In a marked contrast to previous years, this season has had a real sense of optimism about it despite all the problems still lingering from the uplift changes. And it has to be said that most of that optimism has come about from a change of organisers for the National Points Series. Out are NACC Events and in their place are SPS Events – Steve Parr and Si Paton.
Now, this sense of optimism has been and then disappeared very quickly every time a new organiser steps into the fold but in this instance things really seem to have changed over pretty smoothly with the minimum of ill effect. Granted there were a couple of hitches but all were relatively minor teething troubles and nothing that wasn’t rectified at the time or at least noted for the future events.
Lessons were definitely learned from the two previous nightmare first rounds of Cwmcarn and Rugog and the ever solid option of Innerleithen was chosen for it’s hard standing and all weather reliability – a solid bet in other words for a first race venue. The tracks here are numerous and even with an SDA the previous weekend, only the first 50ft and the final finish section were in use both weekends.
The pit area was one notable attraction, with the trade teams all on the hard ground alongside the finish and then having the main competitors in the field behind which prevented the main finish from being overcrowded and gave a very pro look. Almost like a mini World Cup some people were heard to mention; the few shop pitches no doubt helping towards this. It’s amazing what a good trade area can do and, for the effort involved, it really creates an atmosphere to surround the great racing that this country always seems to produce.
With the forestry relenting with the uplift rules for the previous weekends SDA race the decision came too late for this weekend’s race where it had already been sorted to use a mix of coaches and trucks. With 8 pairs of vehicles running all day many were surprised with delays at the start of the day. This came about through a combination of there not being adequate padding in place to satisfy the chief commissaire on one of the upper segments of the course and also the marshals taking time to get into place. But once rolling, and after the lunchtime tweaks to the uplift which saw us again riding along that never ending road to the pick up point just shy of Walkerburn, things went pretty smoothly. Most managed four or five practice runs before the start of seeding which was pretty reasonable. Ae Forest in a month’s time, with the old system of two trucks running together, each pair carrying 45 riders and 12 trucks should see uplift problems finally banished. Well, fingers crossed anyway.
So how was the track? Well, the top section was described by Minnaar as being too tight and he certainly looked to be struggling up there throughout the weekend. The top was the infamous ‘Frenchy’ track. First race a few years ago in the local winter series, it was opened out slightly for this race and that, combined with the ground being dry as a bone led to improved flow and a bit more speed. Not that you wanted that much down the last part. Steep, tight and steep intermixed with loose rocks, roots and stumps describe this pretty well I think. It starts off innocuously enough alright with a few drifting and reasonable open corners but then it tightens right down, you go over a drop and then all hell breaks loose with you moving from fully in control to in-a-not-so-controlled-and-not-even-trying-to-look-it sort of way. Great fun. Survive that (many didn’t) and you pop across the road before side slipping into a steep chute. Joe Barnes was on it here, the inside pedal virtually grazing the road before dropping in whilst in his last practice run on the Sunday, Rob ‘The Hairdresser’ Warner high-sided it and ended up in the trees. Dance over the polished stones next, whack into the bottom corner, or more often than not the tree just next to it, and then dart between the trees and roots of the next straight. Shortly after this the track took a turn away from the original line and instead doubled back on itself to bring you out onto the not so natural Red Bull Matador track. This is where the pace picked up and the track opened out so you could really hang it all out and drift. A new section just before the road crossing was loose and dusty and circumnavigated the normal step down onto the chute which leads you onto the road. From here to the finish over a minute away you barely had any opportunity to stop pedalling. Hit the first three jumps and dart back into the trees. Duck the trees; keep pedalling and stick your wheels to the ground over the few small drops before being spat out onto the main bridleway once used for enduro motocross events. This was where your fitness training from the winter came into play with the many bus stops breaking up only slightly the now massive run to the finish. The same jumps were in as the previous weekends SDA which then fed you through the gulley in the trees before the bombhole jump into the arena. Just how big did Adam Brayton go on that? Big, very big! Going by the pictures and stories that were circulating shortly after I think it was very close to being a big KO!
Juveniles has somewhat decreased in size this year over previous years but the times are still as hot as ever. Local flier Lewis Buchanan of Last Bikes took the win from Mark Scott of Ecosse and Andrew Mabon of Quick Drill. All had times which would hav placed them well in Experts.
Youth sees Danny Hart riding the 07 Appalache take the win two weekends in a row at Innerleithen, with an awesome 7 second margin over Arran Gannicott on his V10. Third was James Scott, pushing Arran hard all the way.
In his final year of junior, and after some incredible World Cup performances last season, it was awesome to watch Ruaridh Cunningham pull out the time he did. In fact, the only person to go faster on raced day was Steve Peat, and even then the margin was less than two seconds! His season already off to a flying start, lets see what he can pull off on the world stage. In second was Sam Dale riding for Solid Electric and Scott Mears of Denton cycles in third.
Another rider to take the win two weekends in a row was David Tallontire in the Masters. Amazing to think that at the end of last year we were all wondering if he would be riding this year at all after a drop gone wrong in Whistler. I can remember reading about Aiden Bishop and Andrew Titley in old MBUK articles before I had even considered racing over 10 years ago. They’re still at it in the old boys’ category and doing pretty well. Second and third are their steps.
Although still hobbling around the car park, French’s speed seems to have suffered no ill effects with a 3.22 seeing a good 14 second winning margin over Alastair Maclennan in second and Keith Wilson in third.
Senior rider Andrew Buddin took the win in seniors from Chain Reaction’s Dale McMullen in second and Tom Rodgers of all Terrain Cycles with only 3 seconds separating them. With the exception of Elite, this was the closest podium of the day!
Combining the non-elite women it was Aimee Dix, riding for Team Skene, who managed to sneak under the 4 minute barrier to take the win. Ticket2Ride Vets rider Linda Davis and Youths’ Monet Adams riding for Utopia/Bike Cellar were in second and third respectively, just 0.9 seconds separating them.
With Tracy Moseley absent in Elite it was Rachel Atherton and Helen Gaskell who stamped their authority on proceedings with 3.26 and 3.29 respectively. Those times were faster than over half the Expert category! Fionn Griffiths took third. Did anyone see her custom painted van? Very trick...
Experts now and we get to Adam Brayton, now being helped out by Colin Williams over at Mtb-Direct with Electric products after a few pre-season sponsorship problems. His time is another that took a large chunk from second. Jon Brain filled that spot with Graeme Forrest in third, only two tenths down.
This year we have Steve peat back riding the NPS, always good to see him ride. The Elites are going to be quick regardless but it was a sight to see Minnaar struggling at the top through the tight trees and never looking too on it at any point throughout the weekend. ‘Too tight’ he was heard to utter more than once over the weekend. His new Honda team mate, Brendan Fairclough, rode a single practice run on the Saturday followed by seeding after injuring his hand in the run up to the race. He sat out Sunday.
Josh Bryceland may have pipped him in seeding on Saturday but Steve put on the pace when it counted and on Sunday took the win, just over 2 seconds clear from second place man Gee Atherton. In third and riding for MBUK/Santa Cruz was Marc Beaumont on the new proto V10, sleeker, lighter and much, much neater.
So there we have it. A very good introductory race that will hopefully be the start of something big this year. The raw ingredients are there, only a few small tweaks are now needed and Ae Forest should be an absolute corker. The usual suspects of the off camber, coffin and now legendary step down will be there alongside a few newer bit to keep everyone on their toes come Saturday morning.
