The first two rounds of the British Cycling National BMX Series were at Cheddar, Somerset. A fast downhill track; it was a worthy opener for the series.
Josh rails the first berm at Cheddar. © Spencer Moret
Josh
Josh had a very mixed and unlucky weekend of racing, Saturday started off to a great start as per the weekend before taking some really great Moto Wins and a much improved start to the Nationals, Beating for the first Time ever Finn Hall Not once but twice over the weekend. This made Josh extra Confident about the weekend, but disaster struck in the Semi Final when another rider hit the back of Josh’s bike going into the first berm spinning him round and taking him down and out of the A final, Josh picked himself up and Rode a strong and well deserved Win in the B Final.
Sunday’s Racing was pretty much the same story riding really strong in every Moto and Taking the Semi Final Win, putting Josh in a very strong position, Josh had second pick for the Main Race, he decided to go for lane 4, Josh had a really bad gate missing the start working from the back of the pack Disaster struck again in the very same berm two other riders had gone down with bikes flying through the air of which josh struck one and almost was sent over the first berm, he recovered well but by this time the rest of the pack had gone out of reach leaving Josh in 6th Place rolling in over the Finish Line.
Ethan
Day 1: Ethan looked confident and fast in both practice and qualifying; taking two comfortable wins and a second in the motos. Semi finals saw him take another win. Got the snap out of the gate in the A final but a bad line choice into the first corner put him into 2nd. However, good close battle to the finish line awarded him with a well deserved 2nd.
Day 2: Pretty much the same as day one really; with two wins in the motos, win in the semi and into the A final. A downpour after the semi`s made the racing a bit of a lottery for the riders going into the First corner. Ethan gated really well and pulled down the first straight. However, taking the cautious line around the first corner saw him pushed back to 2nd. And that is where he finished.
After the first two rounds he sits second in the championships, but will be looking to improve on that position!
Ria
The track was looking tidy, nothing unusual from the Cheddar crew, although there was rather a lot of shale in some places. The first speed jump as ever was causing me problems, but hey, it was the same for all of us.
I raced cruiser on the Saturday, my first outing in 25+ ladies, this was a perfect opportunity to get some bike time whilst waiting for the main show Saturday night. It was a long day and with a few hold ups the racing was delayed further still. I think we raced 3motos in the space of 25 minutes, full lap, straight back up the start hill to do another flat out lap, this for me was no fun at all. But I had qualified for the final to be held the next day, so I went to bed feeling good for the day ahead.
Sunday I felt tired after racing cruiser and 3 motos but on with the race. The motos werent very well split today, tough motos meant a lower pick for the final, with Lauren, last years national number 2 in the run-off for the B-final, it proved how tough the racing was. I had 4th pick for the Saturday night final, I had a good gate and managed to move to the inside and move into 2nd, there I stayed for the full lap. 5th pick for the 2nd main of the day, my gate wasnt so hot and I got stuck on the outside. 4th place for the day two main.
On to Derby…bring it on!!
Jessop in the mix, with Rich hot on his wheel! © Spencer Moret
Arran
The national series had quickly come around and after a good result at the first regional I was feeling strong and ready to race.
After watching the younger rides race all day and with the sun quickly setting the Junior Men, Championship Female and Elite Men hit the track for practice. After a quick six laps; race time was here!
Unfortunately things got off to a poor start, with a crash in my first moto, which meant I had a hard task to make the final. It all came down to a run-off, which was my last shot to make the finals. The gate dropped and the drag race started. Planning my every move and waiting until the last corner; I pounced swopping under first place and holding my qualify spot to the finish.
With a quick turn around and being barley recovered I had no such luck in the semi and was placed in the B final. After the light faded the final would be held on Sunday.
Sunday came around and back to the more usual race day schedule. However after another crash in my first moto, and a dead leg, I didn’t make the semi’s so all focus turned to the Saturdays B final. A good gate and it was a drag race to the first corner; and after a swoop on the corner I was in second. An unsuccessful move in the second corner saw me cross the line in second; and happy with my first outing in Elite!
Check out Spence’s photographs below:
Tags: cheddar
No Jessop report ???