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With the new uplift track finished and the new track bedded in the weekend was looking good, however with rain in both the mornings of the event and the track being mostly chalk it meant conditions were very hard to find any traction and with spikes and swap-thing tyres out of the option because of the hard compact ground it meant dry’s were the only suitable tyre choice.

The track that was raced was very different from anything i’ve ever raced before, with the top section being tapped wide allowing riders the choice of two tracks which made races having to think twice about lines that they took. Where the two top section’s of the track met there was a  bridge to cross, which crossed over the uplift track, after this point the track was dubbed as the  motorway because of the width and size. Where the bottom section was so quick and the jumps being so steep it meant you were in the air more then you were on the ground which made things interesting to say the least.

As for results times were close to the simplicity of the track, which meant whoever could sprint the hardest and carry the most speed around the corners would win. For this event the FLC team had great results with two 1st and a 2nd. Ben Hargreaves was sat in 3rd position after his first run which he was a bit disappointed with as a couple of his friends were beating him so he upped it for his second run and was able to gain 3 seconds to put him into 2nd. Keith saunders also had a great result of 1st which he held onto both runs and getting 13th overall. I also had a great race getting my best result yet with a 1st and coming 3rd overall.

Whoohoo the weekend was here. This would be my first race back since badly breaking my leg in February (two points off amputation) and I was stoked for it.

The track was awesome as it was pedally and relatively smooth which was excellent for not putting too much stress through my leg and being on my Transition Double . There were a few lines I had to change as the mere 100mm travel was gobbled up and I would have been going over the bars. The track was rolling very fast with deep dust coming through, this was quite an experience as it felt very similar to riding in the mud which made it very fun but you stayed dry!

Once I had completed about 4 runs to break my leg in (so to speak!) and get up to speed on the track I was up for racing! I had spotted a few inside lines that I could pull off on the Double as it was a lot more agile than a full Downhill bike. Unfortunately the rain predicted to come at 10am decided to pour down a few hours late at 2pm, this was exactly the time when racing was to begin. I put on my goggles and prepared to the race, there was constant heavy rain which polished up the corners and roots which would make for some extreme racing.

My first run was quite unexpected as by the first corner my goggles had steamed up and I could only make out the rough features, such as trees, so I was running off my memory banks. I hit a few corners wider than I had hoped as I opted for the safer grippier line than the wet rooty lines. Coming into the lower sections it was much like practice apart from the rain. It was still as slippery but wet enough that the mud wasn’t sticking. I slapped back and forth between the steeper corners and then crossed the line. I stopped the clock at 1.30.17 which placed me into 14th after the first run.

Heading back up the track the rain was getting worse and many people were opting to head home and miss out their second runs.  There was talk that the race would be cancelled but luckily we were offered a second run. After another track walk to quickly to assess what the conditions were like. The track seemed to have more mud building up everywhere but still remaining with heavy enough rain to make to mud watery enough and not stick.

Second run I opted to keep my dry tires on again, unfortunately 5 minutes before my run the rain stopped and the mud began going all clumpy. I knew this wouldn’t be enough time to change my tires so had a go at racing dry tires. On this run I made the top section a lot quicker however I ‘T-Boned’ a corner and lost my speed for the following few corners furthermore I didn’t had enough speed on a root section whilst trying to turn up hill with clogged tires, I washed out and fell on the floor. This was definitely the end to that run and any hope on improving on the first. The clock timer fell to 1.37.60 which put me into 16 after the second runs.

Overall I finished 18th out of 103 seniors which I am very pleased about. This boosted my confidence greatly which spurred me on to get racing again but none more so than beating Ben in a bet and winning a burger! Cheers Ben. I think I am going to adapt a few things for the mud too now!

Southern champs were held at UK Bike Park this year which have had a lot of changes within the park i.e. the new up lift system which only takes a couple of minute to get to the top which meant that there was hardly any waiting time to catch the uplift t get back to the top.

Practise on Saturday was running quick which meant a few minor changes had to be made to the track to slow it down and prevent riders from over clearing the massive road gap at the bottom and ploughing into a burm.  With the new changes the track was running as quick however making the road gap at the bottom as dangerous.

Sunday race day was still running quick if not quicker than the Saturday practice. With the track only being short there was a lot more pressure as any mistake made would have lost time which would be hard to make up in lower sections of the track. First race runs for the FLC team were all slow then the second runs as a result of crashes and stopping out of the tight corners. With the improvement on the second runs the teams there were able to get higher u in the rankings.  Peter Treviss-bell got 6th in senior with a time of 1:13.24. I Curtis Saunders got 4th in junior with a time of 1:12.58. And Keith Saunders got 2nd in veteran however because he was beat buy someone not in the south meant that he is the southern champ.

Round 3 of the WDMBA was held at mountain Ash which was last raced by the dragon downhill. On the arrival on the Saturday morning as usual e completed a track walk were we would see the track and the lines available so that when it comes to the first run we won’t get surprised buy any massive jumps or slippery roots, however after walking up the track for a long period of time we thought the track would never end, so we decided to head back to the van and get kitted as the track would soon be open to bikes, leaving the last third of the track un-walked. From walking the track we thought that it would run quickly however after the first run down all thoughts from the track walk were scraped as the track was hard to find flow which meant a lot of pedalling over a four minute track which is harder then is sounds, also the rain that the track had the night before didn’t help ruts were forming which were hard to stay in.

Race day, as the track was getting dryer and dryer by the run it meant that the flow of the track was getting easier. Due to eating something dodgy two nights before meant that I was running low on energy and on this track every bit of energy was important. However was able to complete both runs and gave it all I could and got a time of 3:59.31 which put me into 7th. Peter Treviss-Bell put in a time of 3:56.37 and put him into 8th. Lastly Keith Saunders put in a strong run which put him into 2nd with a time of 4:14.13

The 8th may saw the second round of Pearce cycles races at Bringewood

During Saturday morning heavy rain meant that the top section of the track was unrideable due to the slickness of the track, this meant that changes to the track were made using a whole other section made just for the race. Throughout practice I was able to get more and more confident with the tracks technical sections through the trees, however this also meant that more crashes were happening.  Nearing the end of the practise day the track started to dry out and hopes were for a dry race on Sunday.

During Saturday night there were only small showers which wouldn’t have much effect on the track, however as soon as we kitted up for practice the heavens opened. Because of this and the lack of clothes left from the previous day of riding we decided to only put a couple of runs in when the rain finally stopped.

Once the rained stopped the track again didn’t tack long to dry out, however with it still being wet for my first run I was able to put in a respectable time of 2:34 which sat me just outside of the top ten.

Due to the drying conditions, for my second run I was able to gain 14 seconds to put me inside the top ten and into 8th which was above what I expected as the Pearce cycle races are renowned for their competition and known as the race series down from the nationals.

For race results and pictures visit:

http://www.rootsandrain.co.uk/race296/2011-may-8-pearce-cycles-2-bringewood/

Curtis Saunders

The first of the 2011 summer series was held at Taff buggy, run by MIJ racing.

Saturday started off well with no rain and a dry track making it very quick and fast, everyone having high hopes for the race on Sunday. Because the track had some new development it made some of the corners loose and drifty, however by the end of Saturday practice it was hard to see which Corners were new and which ones where old due to how well they bedded in.

This was my first ride and race at Taffy Buggy which was a great experience as I’ve never rode and track which was so physically demanding.   The track it’s self was fast and flowing, but also a sprint track which made it hard to reserve energy for racing. There were only a few of technical areas, like the rock garden which was massive with few line choice but those who were brave enough were able to make up vital seconds on the board.

To the racing, well because of the rain that we had over night it made the track totally different. Were you didn’t have to pedal before to clear a jump, you have to pedal like mad just to be able to make it. The race also made the track very greasy due to how compact the track was.

The race kicked off with the juveniles going down first, putting down some insanely quick time of 2:18.475. The rest of the fist runs when well with no delay and everyone was happy. I was able to put in a safe run with a 2:13.837 which sat my in 5th place. The fastest time of the first runs was set by the new Saracen rider Harry Molloy with a 2:00.186.

The second runs were looking better as the sun and the wind made a great combination to dry the track out considerably, this meant that everyone was running round changing tyres to get the most out of their runs. Most racers for the second time were running quicker times which meant that the race wasn’t won yet. For my second run I gave it my all with only making one mistake to gain just under three seconds this would also gain me a position on the podium with 4th which was a great result with my Dad also getting 4th on podium with a 2:21.079. The elite riders were to go down last and it was all to play for, with Dan Stanbridge from the Dirt Norco Race Team putting down a 1:58.284 and Harry Molloy still on track to finally finish with 1:59.833 which put him down to 3rd place in the Elite category.

Link to Race results and Photos:

http://www.rootsandrain.co.uk/race316/2011-mar-13-mij-1-taff-buggy/

Team Rider Curtis Saunders on the hammer

The 20th of February saw the third and final round of the Forest of Dean 661 Mini DH. The race day started well with no rain which made the push up race run a lot more smoothly, however due to previous rain before the race the track was extremely slippery particularly the top and middle section due to the amount of roots in the track. The bottom section was more forgiving as it shallow out, however more exhausting as it was more of a sprint.

Practice started well, with little mistakes made. The track was running smoothly due to the shortness meaning, less to remember and less people on the track. Racing started off the same as any other race in the category order. It wasn’t long before some quick times were put on the board from the all the categories. With the fast first run time of 1:10.56 set by junior Ben Gillett it was going to be hard for the pro-Am men get top three overall. Most of the forest leisure team were able to put down clean safe runs to put them high on the overall and in categories. I was able to put a safe run in which put me in 4th in cat which I was happy with, as it was my first proper ride on my new bike, the tr450 which rode amazingly through the corners and absorbed all the roots which made it a lot easier. Unluckily Marc McHale caught up with the rider in front at the bottom section of the track with lost him vital seconds this meant that it was all or nothing for the second for all team riders.

Second runs started shortly after, and most racers were putting down fast runs this meant that it was anyone’s race. All Forest Leisure Cycle team riders were able to put down faster times other than Helen McHale who unfortunately hit a tree with lost her vital seconds which just push her off podium position. I was able to improve on my second run to gain 2.5 seconds, however this wasn’t enough as I lost out on 3rd by 0.004 of a second which I was gutted with but I was still happy with my result of 4th in cat and 13th overall.

For the second runs the Pro-Am’s put down some impressive times, as they were able to put down the fastest time of the day of 1:09.99 by Elite rider Bernard Kerr closely followed by junior ruder Ben Gillett with 1:10.05.

All in all it was a great, well organised race to finish off the winter series at Forest of Dean organised by Naked Racing. To see results and photos visit: Roots and Rain

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