Humbled by a CFMoto at the 48th Capel 200.

Coffee in hand (thanks to the Mundy Pub owners and their mobile caffeine fixative machine), we stood in the sunshine whilst Ironstone ARC frontman, Jeremy Connor, fluffed around with the new KTM recovery vehicle.

It took him longer than usual to get on track with the riders briefing - it's a KTM thing apparently. But we didn't care because it was nearly time for the 2025 Capel 200, and there was no place we would rather have been.

Well, at least that was the case for us; though we were not so sure that others had made the right life choices leading up to the event.

I glanced to my left and did a double take when I saw this guy fitting a number to a CF Moto MT450. I nudged my buddy, giggled like a child and said "Yeah mate good luck with that. Not sure I want to be towing him out of the slop".

Sausage grunted, adjusted himself, scratched his chin with his free hand (the other still wrapped around a long black) and said, "How the heck is he gunna shoe-horn those bars through the trees along the single track?".

Well....the joke was on us, because Jamie Prieto not only rode the Capel 200, but he rode it bloody well. He opted for the One Lap Max Attack, stopping only to put some more air in the front after upping his compression mid-ride.

What makes Jamie efforts on the bike all the more staggering is that this is the first off-road bike he has ridden in serious off-road conditions.

No idea means no fear - I feel I should adopt this approach.

"I had a couple pit bikes when I was young, and Dad took me to Gnangarra Pine Plantation as a kid some weekends."

I was on the EBWA 2023 Beta 200RR, with KYB legs and super grippy tyres. The 2hungry is set up for hard enduro, so I had no top end. It was no surprise, then, that Jamie left me in his wake on the open trails. But what shocked me was that I could barely hold onto him in the single trail.

I sat on his tail for about 10 km, and I don't think I could have passed him. He let me through at one point, but I immediately relented and waved him on because I was, to be honest, feeling a little oppressed.

He summed it up nicely in a Tik Tok he sent me post-race.

Thank you, Jamie - Yes it did feel exactly like that!

Regular readers know I am not a fast rider. Be that as it may, I should be fast enough on a 200RR to keep up with a stock CF Moto that is not in its typical play pen.

"The bike is stock except for tyres, secondhand bark busters and AIO-5 navigation. Myself, however; I love pushing the limits to the breaking point if I have the facilities and sense of confidence/encouragement."

The bike control was just impressive. His KYB's were doing a good job up front, and the back end was just along for the ride. The bike seemed to hold every one of the right lines Jamie was selecting on the fly.

"Capel 200 is the first registerable riding event I've ever done, and I really want more. I need to fix some fitness and strength first, I think. I'd totally love to do a Pony Express and be that one guy going nuts on an adventure bike."

Any high-end riders out there looking for a ride buddy to punt an ADV on a Pony? How good would that be? Campbell Town maybe?

Over the years we have certainly seen a couple of riders on the bigger bikes bite off more than they can chew at Capel. But this year was the event to test all. The conditions were just so, and diversity was the order of the day. There were more female riders than I'd seen before and even the electric contingent was there doing their thing....in stealth mode.

I think I saw dust for a distance of about 100 m where the sun had found an open fire trail for more than five minutes. Puddles were there, but they were small enough to give the riders options to get grotty or not. Even the greasy clay pans were a little forgiving, though I did manage to scrape an inch off one when I washed out the front whilst on full tilt though the plantation (IFYKYK). For a split second I felt like it was going to be a Torvil and Dean moment; I looked back to see my buddy trying to wash off speed so as to not give me a husky enema.

We are Capel 200 veterans, and we never miss the start gate, though we have been known to miss the finishing line - frequently. Fortunately, this year, we did manage to make it home in one piece.

Now the big job is to step up and help the Ironstone MC Club overcome the Regulator hurdles they are facing to make sure the event is on for '26. I know me and my buddies would be lost without Capel.

It's the best buddies bonding event on the calendar bar none.

Three straight bikes and three bent riders - the perfect Capel day.

Hope to see you all out there next year. And, on that, next year I will keep my opinions to myself when I see someone dragging a cannon into a gun fight.

Well done, Jamie!! I hope you find some new riding buddies that can keep up with you.