I don’t know what it is about Gymru, but every time I’ve driven across the Severn Bridge, it seems to start raining on the other side! Having lived in Cardiff for five years, I’ve been over the bridge a fair few times as well.

This weekend was no metrological exception as four Rapidracers made the trip to South Wales for the final two rounds of the 2006 Dragon Series. Race organiser Jason Carpenter has set up a series with reliable uplifts and robust courses that test the riders and you are usually guaranteed a good weekend of racing when you ‘enter the Dragon’ (see what I did there?).

Mountain Ash is a personal favourite of mine. I’ve ridden the course a fair few times, and it was actually the first UK DH race I ever entered (2003). For some unknown reason however, Jason had ‘done a Morgan’ on us and introduced a completely new bottom section of the course – very unlike him. Unfortunately, this bottom section was open to the elements and having only been built in the two weeks leading up to the race, had not been bedded in. A series of slippery, muddy, berms and doubles was the result, which no doubt will be good in the dry, but was more like the Somme in the wet. However, it was the same for everyone and it wasn’t as if the whole course was like it, so mustn’t grumble too much. I guess it’s good that the Dragon courses evolve a little bit now and then?

The top section of the course was pretty much the same, with some minor tweaks here and there. A small drop off the start line, then into a steep chute, take a right hander to a flat pedally section and into another right hander (now nicely bermed), then it’s a small rock hop onto the first bus stop (not a place Aidan likes), and the other bus stops follow (tweaked slightly). Into the woods and the infamous rock slab. Initially daunting, this obstacle isn’t actually that difficult once you master it, but you wouldn’t want to hit it at speed. Then into the darkness! Extra bus stops had been installed on the straight after the rock slab, but it was so dark it was like going into a Welsh coal mine. Probably a good thing that you couldn’t actually see those slippery, exposed roots really? The third stop was eventually removed from the race. Then another, seemingly needless bus stop before a few drop offs, then across the road. Then my favourite bit, the swoopy section parallel to the road. I love this section as you can pedal like a maniac and make some speed (I used to race XC don’t you know?!). A few more trees and roots to negotiate and it’s into the new open section to the finish.

In the rain, 4:30 – 5:00 minutes was a par time, but in the dry, this course will rock! I hope Jason runs this course in June/ July next year, as it will be lightening!

The racers. Bromley was nursing his cracked ribs this weekend after his high speed dismount at Fort Bill, and was again laughing in the face of medical advise by competing this weekend. I rode with him on his first practise run, and even had to assist him to put his bike on the uplift rack (ah, bless!). Off the first drop-off I heard a bike rider behind me groan with pain as they flat landed – it was Crash Master! In serious discomfort, Bromley carried on, but decided racing this weekend would be a bad idea and decided to leave – except he couldn’t because our cars had been barricaded in!

Newly crowned National Masters Champion Aidan was here, as was 4th placed Master, Gummy. This has been a superb year for Rapidracers, with podiums coming in nearly every race we’ve entered. Is there another team that dominates Masters riding so comprehensively in the UK?

Practise went smoothly, with the Lithuanian bus drivers providing a good uplift service even if they couldn’t speak Englishski. A break in the clouds meant that the course dried out (marginally). Most people had switched to mud spikes, but I was left with Comp 16’s. This actually worked in my favour, as they provided perfect traction in the conditions. A smooth race run and I found myself in 1st place! More riders came down (30 odd), and I was still in 1st (surely this was a timing error?). Gummy made it down the course, despite his shock packing up on the bus stops and having to ride a hardtail chopper for most of the course. Then the quick boys came down, and I was ousted to 4th – including Bishop (call yourself a team-mate?).

Gummy had scabbed a replacement shock (for the second week running) by the time the second race run came round, and Bromley had finally managed to shift his car and wimped off home. After letting my lofty position get to me, I hit a tree, and fully unclipped trying too hard on my second run. Gummy, with a new lease of life caned the course and got a third place. Aidan, not able to capitalise on his first effort ended up in 2nd, with me in 7th. Not a bad return for the team, and the course builder won which I always feel is a bit like a pub landlord winning a pub quiz – cheating in other words!!

Then the heavens opened! I actually had to pull my car over on the way home, as I couldn’t see where I was going. Aidan and Gummy decided against spending a rainy night in Wales and wimped off back home. So it was left to me to manfully represent the team on my own on the Sunday.

Course dialled, I again found myself at the top of the pack after my first run, despite hitting a tree and being held up by a rider I was overtaking. Then the quick boys came down, and I was again back in 4th? More rain and surely the times would be slower on the second runs? Amazingly, I actually went quicker (by 10 seconds) on my second run, but so did the guy in 3rd place. In the end, I was really chuffed with my 4th place and was only 2 seconds off my first ever podium.

So, the Dragon series comes to a close for 2006, with strong showings from the Rapidracers, and host of podiums.

The final series of the Midlands series is next weekend, and then its time to put the bikes into hibernation for the winter. Hopefully Midlands specialist Crash Master can end the 2006 season on a high?

Results:

Dragon Round 10

Aidan Bishop: 2nd 4:20 (missed out by 0.041 of a second!!!!)
Paul May: 3rd 4:27
Paul Mackie: 7th 4:37
Craig Bromley: 24th 5:02

Dragon Round 11

Paul Mackie: 4th 4:51

Overall Dragon Standings – best 6 results count: