DMR Dirt Wars - Round 1, Holdshott

Jun 2, 2015 at 5:48
by DirtWarsUK  
In the lead up to Round 1 of the 2015 DMR Dirt Wars series, there was a risk that we would have to postpone the event as heavy rain was forecast to come down all day Sunday at the venue in Hampshire, and wet trails don’t make for a good comp. In true Dirt Wars style we had the jumps tarped leading up to the event and took the risk that all would be OK. The rain came down on Sunday morning so we decided to hold the comp off until the afternoon when the weather was forecast to brighten up, and boy did we make the right decision! Although the sun was nowhere to be seen the wind helped dry off what moister there was on the trails after removing the tarps. With the attendance of 17 riders in Open and 13 in Pro this was set to go off big time; Round 1 was good to go.

Report DMR Dirt Wars Round 1 - Holdshott Hampshire

Both Open and Pro riders took to the jumps and started smashing out all kinds of weird shapes in the air. After half an hour of all riders on course and the music pumping out of the Monster Energy Monster Truck, we were set to get the Open riders off on their qualifying runs.

Report DMR Dirt Wars Round 1 - Holdshott Hampshire

After a session of tailswhips, flips, tucks, and 360s, the 17 Open riders were cut down to 10 with Jack Ambler, Harry Campbell, Darren Estall, Tristan Bushnell, Jack Cardy, Dan Wagstaff, Ben Nolan, Marcus Gilhooley, Warren Towler and Kerry Pert going through to the final.

Report DMR Dirt Wars Round 1 - Holdshott Hampshire

Next up, the Pro riders had 15 mins of practice before going into their qualifying runs. All the riders were really pumped and ready to open their trick-bags to ensure they got their spot in the final. The 13 riders were being cut down to 8 so it was all to play for.

You could tell the guys who rode Holdshott often against the ones who didn't as the riders who rode there regularly knew the lines and seemed a lot more confident than the ones that didn’t. After the practice, riders lined up in order at the start tower and then proceeded to drop in for their qualification runs.

Report DMR Dirt Wars Round 1 - Holdshott Hampshire

After the riders had had 3 runs each, the scores were tallied and 4 of the top 8 had all come out on the same score. The 13 were cut to 8 and Matt Jones, Ryan Nangle, Tom Cardy, Ray Samson, Alfie Stevens, Tom Reynolds, Matt Scott and Freddy Pullman had all made the final.

After a little break, some course maintenance and the awesome barbecue that the Mandry Family always put on for us, we were ready to get the show on the road and get the finals under way.

Report DMR Dirt Wars Round 1 - Holdshott Hampshire

First up was the Open final and these boys really are setting the level of Open riding on maximum. Half of these guys could quite easily hold their own in the Pro Class. Kerry Pert looked super smooth pulling T-bogs over the hip then popping huge flips on the last but I don’t think they were quite as styled as Jack Cardys 3’s on the last jump as they were textbook and so clean.

Report DMR Dirt Wars Round 1 - Holdshott Hampshire

Dan Wagstaff was like a helicopter tailwhipping and getting full extensions on his tucks but the show was shut down by Jack Ambler, Harry Campbell and Darren Estall as their amplitude, style and tricks were well above the rest.

Report DMR Dirt Wars Round 1 - Holdshott Hampshire

Both Ben Nolan and Tristan Bushnell have both done well at Holdshott in the past but both have been off the bike for a while and didn't manage to bang out their trick-bags like normal.

OPEN CLASS RESULTS
1st // Jack Ambler
2nd // Harry Campbell
3rd // Darren Estall
4th // Tristan Bushnell
5th // Jack Cardy
6th // Dan Wagstaff
7th // Ben Nolan
8th // Marcus Gilhooley
9th // Warren Towler
10th // Kerry Pert

Report DMR Dirt Wars Round 1 - Holdshott Hampshire

Well done to all the Open riders as they have really stepped up their game this year and put on an awesome show.


Once the Open Class was done and dusted we went over to the Pro final to see the big guns unleash their trademark moves. After practice, the riders took to the start tower and first to drop in was Alfie Stevens and you could instantly see that the level of riding in the Pro class was going to be awesome.

Report DMR Dirt Wars Round 1 - Holdshott Hampshire

First place unarguably went to Holdshott local and trails crew member Ryan Nangle. His top scoring run started with a 360 drop into a tailwhip over the first hip. Dumped 360 table on the seond to flipwhip on the third, and finishing with a 360 downside tail whip.

Report DMR Dirt Wars Round 1 - Holdshott Hampshire

Second place went to another past Dirt Wars series champion, Ray Samson. Clinical execution, consistency and trick variety are some of Ray's strengths. His run started by table-ing the drop into a backflip on the first hip. Tuck-no-hander flip the second, big super seat-grab on the third and a flip-whip to finish.

Report DMR Dirt Wars Round 1 - Holdshott Hampshire

Matt Jones took 3rd with a score just behind Ray. Like Ryan, Matt 360'd the drop and whipped the hip. Matt's run continued with Dumped 360, to 3-whip and a tuck 360 to finish.

PRO CLASS RESULTS
1st // Ryan Nangle
2nd // Ray Samson
3rd // Matt Jones
4th // Tom Reynolds
5th // Matt Scott
6th // Freddy Pullman
7th // Alfie Stevens
8th // Tom Cardy
9th // Jordan English
10th // Scott Merrell
11th // Daniel Stewart
12th // Andy Crawford
13th // Joe Simkins

Report DMR Dirt Wars Round 1 - Holdshott Hampshire

Other highlights form the day included, Matt Scott's 450 truckdriver on the first hip and big nothing can on the last, Freddy Pulman's banger link-up of double-truck then flip barspin mid sets, big flip tables and fronties from Tom Ren, and the travelling Scotsman, Daniel Stuart with his signature style disco can on the first hip.

Report DMR Dirt Wars Round 1 - Holdshott Hampshire

A massive thank you to all who attended; riders, spectators and the Dirt Wars Crew, DMR Bikes, S4P Crew and Monster Energy for helping out on the day. Last but not least, a massive thank you to all the series sponsors.

Photography by: Katrina Bartlett, Chris Greenwood, and Tom Bowell.

Round 2 will be held at PORC, Kent on the 21 June 2015. For further information visit our website. See you at PORC!


MENTIONS: @DirtWarsUK / @dmrbikes


Author Info:
DirtWarsUK avatar

Member since Aug 13, 2012
61 articles

10 Comments
  • 11 1
 Good work Nangle! Beating the best in the UK without even throwing a 7.... or having a frame sponsor. Someone hook this kid up for God's sake.
  • 6 0
 aha thanks dude!
  • 5 1
 Nangle for the win! And a sponsor Wink
  • 2 0
 Love all rnangle edits from holdshott, lot of work put in to those trails and the atmosphere there looks top notch
  • 2 0
 Awesome event to kick off the series! Great to see so many riders killing it on the trails and congrats Mr Nangle on taking the win !! If you want to see more pictures from the event, check out my album on my profile.
  • 3 0
 Great to see the UK dirt jump scene is strong and well represented.
  • 3 0
 *shock* An unsponsored rider beat a Red Bull rider?
  • 4 0
 A Red Bull Rider standing awkwardly with a crate of Monster at his feet!!
  • 2 0
 Sick event guys! See you at the next one.
  • 1 0
 Great day! Hope the rest of the events are as good Holtshott amazes me so much! Props to the locals!







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