A Feat Of Endurance - Enduro Rider
James Burroughs is from South Darenth in Kent. Aged 22, he is an up and coming enduro rider aiming to reach the top of the sport. Encouraged by his trials riding dad Dave, James started riding at the age of five on a Yamaha PW50 on the Isle of Sheppey. We caught up with him at his sponsors, Freestyle.
A flying start saw James finish top in his first trial and winning the best beginner award. As his dad was still competing in trials events, James travelled around with him, entering them at the same time.
At the age of eight he moved up to a Yamaha TY80 in the Kent Youth Trials, becoming D class champion, and started in national events. Still mainly riding locally, James moved from beginners to intermediates on a Fantic 80.
Moving up to a Beta 200 at eleven in 1999 in Youth B, he became South and Centre champion, winning many events on the way. This year also saw the first sponsorship coming in and James was starting to be noticed.
He got his first new bike, a Beta 250, in 2002 and the sponsorship started to grow. By now he was riding in the Expert class in the Youth section, competing in all the British Trials and YMSA in the north. The classes were very competitive with James constantly in the top ten, learning from some great riders. Dad was doing all the driving around the country plus the mechanics on the bike and minding at the trials. European adventure began in 2004 with a Youth A European round in France.
James also was South Eastern and Centre Youth champion.
In early 2007, James had his first taste of enduro racing. He won his first ever event on his trails bike at Whitley, attracting some interesting comments from fellow riders about his choice of machine! Dad bought a KTM 200 enduro bike as this seemed to be the way to go forward.
James left school in 2006, going on to Medway University to study Sports Therapy. His last year of trials was 2007.
The next season saw James concentrating on enduro, finishing as South East and Centre Clubman B champion. During the 2008 season James tested a Husqvarna which lead to sponsorship by Freestyle, whose owner Colin Port he had met through Steve Ford, another sponsored rider. Last season James finished second by a point in the South East and Centre championship, winning his first race despite jumping three class levels atColin’s suggestion!
James also managed to fit in the Southern Motocross championship as well, finishing high up and competing in the British Expert Endurance series to boot.
What does 2010 hold in store?
Well a long list of events:
South East Enduro championship
British Expert championship
British Sprint Enduro championship
British Hare and Hounds championship European Enduro championship
South East Motocross championship
Makes Rossi look a bit of a part timer.
James’s next aim is to get picked for the British Enduro team and compete in the four european rounds. Long term, he wants to become one of the top British riders and compete in the World Endurance championship. James will also be competing in motocross, hopefully in some British rounds. James is shortlisted for the England Under 23 squad.
So, how committed do you have to be in order to compete at this level? James now works as a PE instructor at the Leigh Technology Academy at Dartford. This enables James to train at work, after work and regularly at Freestyle near Mark Cross. James reckons he will only have three or four weekends off this year and follows a strict regime of both physical and on the bike training. What little time he has free, James spends with his mates like any self respecting 22 year old. He doesn’t ride on the road, despite passing his test at seventeen. Probably not a lot of time for that anyway! Freestyle are very supportive, supplying bikes and maintenance, with back up from HM Racing, Port Agric, Pro Grip clothing, Watling Tyres, MRS, Desert Rose Racing, Fly Helmets, Putoline Oils, Mormai Sunglasses and Hardcore Groundworks. James is very grateful to Freestyle, his family (Dad in particular!) and all the sponsors, plus the Leigh Technology Academy for being so flexible when he needs time off. James’s progress can be followed at - www.freestylebikes.co.uk