Northwest MTB Series Round 2 – Farmer Johns
Since its first ‘proper’ race in 2011, Farmer John’s at Marple Bridge, this was the 6th time that Borderline Events have visited the venue. What the track lacks in gradient, it makes up for with sheer atmosphere, being close to well populated areas of the North West with easy access from motorways allowing quite a few spectators and hecklers. Sunday only racing means the Saturday is full of people just riding the variety of tracks there trying to second guess which track will be used.
The first part of the track is usually the same due to space restrictions in that area, this round used a slight variation out of the start going into a few stutter bumps before onto the small tables of the first straight. Over the bridged sections, and bear right after the first rock garden into the big smooth berm. Squash the jump, then left onto the new on-off bridge. If you had the stones you could gap this, Nial Oxley posting on FaceTweet how it’s done by overshooting it on Saturday practice. After the bridge was a jump into a berm, then bus stopping into and off-camber bombhole before tipping away to the right into a steeper wooded area. All natural, rooty, flat turns and a total polar opposite to the man made first portion of track. Hit a little jump and over the line in well under 1 minute 30 for 90% of the field.
On the day sign in opened at 8, with racers hoping to take the win, start racing for the first time or just beat their mates for bragging rights until next time when the banter will no doubt begin again. Practice was supposed to start at 9am but got delayed due to the medics having trouble getting to the venue. The medics have the radios that are essential for communication on race day with marshals, organisers, timing & commissaries. Also you can’t have practice without full medical cover. Practice was pushed back to start at 10 and the rest of the day’s proceedings moved back an hour.
It was easy to get plenty of practice in as the push up (or ride up if you’re keen) can be done in 15 minutes or so. I only did 4 runs on Sunday practice and then went to the bombhole to heckle/spectate and get some refreshment before I went up for my first race run. The sky was getting grey but the wind appeared to be blowing any bad weather away for the time being.
Racing kicked off with a ‘Rippers’ category. 10 and 11 year olds riding on the same course as everyone else. Only two of these youngsters were racing, Owen Mapleson and Sam Cofano finishing just 1.37s apart Owen winning the race on his 2nd run after he knocked some 8s off his first to leapfrog Sam.
Owen Mapleson 1:35.90
Sam Cofano 1:37.27
Hardtails came next, 8 entered but only 7 raced due to an injury to one participant. The top six seperated by only 8 seconds. Sam Faux, after 2nd at round 1, bumped it up one spot to top the podium on his Nukeproof Snap in 1:23.47, not without a late Charge from Barry Felton (no pun intended, I’ve just realised how funny I am as he rides a Blender). Some Silver Fox finished third on a homemade bike that somehow hasn’t snapped yet.
Sam Faux – 1:23.47
Barry Felton 1:23.90
Ste Tomlinson 1.27.07
Women had 5 racers on the start line Dot McCarthy won here last year at NW champs but could only manage 3rd today. Gemma Taylor won last week at Moelfre but Cath Short did enough this weekend to take the win, setting a time of 1.37.81, over 6s ahead
Cath Short 1:37.81
Gemma Taylor 1:44.05
Dot McCarthy 1:49.61
Juveniles and Oscar Home sat in 3rd until he was knocked off the podium by Gavin Taylor. The top two were close together but 4.3s ahead of the field. Close as in brothers, the Monk brothers. 0.12 seconds apart, Oscar just in front of Jake.
Oscar Monk 1:26.53
Jake Monk 1:26.65
Gavin Taylor 1:30.84
Youth is where those quick learning naturally talented riders in Juvenile get reeled in by those who take a bit longer to learn their craft. I don’t recall Nial Oxley being quite as good as he is now as a Juvenile but he’s on top form at the moment, purely down to a new bike, it must be? 4th fastest time of the day is none too shabby. Sam Merckel and James Hurst filled the Podium out finishing 2nd and third respectively. Tom Gee (Cock Hill MTB) was a big mover on 2nd runs, going from 18th up to 9th, 6th fastest of all the slippery 2nd runs.
Nial Oxley 1:14.35
Sam Merckel 1:17.06
James Hurst 1:17.74
Juniors. Liam McDermott was fastest on the second runs on a very slick track, over 4 seconds faster than anyone in Juniors with a rain affected run. Callum Russell has beaten him twice this season at FJMTB already and looks set to win the series title. Christopher Walters got stuck in and fired himself onto his greatest result in his racing career.
Callum Russell 1:16.42
Liam McDermott 1:16.66
Christopher Walters 1:18.64
Masters – Nobody managed to go fatser on 2nd runs, Damien Smith Just missing the podium by half a second behind Steven Rayton. Kinngsley Mears took his Specialised SX to 2nd. Jan Czugalinski made a comeback this weekend after having 2 seasons away from racing. He decided, after bringing his trail and DH bikes that his Giant glory felt good. Good enough for top of the box and 5th fastest of the day.
Jan Czugalinski 1:14.39
Kingsley Mears 1:17.64
Steven Rayton 1:19.42
Veterans – The Rideout boys managed to bag 4th and 5th spots. Quite a family thing at Borderline Events it seems. Steven Smith for Grizedale MTB bagged himself 3rd, Martin Creaser took his 100mm travel Cannondale Rush into 2nd place and Mark Weightman kept the Big bikes on the top step.
Mark Weightman 1.16.16
Martin Creaser 1:19.41
Steven Smith 1:22.52
Seniors were also drastically affected by the weather, with James Lamb going fastest on run 2, only good enough for 12th and exactly the same time as his first run. Blake White on a new team TRG racing bobbed in for 3rd spot, Racers Guild/Knox armour Mitch Ingley piloted his Transition TR450 to 2nd and Steve Peat Syndicate rider Jack Read took fastest time of the day with a mightily impressive 1:12.29
Jack Read 1:12.29 (FTD)
Mitch Ingley 1:13.11
Blake White 1:15.70
Expert/Elite again this all went on first runs so no position shuffling on 2nd runs, try as they might. James Kidd Dropped in for 3rd for Devinci Haven / Know aboard his carbon Wilson, Alex Moss tried his luck again on his Nukeproof Mega but it wasn’t enough to beat speed trap king Jamie Scott, another one pf Richie Molloys team rock gardner riders. Elliot Machin ran as the only Elite this weekend, getting only .12 from fastest time of the day.
Jamie Scott 1:15.21
Alex Moss 1:16.02
James Kidd 1:17.07
Elliot Machin 1:12.41
Words – Ste Tomlinson (SWT Bikes)
Images – Chris Smith (www.facebook.com/twentytreesgallery)
For full results see
http://www.rootsandrain.com/race1720/2013-apr-28-northwest-mtb-series-2-farmer-johns-stockport/
For more info on the Northwest MTB Series visit www.borderline-events.co.uk / @borderlinemtb