Round 5 of the National Mountain Bike Series was held on Sat
25TH August at Langdon Hills
Country Park near Basildon in Essex.
This was the finale of the National Series and TEF Richardsons Race Team
were well up in the Junior Race with Mike Thompson top of the field after 4
races. Each riders series position would
be decided on their 4 best results with points available for the first 40
riders in each category. With
the top 5 riders in the Junior race so close together it would all be down to
this final race to decide the series winner.
Despite its name Langdon Hills the 6km course was a flat
course and with fast flowing single track.
The team arrived for course practice on Friday and it was soon confirmed
that lap times were going to be fast and 15 minutes per lap an average speed of
15 mph.
The first race was off at 9.30am and Youth rider Frazer
Clacherty competing against a field of 30 national standard riders. Riders are gridded on the start according to
their series standings and Frazer was three rows back at 17th. From the off Frazer moved through the field
up the initial slope to the first singletrack.
Frazer rode three laps of the course moving from 13th place
after the first lap to 10th at the end of the final lap. A great race and his best race position for
the series.
The Midday race was going to be the largest field with amongst
others both Expert and Junior categories racing. Mike Thompson as Junior series leader was on
the front grid and got a good start entering the first corner as second
rider. Disaster for Iain Paton of CNP
Orbea who was 2nd placed rider in the series as he threw his chain
at the start and lost 7 places. Mike
finished the first lap in 3rd place and was riding alone whilst Tom
Evans of Ben Wyvis Bike Club and Alex Welburn of Cycle Shack/Forme Coaching were riding
together in 1st and 2nd place about 15 seconds
ahead. Thompson had to beat Tom Evans
who with a win in this race would take the series win. Iain Paton was also closing on Thompson as
they started lap 2. Thompson in lap 2
continued to lose time to the leaders and Iain Paton was also unable to catch Thompson
as he and crashed badly on the course launching himself over the handlebars but
was able to get on his bike to finish the race further down the field. After 4 laps Thompson was unable to catch
the leaders Welburn and Evans and it was all down to the finish and a hope that
Evans would take second place and leave Thompson to take the series win. However the sprint finish showed that Evans
had the mosre powerful finish and he took the race win and the series. Thompson made the podium with third place in
round 5 and overall second place in the National Series.
Meanwhile Bob Hewitt was battling in the expert category and
was aiming for a top 15 finish in the 34 rider field. He started strong with a 12 place position
but his tactic was to finish the 6 lap race strong and try to make places up as
the race went along the plan worked and on lap 5 he had moved into 8yth place
but the last lap was going to be a fast one and he was unable to hold his top
10 and dropped to finish 11th placed expert rider.
Final Results:
Mike Thompson - 3rd
place Junior
Frazer Clacherty – 10th place Youth
Bob Hewitt – 11th place Expert
