Steve Jones's Race Reports

2011 Race Reports
Steve Jones – Team Bicycle Doctor

1. MIJ #1, Taff Buggy – 13 March

First race of the year at a local track I know well, a good way to start the season. The weekend went well, MIJ organise good races and they always have good weather – I hope I haven’t jinxed them now! A bit of rain Saturday night and Sunday morning meant the track was slick for race day but it was drying fast. By 1st race runs the track was dry but still getting quicker so it was all about the 2nd run. I went into the 2nd run in 3rd place, went 5 secs faster and moved up to 2nd. My first race for the Team and a podium position .

2. BDS #1, Nant Gwrtheyrn – 20 March

Camping in March in North Wales?! That doesn’t sound ideal but it was luckily it wasn’t too cold and my brothers Bivvy stood up with ease against the strong winds Saturday night. Unfortunately some peoples pop-ups didn’t fare so well! The dogs came with me and guarded our camp area, they were well behaved apart from Vissa ragging another dog on the track walk! There are great views at the venue and there were loads of great milfs to view as well this weekend! This track has got a quick uplift which was run well, so well that there were queues at the top of the track! The top section of the track is mint, technical sections and sections to get loose! Practice was good and I was feeling confident for race day. Seeding was not good, I had the worst run of the whole weekend. Got my head together and had a decent race run, a few sketchy moments but finished in 12th place. Wanted a top ten but was happy with that result. All in it was an awesome weekend, great to be racing Nationals again.

3. WDMBA #1, Rheola – 27 March

I have been looking forward to this series since it was announced. The WDMBA crew had already organised some successful uplift days and with their races being held at Dragon FC venues it had to be good. The track was dry from top to bottom, dusty dry so it was real fast. It’s the only time I have ever ridden Rheola in the dry and I started riding there about 12 years ago! An already fast track was made faster by some slight changes, the most notable being the removal of some roots in Starwars making it rapid! Unfortunately my mate, all round nice guy and amazing rider Tom Wheeler took a big crash in practice on the Saturday and was airlifted to hospital. Get well soon dude. Respect to the rider/medic that ripped down the track, he was on the ball and managed the situation well.
My first race run was slow, I didn’t get into a rhythm and although I took provisional 3rd I wasn’t happy with my time. My 2nd run was going better until I caught a rider that had been red flagged, he carried on for a bit until he realised I was behind then let me through. My time was good enough for 2nd but I was given the option of a re-run. It was a funny situation as people looked on to see what I decided – a mini drama at a DH race! It would have been nice to see what time I could have done but in the end I decided to keep my 2nd place run time. 1st place Dan had put in a great time and I was happy to be in one piece!
The WDMBA had delivered the goods for their first race, I hope the series grows as it deserves and I can’t wait for Mountain Ash .

4. BDS #2, Moelfre – 10 April

Fantastic weather and a fast track added up to make a great weekends racing. There were seriously strong winds at the top of the course Saturday making some parts dodgy, especially the fast huck over the bombhole. After some speculation it would be taken out the course was widened for a safer line to the right, this was loads slower though so with the huck still as the fastest racing line everyone hoped the wind would drop. Sunday came with probably the best weather of the year and no wind . My seeding was OK, just took a steady run and qualified 15th. I had felt chilled and sat down on all the pedally bits so knew I could go quicker. My race run was bad, I didn’t get it together and went slower than my seeding. Ended up in 17th and was left feeling I could have done better. That’s racing though and overall again the weekend was mint, looking forward to Glen Coe.
Some highlights of the weekend were the pits and trade area, looking down on to it from the hill it looked cool and gave the race the status it deserved considering the standard of riders racing. It was good to see Dan Atherton racing again, he was on amazing form for his first race back. There was a Bowler Wildcat running demos on the Saturday night up and down the uplift firetrack which was pretty cool, but the guys reckon my drifting in the Scooby in the campsite field was better!