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National Points Series Moelfre Hall Rnd 2

29th and 30th May 2004

Unbeatable RapidRacers

The 2nd round of the NPS and the team were feeling the pressure of expectation, in part from me demanding another 1st and 2nd. In reality a top 4 position for either of our podium hoggers is a mighty result.

Stefan Gleed, Paul May, Phil Mowatt and myself were on hand to unleash some anger, we had cheers and tears as Stef and Gummy took all the glory whilst Phil and me were left in corner crying, read on to find out why.

Practice started very badly for Stef as he was late out of the blocks and in an attempt to catch up he went for it on his first practice run, this saw him crashing at the first jump as he pulled up giving the side wind a gift. Stef bounced down the bank hitting head then feet in a Super Moto style crash, this was bad news as he limped back to the pits with head/kneck ache. Gummy and Phil seemed to get to grips with the course with Gummy feeling quietly confident....very confident. Me on the other hand, well despite every urge in my body to ride, common sense eventually prevailed and I didn't race giving my leg another couple of weeks to rest after the break....I can't tell you how much it hurt watching everyone ride leaving me in the pits. You know you've had a few crashes when a stranger approaches you in the pits and says "your always surrounded by paramedics you are, I rode round your carcass at Taff Buggy when you broke your leg and also at Wentwood when you broke your ribs"....well if you can't be famous for talent then crashing has to be the next best thing?

Seeding was upon us and the tension rises, this is a benchmark to how on it you are, Stef rolls in 4th in the Masters but was seriously overhauled by the crushing speed of Gummy who qualifies in 1st. Phil makes a mess of seeding crashing out putting him down to 14th, take your time geezer!

Time to put your money where you mouth is as it's time to race, I walk up the hill to watch the boys perform. Phil is first down and crushingly flats at the top destroying his whole weekend, this was his first of the weekend and totally unexpected. He joins me on the hill to watch the action, I try to keep his spirits up but it's hard as I'm equally down about not racing. Whilst most top riders agree with the 1 run format, most of the rest feel it can be a waste of bundles of cash if the unforgivable happens.

First up comes Stef and he slips on the off camber scooting across the section we were standing at, he then misses the line for the steep descent and it doesn't look promising, we were all crossing our fingers that the rest of the run was mint, we opt not to cheer on this steep section allowing him to get to the flat and then we scream at him to pedal. We hear the commentator announce he's in 1st with a time of 2:26, we all breath a sigh of relief. When you stop and think we've all quickly forgotten that this is Stef's first proper season of racing in years, everyones just expected top results from him immediately, the fact that he's delivered this makes you just expect more, who knows how far he will go.

Gummy's up last as he was the fastest qualifier, Stef was still in the hot seat so he was guaranteed at least a 2nd place. Paul passes us looking smooth and fast nailing the steep dusty section carrying his speed well, I'm constantly amazed at his ability to ride at 99% with very few incidents, he's a man who's found his rhythm and knows his limits. He nails the fast off camber section near the finish as fast as we've seen anyone do it, we wait anxiously for the commentator to announce his position, was his earlier confidence justifed.......yes it was, he crossed the line with an astonishing time of 2:22 taking a large chunk out of Stef's time and yet another 1st place, well done that man..

Stef on the edge!

I can't believe our team has managed another 1st and 2nd at round 2, this time it was the other way round but now both our top riders are joint 1st going into round 3....could it possibly get any better, I doubt it!

So the Stef v Gummy battle rages on with no one rider dominating the other, every round's an exciting adventure, can't wait for the Dragon at Abercarn, if my leg is not fit for this then I will just cut it off!