Racing Ahead with RH Claydon

For the past few years RH Claydon, in addition to being one of the UK’s best-known specialist tyre wholesalers, has been a name associated with quad bike racing in the UK. Through its 2006 and 2007 sponsorship affiliation with Paul Winrow, top rider in his competition class, the company successfully raised the profile of the BKT brand ATV tyres used during races. This year RH Claydon has become involved to a greater extent, strengthening its commitment to the sport through support of an entire race team.

“Last year and the year before we were involved with Paul Winrow, the number one rider in his class,” says company marketing manager Dick Anderson. “In 2008 our racing involvement is greater than last year. This is mostly due to organic growth. Our involvement with Winrow was primarily carried out with BKT support; this year MKM, an existing RHC customer, approached us, and we decided to get involved. It is, after all, the ideal place for brand promotion.”

The supported team, to use its full name, is MKM Rocketman Suzuki, a group fielded by MKM (Quadsport), the Bedfordshire based dealer voted Suzuki Dealer of the year 2007. “The team is a mixture of younger up and coming riders and more senior riders that act as a kind of mentor to the others,” Mr. Anderson explains. “Much talent potential can be seen. For example, one particular MKM rider is only 17 and is already competing in the expert class (the second highest level of ATV competition in the UK).”

Successful race participation requires the right rubber. The brand used by MKM is of course BKT, for whom RH Claydon is the sole importer into the UK and Northern Ireland, and during the 2008 season two particular types of tyre are in use with MKM. The first of these is the AT 111, fitted both front and rear to the Suzuki LT-R 450 quad bikes used in four of the five QRA British Quad Endurance 2008 Championship categories. This tyre is, comments Mr. Anderson, a pure sport tyre. The other tyre, used in the remaining category, is the W-207. “The team uses it on its 4×4 machine (a Suzuki 700 King Quad). The 4×4 racing class features big working bikes. The W207 is not used for endurance or shorter circuit racing as it has, would you believe it, too much grip.” There are admittedly not so many occasions when a high level of grip counts as a tyre liability, yet this is the case in competition ATV racing.

For those unfamiliar with ATV racing in the UK, the QRA competition is divided into five classes. Ruling the roost is the Pro class, the ultimate goal of all aspiring champions. Next comes Expert, then Clubman (which includes the women’s competition), Stock and 4×4. The Pro class is divided into two sections: endurance, with races lasting up to 12 hours, and short sprint, which includes races of about 30 laps, the equivalent to one and a half hours racing. The MKM team currently races in all five Endurance Classes, with Steve Atkins mid-season holding second place in the Pro class, Lewis Hill first in Expert, Josh Chilcott and Sam Barrett eight and ninth in Clubman, Liam Ryland first in Stock and Simon Davies fourth in 4×4 Utility.

“Quad racing is just a small part of UK sport, it is not getting the exposure it should be,” comments Mr. Anderson frankly. “Sky does however show a bit of it, either here or on the continent. The sport’s presence in some countries, such as France and Belgium, is more significant than in the UK.” As for future involvement in ATV racing, the RH Claydon marketing manager couldn’t confirm anything definite but indicated the company was happy with the direction it is taking: “We have not as yet made a fixed commitment for next year but would say we will go again with MKM. The Suzuki sponsored team is very professional, we are proud to be associated with them. It is also good PR for BKT.”

When returning to the tyres used by MKM, the conversation gradually turns from racing to the broader theme of ATVs and their use in the British Isles. “Unlike the AT 111, the W-207 is a working tread, a major seller for the working quad,” says Dick Anderson. “It is popular with farmers, shepherds, game keepers, water board department and the police. I believe that the police patrol the Thetford Forest area not far from our offices here (in Bury St. Edmunds) on quad bikes.” Police in other regions, such as Merseyside, have also used ATV vehicles with success.

Trusty aides to farmers and the Thin Blue Line these vehicles may be, but there is also an area of ATV use currently stirring up a fair amount of controversy. “Road legal quad bikes, these are a thorny point in the quad world,” Dick Anderson remarks. “Anyone with a motorcycle license can ride a road legal quad bike without a helmet or any sort of protective clothing. The trouble is, these bikes are stable in the right hands, but some of the bigger machines come with 4×4, and for inexperienced riders can lead to difficulties.”

Originally major brands such as Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha & Kawasaki did not advocate the use of quads for Highway/Road status. However the influx of these machines from emerging far eastern countries saw the introduction of road legal versions, with many being of questionable origin and applicational use. These became available through the internet and later various other sources within the UK, and being less expensive than the majors made inroads to this new and growing market of leisure riding, both on and off road.

This development caused the majors to rethink their product and produce at factory build machines equipped and legally prepared to meet the requirements for highway use. Previously the machines came in and were then converted with the various “add ons” which allowed them to be tested and sold as road legal. Anyone today wishing to buy a road legal machine should be advised to go to a main dealer where a full range of such is available, along with advice and service backup.

The RH Claydon marketing manager is quick to point out that, when properly approached, ATVs offer many benefits. He comments that a good number of reputable dealers these days offer training in correct use to new purchasers. A good range of ATV tyres designed for a broad spectrum of uses makes the whole quad bike experience immeasurably better. “ATV tyres are a small but growing part of our business,” Mr. Anderson concludes. “The quad machine itself is a very useful tool for anybody working on the land. It is very economical, especially next to a 4×4 vehicle.”