Pearce Cycles 2013 – Round 4 Hopton

The fourth and final round at Hopton wrapped up the Pearce Cycles series for 2013.

With the forecast looking like heavy to biblical rain over the weekend, I started my journey early Saturday morning with waterproofs, tear offs, a selection of cut / full spikes and a large coffee!

On arrival, I was happy to see that the rain hadn’t started yet and made the most of the lack of precipitation with a quick track walk.

From the start, you headed through the same top section as previously used with a selection of greasy but flowing left right turns with a few small jumps to keep you pedalling and your speed up, over the double tree drop and out into the first open section. This again flowed nicely with a few bermed turns and the classic stump section (which provides a challenge and new line choices every race, even though it has been a staple part of this track for years!) over a large drop and back under the trees for a flattish but fast straight where hopping roots and maintaing speed would be the aim of the game. At the end of this section was the speed trap and first split.

Pearce Cycles 2013 – Round 4 Hopton – Headcam from Ride.io on Vimeo.

Over the fire road halfway down and again into another open section of linking turns a few inside/outside line options here, then over a small road gap jump into the technical part of the track. Tight corners and roots on this, the steepest part of the track.

Then into a new section. The Pearce team obviously worked hard to build a fast section into a couple of largish jumps, one long and low set up jump into a steeper double that sorted the men from the boys – commitment was needed a good 3 corners back if you were going to hit these!

Then down a steep bank to a boggy compression and into another new section of fresh, ready to rut soil round a tight left right into the field and across the finish. A deceivingly long track, but due to its fast flowing nature, times sub 3 minutes were possible.

I was sceptical as to how these new jumps and sections would hold up if the forecast weather showed, but only time would tell.

Onto practice and the rain didn’t show (the sun even made a brief appearance), leaving a greasy fast track drying up, people switching from cut spikes to dry tyres as the day went on, and more and more riders braving the jumps leading to some heavy cases and wild moments. The Pearce uplift operated faultlessly, keeping queues to a minimum and smiles on faces, with riders getting into double figures run wise.

Walking the track at the end of the day, the new section and jumps had held up well but unlike some other event organisers, the Pearce team were out there maintaining the track and keeping everything running sweet.

I woke on Sunday to the sound of rain. But it was only a shower and after a few practice runs the track hadn’t changed from the day before and tyre choice remained a mixture of wet and dry options. With heavy rain forecast for between 1 and 2pm, most categories got their first runs on an unchanged track, but halfway through the expert catergory the fine drizzle turned to heavy rain and the open sections of the track turned from mildly greasy to a complete ice rink. As the rain continued, each rider coming down the hill was more filthy than the last.

Most changed tyres for their second run if they hadn’t already gone, as a progressively wetter track was never going to be a faster track – a few exceptions being riders who crashed in their first runs or do or die heroes trying to create their own Sam Hill Champery moment.

Racing was tight and as this round would also decide the overall series positions, every split second counted.

Juvenile men and Joe Parfitt (Swift Racing Team) narrowly edging out Matthew Walker (rockguardz.com) for the win, with Joseff Breeden rounding off the podium.

Youth men and Alistair Warrell (Aston Hill Team/Saracen) took a convincing 8 second win over the rest of the field, with Charlie Hatton (FlyUp Downhill) second and Robin Spence (J-Tech/ plushhillcycles.co.uk /Spence Racing) in third.

Junior men had Shaun Richards in first with Lewis Boyce (Team Skene) second and Bill Farrington (AdventureX/Schwalbe) third.

Senior mens winner was Darren Evans (astonhill.com), Jack Chapman (Devinci/Haven) second and Mark Prior (TF Tuned) third.

Master men Craig Taylor (Devinci/Haven Distribution) taking the win, Neil White (Fanatik Bike Co.) second and Stephen Simms third.

Veteran men Richard Brazier first, John Cobb second, Adrian Bradley (1868 Racing/Antur Stiniog) third.

Senior women Rebecca Baraona (Team NCA) taking the win over Suzanne Lacey (Aston Hill MTB Club) and Louise Williams (Bike It) third.

Veteran women was won by Janine Wolstenholme (Avit Dirt / Rockeline DH).

Expert men Jamie Maller taking the win over Tom Deacon and Reece Langhorn (Team Skene) in third.

Elite men Emyr Davies with the fastest time of the day and the only sub 2 minute 40 time of the weekend in first, Ashley Maller (noahsark.co.uk) in second and Owain James (1868 Racing /J-Tech) in third.

Another well organised race series from Dave, Lindsey and the rest of the Pearce Cycles crew. Thanks for the hard work that goes into organising an efficient and fun series with national level tracks that provides some of the best racing in the country, attracting seasoned world cup riders and first time racers alike.

With rumours of more rounds in 2014, I’m already looking forward to next year’s series!

This year’s overall series winners are:

Elite men – Harry Molloy (Madison Saracen)

Elite women – Jess Stone

Juvenile men – Matt Walker (rockguardz.com)

Youth men – Alistair Warrell (Aston Hill Team /Saracen)

Veteran men – Richard Brazier

Veteran women – Janine Wolstenholme (Avit Dirt / Rockline DH)

Master women – Lucy Newman (Fix Distribution)

Junior women – Charlotte Hughes

Senior women – Rebecca Baraona (Team NCA)

Master men – David List (pyatescycles.co.uk)

Junior men – Shaun Richards

Senior men – Darren Evans (Aston Hill)

Expert men – James Hughes (1868 Racing / Antur Stiniog)

Words – Dave Valler (Bikeactive.com)
Images – Sarah (www.rootsandrain.com/photos/sarah-barrett/)

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