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National
Points Series 2007 |
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Moelfre,
Wales Rnd 4 |
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13th
May |
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Aidan taking silver medal
Round 3 at Rugog was thankfully cancelled by the organisors, all the rain we've had recently together with the fact that Rugog is affectively a peat bog makes for a good decision. So it was on to Moelfre in Wales for round 4. Aidan Bishop, Stefan Gleed and me travelled to Wales to see what we could do.
Aidan, Craig, & Stef Moelfre is not a challenging course suiting those with balance and poise, it's cut into the side of a steep hill giving you goat track style paths to ride on, these rocky fast tracks require pin point accuracy and more importantly....balance. Certainly balance and poise are words not often associated with my gung ho style of riding. There were a couple of awkward step downs and some fast grassy turns taken at warp factor 9, all in all not a bad track just a little one dimensional.
Aidan was up for a fight with David Tallontire to get his title hopes back on track, failure to beat Tally this weekend would see the end of his NPS series title. Stef and I were up for a battle since we both seemed to be of similar pace at Rheola, this track was right up the street of the ex National Champ as balance, control, and poise is what his ridings all about. I was still shocked at how fast I rode at Rheola, and naturally assumed normal service would resume at Moelfre with me being dominated by the top boys.
Final checks before take off
The talk of the race was the weather as usual, this season has been a wash out so far and everyone was hoping for a dry race. Well we were in luck because despite the threat of rain we had a very sunny practice day and race, this helped the atmosphere and you could feel the relief of the riders weary from the recent floods, the sun has a great effect on the body and mind. I know I for one have been seriously doubting my commitment to the relentless race calendar and miserable conditions of late, it's draining on the soul to keep coming home covered in crap, then washing off the cruddy kit, then days spent cleaning grit and mud from the extremeties of the frame....torrid.
Stef over hip jump
Saturday practice went well and Aidan was attacking all the jumps and step downs pushing for a victory, me and Stef were being a little more selective as we were getting up to speed. I followed Aidan down on one practice run and realised I wasn't far off the pace, we crossed the fire road over half way down and I was still right behind him, I shouted a burst of obscenities questioning his sexuality and manhood only to hear "bloody hell" as he realised I was still there....christ you wonna see the kid pedal then! I also followed Stef down and hussled him all the way down the switchbacks, now both were worried.
I just don't know what I'll do if Craig beats me....
Cometh the hour and normal service was resumed with Aidan qualifying in second only a fraction of a second behind Mark Weightman with a time of 2:48....nice work.
Aidan at full chat
Stef qualified in a very credible 8th place with 2:55, not bad given the races he's done this year. I had a reasonable run until binning it on the final corner 15 yards from the line, taking out a post and getting the course tape wrapped around my foot, I eventually crossed with 3:03 only 8 seconds behind Stef....mmmmm nearly upset a few then? However 'nearly' and 'if' is never good enough.
Craig fully commited
Sunday morning came and I was there very early getting prepped whilst Stef and Aidan were chillin watching DVD's in the van, I chose to do 3 practice runs as there were a few issues for me to solve, Stef and Aidan picked up some tips from watching the Elites in qualifying and chose to do 2 practice runs (although Aidan ended up punturing on his second run). The only cause for some concern were the strong winds that had picked up at the top of the course, the bomb hole and the step downs were to be given total concentration.
Taped nipples, is that a good look?
Race time......I was off first in the team as usual following my crash in qualifying and felt quite calm, the only nerves I had related to the fierce wind at the top of the course which caused me problems in the morning, the beebs finished and I was off. I took a cautious but fast approach trying not to get too keen, the top is real fast and it's easy to get wrong, I cleaned the top with only a few minor niggles, good so far. Then came the dusty steep switchbacks where I had been quick all weekend, the big holes that had dug out forced me to take them a little slower to make sure I got through them without drama, I hipped the jump and came towards the fire road, I had crossed the firerod a few times with no brakes when even Aidan was braking, this time I was just going way too fast not to brake and chose right at the last minute to brake, this unsettled the bike a bit as I dumped it into the tiny 4 inch berm there to catch you, I nearly went off course but just held it together, with the drama I had forgotten to change up 2 gears and span hopelessly as I tried to get the speed back. Next up was the narrow rocky goat track cut into the hill, I pinned it as fast as I dare fighting every urge I had about trying sections with no brakes, this is my downfall trying sections with no brakes during the race that I had been braking in throughout the weekend, I stuck to my plan and stayed in control, I took the step down and launched into the final field hitting top speed over the grass which is such a thrill, over the double drop and round the final grassy right hander and over the line, fast and quite clean for me. There was no commentating or anyone in the hot seat as the commissaire was otherwise engaged, I walked out of the finish arena and over to the timing screen....bloody hell 2:48 which was a fraction faster than Aidan's qualifying time, I was in first place so far and in the hot seat, I had to go back into the finish arena and take the hot seat. What happened next was shocking as I sat there for what seemed an eternity, rider after rider came down slower than me including many that I consider to be much faster than me, then came Rich Simpson so I readied myself to get up....NO he went slower, I was stunned, then came Darren Ozborne and once again I was ready to get up....nope he went slower too, then came Stef and I had been winding him up all weekend about me kicking his arse for the first time which I know was worrying him..... Stef crossed the line with a very fast 2:45 some 3.4 seconds faster than me, this was the first time I was dissapointed with a fast time from Stef as I was hoping to beat him just once. Then came down the cream of the crop, Tally crossed the line with a rediculous 2:38, where does this man get his speed? Aidan came down and had a good run turning it up when he needed too, he crossed the line with a super fast time of 2:40 and into 2nd place behind Tally once again. A valient battle this year but alas, Aidan has now lost his title to Tally this year now that Tally has 3 race wins from 5...but don't get too comfortable Tally as Aidan will be back for revenge at Caersws!
Craig's looking smug!
Hansom bunch eh!
So that's all 3 Rapids in attendance in the top 10 in the country, not a bad result boys.......
RapidRacers secret weapons
All 33 Masters racing were within 26 seconds from the fastest to the slowest, now that's close racing. Thanks to www.ftmb.net for the race photo's, visit their site for some of the best action shots around.
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Special thanks to all our sponsors who continue to support our team throughout 2007.
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