The State DH series is looking to be a corker with tough competition all the way to the final race. Ourimbah was just as tough as usual, deciding to miss the practice crowds on Saturday we managed to slip away from work and get a few runs in on Friday morning. The track hadn’t changed dramatically since last race so it was fast from the word go. Sunday morning saw the usual painfully early morning race day rise and scramble for good pit position. Registered and set up I was off for practice, again flat out straight off the line. 2 good practice runs behind me, and qualifying looming I was calm for a good day.
A nice easy qualifier left me in 6th or 7th a hand full of seconds back but I knew what I had left in me so I wasn’t worried. Tyre choice was a big advantage for the flat and undulating pedally track, having put a Maxxis Bling Bling on the rear (semi slick 4X tyre) it was awesome and I am definitely going to be using it quite a lot more. (Having a spare set of race wheels is the goods!)
Come finals there was a lot of good energy up the top of the hill between all of the guys, I was glad that I wasn’t left to go last as fastest qualifier. With minimal pressure I linked together what was a solid and consistent run, a little tiring in spots but good. If anyone was going to beat that run when I crossed the line I knew they would deserve it.
I have to pay credit to the junior boys, Amiel and Brock who slid in 1 second under my time. Fast little buggers, the training for overseas must be paying off.
The final results were not read out until 2 hours after we had finished. The end times placed Smithson 1.5 secs behind myself, Johnny Balfa in 3rd and Robbie McNaughton in 4th. I was stoked on the win and pumped to see so many riders turn out, I think there was almost 180 riders – SMASHING BABY YEAH.
In the first weekend of May, a little while back now, we drove to Thredbo for another State DH. We were confronted with some serious winter weather and forced to turn around with the race cancelled. All was not lost, we spent the rest of the weekend riding our own local trails in perfect weather. Colin from Raw NRG was good enough to credit everyone’s race entry for the next event there. Better luck next time.
Well what else do you do with a long weekend Monday…. Lets hit the trails!!! Destination Tahmoor council jumps and location X in the southern Highlands of NSW saw another massive dirt jump filled day with a few Canberra boys and the usual Blue Mountains boys. We had a smashing session with everyone banging out fresh and new tricks and getting some old ones dialled too! Check out the pic of my nice one handed X-up.
By now you should all have seen Clict mag, or otherwise you must live under a rock. Congrats to Robbie and his Team on a smashing job well done. I have two articles out in the mag, Adelaide and Thredbo Nationals Race reports as well as a stonking amount of pics from Cairns and Newcastle 4X. A nice big ad from Mudcows sees my face in there somewhere else too. More articles to come for the next issue, which promises to be even bigger and better!
Chris Herron.com, undoubtedly one of Australia’s best photographers has got his own web site on line. It is totally pro, with some sweet MTB pics and Red Bull KTM it is very smooth. I even get a shot in, thanks Chris, those bundies are in the post! So check it out at chrisherron.com.au it rocks!
Upcoming events are building excitement already, another 4X in Newcastle on the 4th July followed by the next State DH round at Killingworth means people are pumped and I’m on my bike even more than usual!!!
See you there…
Rickyboy.
