Put your money where your mouth is! Mike Marsden of Borderline Events did just that with his first ever organized race. A bumper 316 riders signed on to the DiamondBack Decision Downhill 2008 in Oswestry, Shrewsbury, England!
DIAMONDBACK DECISION DOWNHILL 2008
U.K racing is tough, not only have we the fastest riders in the World, we also have the fastest race entry systems going down as well. Prime example is the Scottish Nationals go live at midnight and are sold out come 03:00!
Mike Marsden contacted everyone’s favorite farmer, “Farmer Jack” of Atherton fame and has run regular uplift weekends at Moelfre there for the past year. He’s even leveraged a boasting deal down the local for a spot of evenings nose bag as well as a pint all in the cost price!
Emyr Davies
After a year of those uplifts under his belt it was a natural progression for him to run his first ever race this weekend just gone: 18th and 19th of October 2008 at MOELFRE HALL, Nr. OSWESTRY.
Clear skies and dew on the grass greeted us as we peered out of the Abbey Executive 390 Caravan. Today was going to be a good one! Now Moelfre track one was carved out by the Atherton’s on what some would say is the best use of this Welsh open hill side. Track two only differs on the switch backs that were dug out by my partner in crime Mr. Steve Parr who I run the NPS with. Track 3 was scoped by Matt Simmonds, myself and Mike back in February this year.
Pits
The unique features of Moelfre are the lack of trees. It’s 100% open, fast flowing hillside with not many rocks, no roots and no trees, except the two at the bottom which someone always manages to hit!
Ancient Stone Wall
Practice session a.m and we hit up the new course (Track 3) and carved our way down the hillside over 4-5 runs trying to learn the lines. Saturday p.m and we were on track two again trying to get in as many runs as possible. The weather then turned come 15:00 and a slow drizzle set in along with the mist at the top reducing visibility to 100 yards. Wet screams were selling faster than hot cakes along with those RRP Mudguards, winner..
Saturday evening after practice we went straight to the rider's meeting and then onto the long jump contest sponsored by Diamond Back. Juvenile ripper Will Mapstone took the honors and wowed the crowds with the longest jump and also threw in there a suicide no hander and a big no footer as well! The bar opened in the big lit marquee and beer was purchased by the crate load with all profits going to the Welsh Air Ambulance. The party then moved over to the big Diamond Back Truck and the fire was lit and even more logs gathered from the perimeter of the fields. Everyone chilled out, relaxed and confirmed this is how real racing should be!
Matt Simmonds
Sunday morning and as stated the race course was chosen and Saturday's afternoon track was used (Track two) which due to the weather was the best choice. Talking of weather we were greeted with 40mph gusts of chilled October Welsh wind up at the top that cut through you like a surgeon's knife. There are a few mellow wallows at the top of the hill that offered perfect shelter. They were filled with riders sheltering from the elements. It was almost like the trenches of World War I with your name and rank being shouted out and going over the top with encouragement from your fellow comrades.
Tomac's Joe Smith
Outta the gate the side winds were unreal and many were pushed into the ruts and rolling grass bank having to dab. Pedal? If you could, many tucked her in and held on for their lives not daring to get airborne. Fast 100mph corners before dropping into the steep valley and hitting two of the best step-down doubles in the business before hacking into the switchback corners of doom. Stay online and you were safe, loose it and a soft but prickly landing in the Gorse bushes full of spiked needles/thorns, ouch!
Uplift Moelfre Style
The drop of death followed and fired you across the road kicker that no-one could jump due to the side winds. Then heads down and pedal the goats track that carved around the hill before you shot across the open face of the hill and into the last slab drop. Then launch the final jump and keep her low and again avoid the killer side wind and flat out around the last left grassy corner that was more like an ice rink on Sunday morning. Finish. Sub 3minutes and you could be proud of yourself.
First runs went off like a treat on a track that was quickly drying out due to those high winds. Second runs and out came the screw drivers and peak-less was the order of the day and along with the drier track we saw an average 10 seconds knocked off everyone’s times.
RESULTS:
GLEAVE Thomas
ENGLAND Tom
HAMER Lee Extreme Culture
Juvenile
ATWILL Philip 3:19.50 2:56.60 2:56.60
MAPSTONE Will 2:59.90 2:58.20 2:58.20 1.60
DOWNES Matthew Dave Raynor Cycle Sport 3:15.90 3:00.40 3:00.40 3.80
Youth
WEBSTER Sam Team Skene
ROBERTSHAW Rich 2 Stage Bikes/Pure Riders Co
MATHER Brad
Juniors
DAVIES Emyr
DALE Sam Cannondale Factory Racing
INESON Ben Solid UK
Veterans
STUTTARD Howard
WEDGBURY Mark
WEBB Tim Red Mist Racing
Women
STONE Jess Trek - Extreme Medics
WRIGGLESWORTH Kerry Solid UK
BARTLEMAN Lianne
Masters
WILLIAMS Colin Solid UK
BRADLEY Adrian
PATON Simon Descent-Gear.com
Senior
CALLOW Jeremy
MACHIN Elliott
EVANS Rhys Cain Valley - Llanfyllin
Elite
SMITH Rob
READING Jack
SIMMONDS Matthew CRC/Intense
Fancy a bit of racing or uplifts at Moelfre? Then please checkout:
www.borderline-events.co.uk Stay Unclipped.
Si Paton
www.Descent-Gear.com Fox 2009 Goggles Instock!
