661 Mini DH – Forest of Dean – Race Report
Always popular, the 661 Mini Downhill at the Forest of Dean took on ‘Sheepskull’ which isn’t steep but when the going gets wet, things get seriously tricky, as Will Soffe found out.
It’s hard to believe that the Naked Racing Mini DH series is in its seventh year and still increasing in popularity. Traditionally at the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre, this winter series is a popular winter warmer for many of the UK’s top racers; attracted by the laid-back atmosphere and the chance to win some British Cycling Ranking points early in the year.
The first 2015 round, a month after Christmas was held on the “Sheepskull” track. It is one of the most entertaining tracks at FoD, but not one of the steepest, and in the muddy conditions most riders even chose to use a short-travel trail bike instead of a full DH rig.
The track is pedally, fast and rooty, encompassing some great jumps and high speed gaps. The middle section of the track in particular has a very high speed root section just after the second fire road crossing. The bottom of the track was relatively flat until, after a shiny and steep ‘S’ bend, riders headed into some man-made berms and jumps. The next part of the track saw some more annual digger work last year and now involves two flat and very slippery muddy turns into some small sticky jumps before the finish.
During Saturday practice I dialed in a few lines on the DH bike, and knew I would have to pull something special in the race to keep up with the clipped-in boys on trail bikes.
Sunday morning was bitterly cold, with large queues forming in the Pedal-a-bike-away café for tea and cake. Practice was the usual hectic affair with the three hundred riders spread over a short ninety second track.
The main limiting factor for practice was whether you were fit enough to keep pushing back up to the top! Unless you enlisted the help of the team at Flyup Downhill who would take you to the top in style for the bargain price of £2.
After practice, racing began at 1130. The FoD format is two runs starting with the Juveniles and finishing with the Pro-Am category. Due to the reputation the Mini DH series has gained, the atmosphere was excellent, with a good number of spectators turning up despite the cold! Commentary and some seriously retro ‘tuneage’ was keeping them entertained. The FoD cycle centre was doing a roaring trade in hot food and drinks as well as bike parts.
Racing was fast and furious with riders setting off through the start-gate at twenty second intervals. Some riders became casualties of the tricky conditions and super-fast track and there were a few re-runs due to riders catching fallen competitors, but thanks to some top marshalling and good organisation by Chris and the Naked Racing team, the day went smoothly.
The tiny Rippers riders go first; Mini Downhill’s are approved by British Cycling to have 10 – 12 year olds racing DH. Considering the speed and slippery roots, these riders did really well to even get down and posted surprisingly fast times! Connor Smith came out on top of the podium ahead of Henry Crease and Daniel Cope.
The Juvenile category was won by Morgan Tyrrell ahead of Chris Cumming and Luke Williamson. Bike Park Wales rider Tyler Rosser (son of Leon) came 14th despite his tender age of just twelve years; Tyler is seeing what it is like in the next age group up during 2015.
Youth saw Welshman Jake Gaskell take the win. Second was local lad Seth Barrett and third was Jordan Beighton.
The Junior category was destroyed by local legend Charlie Hatton who posted the fastest time of the day on his first run and put nearly ten seconds into next Junior rider Will Hart with Jay Little taking third despite a DNF in run one.
In the Masters category Matthew De Villanueva took the win to beat Ricky Dorrington and Mark West to the top step.
In the Hardtail category Steve Jones won from Simon Nash and Andy Wright in third place.
Twenty three women turned up to race which is great for a sport which sees females in the minority. 4X rider Suzanne Lacey smashed it to win Senior by nearly sixteen seconds ahead of Madeline Brown and Aston Tutt. Masters was won by Hazel Wakefield with Lindsay Hanley and Emma Braithwaite taking second and third.
In Senior the fastest rider was local Liam Jones who beat 87 riders including Isaac Mundy (2nd) and Nick Sheppard (3rd).
In Pro-Am, the podium was dominated by guys on short-travel trail bikes with Hope Factory rider Craig Evans taking the top step of the podium just pipping local rider Ieuan Williams by a staggering 0.02 seconds! In third was Laurie Arthur, leaving me just off the podium and disappointed!
Full Results –https://www.rootsandrain.com/race3066/2015-jan-25-2014-15-661-mini-dh-2-forest-of-dean/
So that wraps up, be sure to check out the next round on March 1st! Check out nakedracing.com for more info.
Words – Will Soffe
Photos by Laura Heal
https://www.rootsandrain.com/photos/laura-heal/