44 Racing Rockstar - Redfest

A weekend of racing awaited 44Racing Rockstar as they moved away from battle at the last round of the World and Euro 4X series. With a mix of fun Pump track, Dual Slalom and 4X racing throughout the weekend, Redfest looked to be a great, light hearted weekend allowing the team some practise before the final round of the National series here at Redhill in September.


Having made major alterations to the park the crew at Redhill set up their festival weekend to raise the funds to buy a start gate of their own and hopefully run their own regional series. A pump race and Dual slalom would take place on the first day followed by a full days 4X racing the day after. Points from all three events would be added up to find and crown ‘King of the Hill’.


PUMP TRACK
Unlike conventional pump races the track at Redhill starts at the top of the hill flowing down to the bottom. Mixing in two of the many pump tracks at Redhill, this year’s event gave a mix of features looking to suit all riders, ranging from pump rollers to flowing berms or off camber grass corners, with even a few hucks thrown in to test a rider’s nerve. The race was on, each rider got two timed runs to set their best time with the strict rule of no pedalling.


Up first for the team was Connor ‘Chudson’ Hudson. Having struggled with arm pump in his first run, Connor aimed to take his Last Rufus into a better time and looked hopeful to move up the overall ranking. Getting a great start through the rollers at the top of the track and keeping this speed throughout the run, Chudson moved himself into thirty-forth with a good time of 29.5 seconds. With all categories mixed in together this was a great result with such a tough field. Also joining Connor from the younger age group was Bardolph Kerr. With a little bit of BMX racing in his background Kerr looked super fast through the pump sections of the track, looking promising to be well up the order. Bard came in just behind Hudson, but quickly moved on to practise for the slalom and wasn’t able to catch a definite finishing time or place.


Making his debut for the team at Redfest was new signing Joe Mallinson. Having caught Hatch’s attention with some impressive results, great style and even greater attitude at the first three rounds of the Nationals, Joe was snapped up and will be racing for the team for the rest of the season. Lining up in fresh new Fox 360 gear from Freestylextreme.com, Joe put in a great first time. Being one of the only riders to hit the big double half way down, Mallinson improved on his first run with a 27.3 moving him into seventeenth.


Training with his team mates throughout practise, Jack Hudson hoped for a good result at the first event of the weekend. Making a few mistakes in his first run Jack hoped to better his time of 27.7 in his following run. Sadly, out of the start, Jack slipped both of his pedals. With his cranks spinning in the process Hudson’s second run time was disqualified. Although he did improve to a 27.1 this was not able to count forcing the Chicksands local to settle for nineteenth.


Coming back from the World Cup at Fort William, Mop Head looked likely to continue his good form today. Keeping smooth the whole way down the loose and dusty course Mop Head was able to secure a sixth place finish with his first run time. Mop was unable to better his great first run and instead sat back to enjoy the Rockstar and support his team mates whilst handling the mic and giving some great commentating.


DUAL SLALOM
That evening riders moved along the grassy slope at Redhill for the Dual Slalom contest. Taking MTB back to its roots the track featured an old school layout. With flat corners running down the grass the event was to kick up some excitement as dampness drew in with the dark.


With great success in the pump track Mop Head was automatically moved into the quarter finals. With all the other team riders having to battle it out from the start he was able to continue commentating and making his team mates known.


Up first was Bardolph Kerr. Being drawn with a tough opponent Bard held him close down the tight course but was unable to take the win and went out in the round of sixty-four. Also with super hard competition was Connor Hudson. Crashing on the last corner Chudson also went out in round one with his team mate.


Jack and Joe were the only two riders in round two having won both their first heats. Hudson got off the second round for the team taking the win. Mallinson was drawn up against super fast local boy Tom D-P. With only a fraction of a second separating the pair Joe sadly wasn’t able to make it through to the following round.


Moving through round three, Jack was drawn up against Mop Head in the quarter final. With the pair doing a run on each lane it was still under a second separating them both after the two races. Continuing his run of success Jack moved on to face local boy Lewis Richards in the semi final. Crashing out on turn two Hudson moved into the B final placing fourth overall.



FOUR CROSS
Having had very little sleep in the boiling heat the team returned to Redhill the following day. Getting in as much practise before the weather got even hotter all the 44Racing Rockstar riders looked to be enjoying the new track and setting the pace for their competition to match.


With Mop Head leaving for an important family event the team were joined today by AJ Boardman. Usually racing in Pro Elite, this weekend the top category was mixed in with the seniors putting AJ as one of the favourites. Getting fantastic results in the motos taking wins in all three, AJ cruised through into the main final. Getting tangled up in turn two Boardman was still able to remount and hold off any attacks to take second.


Still tired after last night’s racing Jack Hudson seemed to be struggling with the windy conditions on the 4x track. Managing to take two seconds and a third in the motos, Jack was given a run off to try and make the finals. Keeping close with local legend Luke Limbrick, Jack was only able to finish second. Not moving through any further Hudson placed ninth.


With great 4x results already this season Bardolph Kerr was expected to continue this great form at the smaller event. Winning all three motos by a comfortable margin Bard went straight into the youth A final. Getting pushed out in turn one Bard was not able to regain his lead but could still finish a great second.


Youth racer Connor Hudson got some good moto results with two thirds and a second. Moving through into the small final Chudson got a great snap holding second in turn one. Trying to make a move for the win Hudson wasn’t able to and finished second. Sixth place overall making his first final in his first season in youth.


It was only the day before the event that Joe Mallinson got his Halo 4XR wheels moving on the Last frame. Debuting the bike at this race, Mallinson made some great moves in the motos with a second and two thirds. With few competitors in Junior Joe moved straight into the main final. Putting in a fantastic inside move in turn one Joe took the lead and dropped off the rest of the competition. With the small amount of riders in his category the days racing acted ‘grand prix style’ with all races being treated as a moto to count towards a final position and, because of this, Joe was moved into second place. A brilliant result having only had his bike a day.


Jake Ward had to chosen to miss this event to save himself for National Champs in a couple of weeks. Team Manager Christian Hatcher was at the event supporting the team with a full pit set up but will be out for the rest of the 4x season with a serious knee injury.


See you at Harthill for the Nationals Champs…
44Racing
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