British Downhill Series 2016, Round Two, Fort William - Race Report

Fort William, the second round of the Shimano BDS. A full week of sunshine meant the track was dusty and loose, a rare sight in Scotland and a nice change for last year's conditions. Elite teams and their riders soon made the BDS feel like a mini world cup. Mechanics fixing and preparing riders bikes for morning practice, the buzz of turbo trainers of riders warming up. Racers were on the track nice and early for morning practice dialling their lines.


Loic Bruni getting sideways in morning practice.

Before seeding took place all the racers gathered by the finish line to have a chainsaw memorial for Stevie Smith. A hero that will be missed but not forgotten.


DMR juvenile boys were first down the track. Young ripper, Harry Barrett was the leader of his category by over a second. Cutting it close in second, Luke Mumford came down with a time of 5.43. Not too far behind him, James Elliot followed in third. In Super Alloy Springs Youth boys, Alec Geyer took third after Atherton Academy Racing team rider, Kade Edwards put five seconds between them. However, this wasn't to be enough as Henry crossed the line in first with two seconds to spare.


In Dainese Veteran men, Chris Whitfield took the top spot with Madison Saracen Factory Team manager, Will Longden following close behind in second. Despite his black eye, Mark Weightman got himself a third place.


Newest member of the Atherton academy racing team, Millie Johnset was taking no prisoners on her race run, despite crashing she still managed a time of 6.40.087 and a sketchy overtake. Sixteen seconds away, Cairn Bell took second. Aston Tutt followed in third with Rosy Monaghan and Maya Atkinson close behind in fourth and fifth.

Out of air, Finn Iles making the most out of his seeding run.


With a first place in Cairns World Cup a few weeks back junior rider, Matt Walker had a smashing time of 4.54.767 giving him the top step on the podium. Finn Iles didn't have the best seeding run after getting a puncture however he turned it around on his run taking second, two seconds away from Matt Walker. Wideopenmag rider, Charlie Hatton took third. Kaos Seagrave took up fourth with a time of 5:01 leaving Dirt/orange rider, James Purvis in fifth.


In PRO Tharsis Senior men, times were tight with Kieran Davis in first with a time of 5:17. Under a second off the win, Tom Coles came second and close behind him Simon Cheung took third. In NS Bikes Master men, Adam Smith took the win with a time of 5:19.392. Seven seconds away, Jason Shill took second followed by Paul Birtle in third. In x-fusion expert men there was less than a second between the top three riders. Kye Forte took the win, Marc Cunningham came second 0.024 of a second off Kye Forte's time of 5:05.165. A second off Marc's, Daniel Tay took third


Is Rachel Atherton unbeatable? Setting a first place time of 5:12.782 left Manon Carpenter a whopping seven seconds off first place! With Fort William World Cup around the corner will Manon find those seven seconds? FMD racing's, Tahnee Seagrave wasn't too far off Manon with a time of 5.22.111, giving her third place on the Schwalbe elite Women's podium.


"I had a decent race run, the track was really rough and loose by the end of the weekend so I was maybe careful not to overcook it. That said I still had a few sketchy moments where the track was getting blown out! Rach has definitely left us searching for time again, three weeks until the World Cup so we'll see what Fort William has for us then." - Manon Carpenter



After putting a solid time of 4.40.888, Loic Bruni sat in the hot seat for most of the elite race. Adam Brayton came down in fifth, a second off Remi Thirion's time of 4.41. With two riders to come down and Loic Bruni still in the hot seat, the anticipation and excitement from the crowd started to build. Gee Atherton came flying down the track two seconds faster than Loic Bruni however, his victory was to be short-lived when Danny Hart crossed the finish with a time of 4:36.826, a second faster than Gee.

The weekend's fastest riders.

Rachel Atherton Junior Women

1. Mille Johnset 6:40.087
2. Cairn Bell 6:56.318 16.231s
3. Aston Tutt 7:05.013 24.926s
4. Rosy Monaghan 7:08.631 28.544s
5. Maya Atkinson 7:13.689 33.602s

Spank Junior Men

1. Matthew Walker 4:54.767
2. Finn Iles 4:57.474 2.707s
3. Charlie Hatton 4:59.732 4.965s
4. Kaos Seagrave 5:01.138 6.371s
5. James Purvis 5:02.013 7.246s

Schwalbe Tyres Elite Women

1. Rachel Atherton 5:12.728
2. Manon Carpenter 5:20.189 7.461s
3. Tahnée Seagrave 5:22.111 9.383s
4. Katy Curd 5:57.157 44.429s
5. Ellie Maxfield 6:15.982 1:03.254

Schwalbe Tyres Elite Men

1. Danny Hart 4:36.826
2. Gee Atherton 4:38.623 1.797s
3. Loic Bruni 4:40.888 4.062s
4. Remi Thiron 4.41.911 5.085s
5. Adam Brayton 4:42.454 5.628s

Full results.

Photos: Yasmeen Green
Gary Williamson

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MENTIONS: @BritishDownhillseries / @TheHillsAreAlive / @shimano

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