Brownbacks Racing - Race 2-July 24th

This was, as the title suggests, the second race of this years Brownbacks racing series. As per usual we got there signed on and prepared the bikes then went up to do a practice lap. Rob and I were first to sample the course which this time was quite different to previous rounds.

After a bit of time killing it was time to start and as per usual the racers went off first (including our very own Mike Aitchison and Steph Fountain), then came the turn of the weekend warriors. As per usual it was a scramble off the line up the killer first hill. I managed to keep fourth all the way to the first corner about 400m meters in where it kicked up again on a rocky climb-Luckily all this only had to be done once.
I followed the stream of riders when we came to a hairpin right only to hear what can only be described as a tyre exploding-Big Bears first casualty-Morgan. As assistance is forbidden I pushed on doing my best to keep going up the sharp kicks (Downhill roll-ins in reverse) and to make up time on the downs. Then came an extremely loose rocky uphill-here line choice is crucial, that and luck as if someone stalls in front of you, there is no hope, Luckily I escaped that threat this time only to be caught by it on the second lap. The trail then continued much as it had before with brutal sharp ups and fast downs. There was then a very steep rocky roll in onto a pump track then off onto the quarry base, along double track to a hairpin then another sharp kick back up, which I crested to the coarse bark of "Pedal you gay!"- George was out. There was then another rocky up to the finish line which signalled the start of another lap.

The second lap went off without any real problems other than the aforementioned traffic induced stall on the uphill.
The third lap went well too despite the first signs of fatigues starting to set in-a swift gel soon cured that although areas wide enough and safe enough to perform such a task were scarce.
The fourth lap saw a slight turn of events or rather a slight turn of bars as my loose stem turned so I had to hop off and tighten that. I lost a bit of time there with BBB's Richard Maguire passing me as well as a wheelbase rider-I had my man to chase down. I jostled with him for two laps on one of which I found a stranded Richard with two punctures on a rock garden.
Then later in the same lap I saw Morgan running with his bike-It later turned out he had broken his chain but continued to run 3 laps-big respect!

On my last lap I then managed to pull away from the wheelbase rider. That was until it happened. I came off the pump track onto the widest part of the course where I dug in to overtake another ride when they moved left and right on my wheel was two rocks stacked up and marked with tape to stop people hitting them-The tape didnt do much good this time- I went flying badly hurting my knee, hands and shoulder-the mountain rescue team hopped out of their land rover to see if I was alright as I staggered around for about a minute before getting back on the bike (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2Vuwq7E79M&feature=channel_video_title).
I slumped over the bars and slowly made my way to the finish where I laid the bike down and dropped to the floor inspecting my injuries.

After the quick pre race chat with the rest of the team it was back down to the car park for prize giving where Rob was presented with 2nd and David 3rd and best of all Step who got First in the Racing Diva catagory. I also bagged myself a spot prize of some nice hope/Endura socks for my crash (when a marshal told me I moved the top rock quite a way and that he couldn't lift it hence why it was where it was), Morgan also got a prize for his sterling effort of running three laps
All in all a good race with my highest placing finish yet of 6th and a great effort from everyone even if a few mechanicals did blight some of our riders.

Next race - August 21st-See You all there to do it all again

Joe