for the competitors and spectators and this year three members of the FreestyleXtreme Team stepped up to the challenge yet again.
The Race
1. Scrutineering
Thousands of bikes are checked to make sure they meet the scrutineering standards to allow them to enter. Bikes that are unsafe or unfit to race are not allowed to race.2. Race to the bike
Over 1,000 riders are given the green light to head to the start gate. The sooner you get to your bike; the sooner you get to the start gate!3. Race to the start gate
Kick, shunt and shove! Riders try to get as close to the front as possible for a good start.4. Pin it!
Over 1,000 dirtbikes scream down the straight at full speed. The noise is deafening, the sight is absolutely epic5. The dunes
Queue at the dune. With 1,000 riders trying to get over a dune at the same time things can be pretty messy! Some riders really do come a cropper on the way down or need to be dragged out of the ruts by the stewards. This is especially true of the quads
They are MASSIVE! And if they look bug to us, imagine how they look to the schoolboy riders in the picture above6. The test of endurance
As the race wears on the men are seperated from the boys. The ruts get deeper and the dunes collapse. This is what makes Weston one of the toughest races in motorsportTeam Riders
Garry Baker
Garry has been a member of the FreestyleXtreme Team for over two years now. He is the genuine article as far as hard working privateers go, working two jobs both night and day to fund his obsession. He fits the exact profile of a FreestyleXtreme Team member, hard working, dedicated, loves nothing more than riding and is a top bloke to boot. Alpinestars have really gotten behind Gary as well, sorting us out with full kits and boots.
We caught up with Gary after the race for a quick interviewName and age?: Gary Baker 40 yrs old
Sport?: Enduro, Hare and Hounds
How long in the sport?: Been in the sport 25 years on and off with a 10yr break from 1993 to2003
How did you get into the sport?: I got into the sport after watching a schoolboy meeting at marshfield in my early teens
Favourite brand on FreestyleXtreme.com?: Skin hoodys
What made you want to ride in the Weston Beach Race?: Because its the biggest spectical and adrenaline rush in the off road calender
How did you get on?: Finished 81st
Were you happy with your result? I was disappointed. I wanted to finish inside the top 40
How did the race this year compare to previous years?: From previous years the race seemed much tougher with the conditions being dryer making the sand softer and more energy sapping or maybe my body was just trying to tell me something!
Will you enter again next year?: Cant wait to enter next year but ride a 450, 4 stroke if all goes to plan.
Garry is currently leading in the Hewitt 2008 National Cross Country Championship and (if all goes to plan!) will be riding in the British Enduro Championship (BEC) Expert Veterans class next season.
David Alexander and Tom Smith
We've been bumping into David and Tom for years at the trackside and when we heard they were entering the Weston Beach Race riding sidecar motocross we just had to get involved.
Name and age?: Dave Alexander and i am 24 years youngSport?: Sidecar motocross
How long in the sport?: Only one year but been racing motocross for 20 years
How did you get into the sport?: A friend of mine (Steve Jones) is well into sidecar motocross and that is how it came about really, I had a go on his vintage wasp and it was mega, I wanted one..they are so much fun
Favourite brand on FreestyleXtreme.com?: I am really into Metal Mulisha stuff...Tom my sidecar team mate likes his Skin Ind
What made you want to ride in the Weston Beach Race?: Just always wanted to since I was 9...everything about it, the race, going out, sleeping in the van on the side of a random road, it's just the best time
How did you get on?: Well in a way really good...we were much faster than last year and made better use of the lines, on the first lap we could not stop, we had clutch problems and it was making it super hard work, we got the first lap out the way and headed for the pits so we could sort out the problem, we set off on lap 2 and we were on it, we had a really good flow going and were putting some really good moves on the composition. It was on the start of the 4th lap where the bike let go due to a jetting. But we know what's needs to be done now and we will see you out there in 09
Were you happy with your result? Not some much the result but more the way we rode, we have come on a long way since last year
How did the race this year compare to previous years?: Things were some what different this year, the track was way more fun what with all the woops out there. More sidecars out there so the racing was more fun and we knew how to ride it this year, we found this helps...haha. Last year we turned up had never been on it and raced....so it started off much better this year
Will you enter again next year?: Yes you will see Alexander and Smith out there for sure. We would like to say thanks to Jeff and all the people at FreestyleXtreme for all there help. Thanks Dave and Tom
David will be riding for Stomp Racing on their high spec 160cc pit bike next year
