RACING
State DH Killingworth – 11th July
State DH Lithgow – 25th July

COMING UP
Newcastle 4X Round 2
State DH Championships – Aug
State DH Series Final round - SeptRacing has been fiercely competitive and hard in the last few weeks. Two races both in muddy conditions. Bike maintenance has been horrendous and water restrictions have been disregarded for the greater good of the bike.

The first race this month took us to Killingworth, Newcastle NSW, home of team GT, and their star rider Adam Smithson. This track is also familiar with the likes of Rob McNaughton, "Newcastle Dark Horse". The track used was the same as last years State Round which made for early runs to be quite quick on this basic yet fun track.

The weather was kind to us over the whole day with showers keeping the track damp enough to make traction consistency interesting. After being off with a virus for the previous two weeks, Race day was the best I had felt in a fortnight. Qualifying was a standard affair with Adam stating "I wasn’t even trying to qualify first…" but really who does these days.

Finals could have been anyone’s guess but it was going to be an uphill battle to beat Smithson (or lack of hill as the case is known at Killingworth). A contender might have been John "Balfa" Farrow, looking fast all weekend, but ragged as usual.

So as it came down to the wire, Smithson took full advantage of his local knowledge and squeezed into first just in front of me in second and McNaughton took home some bacon in third.

Lithgow was set to be a corker with an entirely new venue and a track that everyone could enjoy. The week leading up the race saw the entire track covered in snow and half of Lithgow too. Saturday practice had the track bedding in nicely and a couple of smoother lines settle in. Rain again watered the track in practice and ensured another bike washing episode. Saturday night brought forward a BBQ at Timon Wegners house complete with exploding tomatoes indoors and a home video episode of "When good BASE jumps go bad". It kept us all entertained for quite some time and the Sake kept us warm on the cold mountains winter night.

Brock | Top Right: Smithson

Race day prep was completed and the Orange tent was set up, so up the hill for some practice. Two runs and all was smooth. Some fast sections whizzing past spectators spun out in top gear was great. Qualifying saw a few messy lines and an easy roll to the finish, Race run was going to be a real lung buster.

Running off the line in second last, (second qualifier), in the near freezing conditions the track was holding together nicely with lots of traction to be had everywhere. Unfortunately in the middle rock section of the track it all came unstuck on a harsh G-out taken a little too fast resulting in a solid over the bars experience. Lots of time was lost and a fair bit of paint on my helmet too. I focused on pinning the next section, a little dazed but the faster I finished the faster it would be over.

Ricky

To the utter amazement to the spectators who witnessed the crash, they were utterly amazed that I finished third, or that I got up and kept going. No coulda shoulda wouldas here, that’s racing! So in the end Smithson took the win to hold onto his series lead and Robbie Mac busted home into second with a courageous effort.

McNaughton

So after a reasonable mid season effort second place is looking solid in the series and first is going to be a tough achievement. One more round to settle the score in September.

State Downhill titles are going to be on one of the Newcastle boys’ home tracks somewhere. Bring it on.

Excitement is building once again for another huge Newcastle 4X race at the Black Hill Track. Continual track changes and updates will keep the racing fresh and exciting. See you there!!

Thanks to all of my sponsors, friends and family.

Keep the rubber side down.

Rickyboy.