Report By: Paul Mackie

Comradery in any weather!

Summertime? You’re having a laugh!

2007 National Downhill Championship. A one off race, one timed run, shit or bust! And in the case of the Rapidracers, the latter probably applied!

I can’t remember the last time I wrote or read a race report when the Rapidracers haven’t been on the podium or within a sniff at least, but we can’t win all the time!

Every member of the team were here ready to kick some ass, spirits were high in the camp and recent results have been great. However, persistent rain quickly dampened any enthusiasm that may have remained. Following comments from my DH sparring partner Ben Greenland, I have made a pledge to stop winging, although this weekend really tested my resolve.

Aidan

The track at Rheola was as fun as ever, and the incessant rain of the British monsoon season washed away much of the sticky mud on large sections of the track, leaving the grippy rocks below, exposed. The track was pretty grippy, considering the conditions. So, riding in the rain wasn’t a problem, but standing around in the car park covered in mud and cold water wasn’t pleasant.

It was quite humbling however to share uplifts with the cream of the crop in the world of Mountain Biking – World Cup Champions were also having their coccyx re-arranged from the big bumps in the back of a lorry on the way up, whilst being simultaneously rained on! As bad as things got for the racers, spare a thought for Britain’s most talented and popular downhiller, Steve Peat who in Saturday’s seeding run lost it in the infamous ‘Star Wars’ section – resulting in his ankle pointing the wrong way, this destroys his chances at the first ever UK World Championships. Not nice, not nice at all, get well soon Peaty.

Aidan

With that injury in mind, Bromley and myself have our week long Megavalanche holiday/race next week in the back of our minds. Aidan, now the daddy, has been suffering from sleep deprivation and Stef hasn’t been on a bike since the Welsh Nationals where he injured his knee (and because he’s been out polishing his new van). Gummy, well, I don’t know what Gummy’s been up to recently but it’s bound to be unprintable! Me and Brommers were just getting over illnesses, Brommers with Tonsillitis for the second time this year and I had just recovered from cold number 5 for the year (new nickname‘Sicknote’). So, all in all, not very well prepared as a team.

Stef

The track is balls out fast even in these piss poor conditions, fast and rocky at the top which reminds you of riding in France, it was tight and twisty in the middle with sharp off camber turns and rocky ledges, and then fast through the tree's over a couple of jumps to the finish. Many places to lose time and get it wrong and just as many to muller yourself. The key is to stay relaxed and ride fast whilst conserving energy.

Craig

The team has had more than it's fair share of podiums this year and so it was probably about time it all fell apart, you have to balance the Karma after all. Saturday practice was a challenge as it started to dry making it sticky and slimy at times, repairing your bike and changing your close all the time is hard going it these conditions, thankfully we brought the easi-up which made things a little more bearable.

Gummy

Team Seeding Positions

Seeding came and it was time to see where everyone was, we had high hopes for Aidan although he hadn't had much time on this track compared to the other top runners so it was always going to be a challenge. Aidan had a clean run and crossed the line with a time of 3:45 (5th) some 10 seconds off the leading time, you could tell in his face he knew there was a lot of work to do. Stefan crossed the line next with another clean run and a time of 3:51 (12th), this was not too shabby, although it was a little conservative in places. Craig was next fastest out of the team with 3:53 (17th) and a surprise for many as he had also crashed in his run, Stef was looking nervous! Gummy then crossed the line next fastest in the team following a big crash sending him out of the course, he crossed the line next fasted 3:55 (20th), sadly I also had a couple of crashes and came in with a dissapointing time of 3:57(22nd) and last in the team standings.

Seeding Runs Saturday (reduced list):

Race Day

Cometh the hour the weather was again shoddy although it stopped raining for the actual times runs, the track was getting very rough in places but was still silly fast and a real test of your bike handling skills. I was off first and I managed to crash in the stars wars section which was fast claiming the scalps of many riders, I crossed the line with a time of 4:02 (19th), Gummy was up next and he had the only clean run of the team but too conservative to challenge for the podium, he crossed the line with a pretty rapid 3:46 (8th). Craig was up next and he could have been the upset of the weekend if he could have held it together, however he didn't and crashed hard on a fast drop onto the fireroad ripping off his legarmour in the process, he got back on only to flip over the bars in the infamous star wars section further down, it was all over for him so he moved to the side of the track to watch some of the other riders come through. At the finish he reported a great top section which was backed up by his amazing split time only half a second slower than Gummy, 1 second slower than Aidan, over 4 seconds faster than Stef and nearly 6 seconds faster than me, thank god he didn't stay on or it could have been embarrassing!

Stef

Stef was up next and he also came to grief in the star wars section by doing an amazing cartwheel, nowt for content but 10 for style. He cruised the rest of the course and crossed the line with 4:09. It was all down to Aidan as our big gold medal hope, he crossed the line with crap on his jersey signifying he gone down on course, this may come as a surprise but he too went down in the star wars section but still posted a respectable time of 3:41 and 15th place.

Mackie

That was it, all the team down and Gummy in 9th was our best result. A mention also for Ben Greenland who has been right up there during Rheola practices this season, he snapped his Boxxer forks and ended up in a stream, and only had one functional brake in his race run – unlucky fella, thought you might pull it out of the bag at this race but it was not to be.

So, in summary, not the best weekend for the team, but it was good we were all there to share the grief and we live to fight another day..…next up for me and Craig is the longest downhill race in the world, the Megavalanche race in France.....so no rest then!

Mackie