The Bowl - the Mudbath. (the very vague first report untill more details)
Race
2 at Milton Keynes Bowl and a thinner field than the first race's
record field, due to a combination of the weekends British Champs at
Sherwood and the weather.
Yes that weather, it's not
often it rains start to finish at a FNSS race but this was one. The
track stated off fully rideable for most and those with the skills used
it to their great advantage, but as the laps took there toll most of
the final stages were an exercise in ice dancing on bikes, survival
became the key.
Once again the start was a
sprint across the bowl, in the shadow of the stage, followed by the
usual tricky up and downs before joining the circuit proper. And a
split start with the seniors going off first was the order again.
With last weeks top 5
away on National duty the race was open for a new winner, the senior
start saw Phil Topliss (Treads) and John Smith (Plumz) taking full
advantage at the start, but both quickly suffered problems to dash
their expectations. Phil split a tyre and retired, while Smiffy had
loose bars problems as he took over and had to stop and tighten them.
Smiffy was looking powerfully good though and quickly caught the leading pack of two Milton Keynes club riders. (Sorry I’ll fill the names in when the results come out) and Ian (Noddy) Whatling (Plumz) who was having his best ever ride since coming up from the Junior ranks.
The quartet started the first
full lap together and Smiffy moved through to the front and admits
himself he started getting delusions of victory and podiums. It wasn't
to be, one the MK lads powered away with Whatling in chase. Noddy was
riding brilliantly, dancing along the muddy sections while others were
slithering around. Smiffy struggled and let the other MK rider past, as
the state of the track deteriorated by the minute.
At one stage Smiffy re-caught
the MK rider at the bottom of the tricky descent,as he'd "interviewed
the hedge" at close quarters. He was riding well despite this though
and eventually caught and passed a clogging Whatling to grab 2nd behind his local teammate.
On the last lap the last off
camber section was so bad Smiffy couldn't even push his bike, so
clogged with mud was it. Phil Hughes (Rugby Velo) and another rider
slipped past, and so Smiffy rode to the finish for 6th.
Next thought the finish, Glynn
Preston (Numplumz) for 7th; another skillfull rider who reveled in the
conditions and rode out of his skin.
Overall possibly
· John Smith 45+45 = 90
· Ian Whatling 40+48= 88
then many others!
· Phil Hughes 31 + 46 = 77
Veterans and Others:
The 2nd wave start
worked really well here, congratulations to Rob Chaundy on a well
organized race in difficult conditions allowing both starts the
opportunity to have a crack at the tricky singletrack without the usual
bottlenecks.
With again 4 of last weeks top
5 missing the vets win was there for the taking as they sprinted off with
the juniors, Grand vets and the rest.
Jack Peterson gives his race view;
I got the jump from the start,
never thought I’d lead a race this year, then two juniors got through
before the first woods, Ben Roff was one of them. They soon got a
little confused and I nipped through to try and get a gap on the
chasers as the whole track was rideable at this stage for me, if the
lads slipped up I could get away. It didn’t work though running big
grippy tyres at low pressures was giving me mega grip; the only problem
was I was crawling along the flat open sections and being clawed back.
Towards the end of the lap Ron
Rutgers (plumz) and Steve Large were on my tail into the woods with the
gravel mound, I heard a crash but don’t know who went down and again
went for a gap. On the final off camber ridge it was all undone though,
the senior back markers had nowhere to go and I had to watch as
everyone caught up again.
Starting lap 2 and Steve Large
passed me and pulled away so I gave chase, for a half lap it seemed
comfortable as the tyres and skills came to the fore, but this new
rider to my eyes, Steve was riding superbly. Then as we hit the second
half of the lap and the faster sections he was gone, I blinked and he
went out of sight, one to watch for this year’s series I think. After
that it turned to survival as the tyres clogged and even the concrete
sections became ice rinks, another rider (Mike Vaughn Cycles) passed
and if you’d offered me third before the race I’d have snapped your
hand off, so I took it.
Other Cats to follow when the results come through (Neil and Rick did a sterling job in the rain, but Results Guru Ian is away till Wednesday so results will be up then)
Vets Overall
· Steve Large 48+50 = 98 pts
· Jack Peterson 45+48 = 93 pts
· Ron Rutgers 44+47 = 91 pts
