661 Mini Downhill Forest of Dean

661 Mini Downhill, Forest of Dean. January 2012.
Race Director Chris Roberts pulled out all the stops to put on another winter mini downhill race here in the U.K.
Winter racing at this time of year puts hairs on your chest, 06:00 alarm clocks, scraping ice from outside and inside the van windscreen, driving along frosty and icy country roads, all in the dark i'm afraid. Then once trackside mother nature is still punching low blows at you as your fingers and toes never will thaw out until the drive home.


The track laid out was the "Corkscrew" which is a game of two halves. The first 30seconds are nice and flowing with several worn in berms strategically placed, interrupted by a long table top that saw many try and fail to emulate one certain World Champion. Then the chaos and the crowds once you crossed the fire road. Narrow single track, elbows in and lean back as 1.2million exposed roots kicked and bucked your trusty ride and you from pillar to post (tree) before the track opened up and threw you into the last switchback corners. Nearly home, scratch your head trying to work out out which line was best out of the three options before you darted across the line. Veterans rider Pete Little is still up there now, deciding just that after smashing his brains out first run and holding up proceedings and causing a re-run run for a handful of riders.


Over 300 riders booked up in advance to make this another sell out event. Aimed at entry level riders, race costs are capped at £25.00 for a days riding and racing. Practice started at 09:00 sharp with riders having to make their own way to the start line a short 10minute walk to the top. How many practice runs before 10:45 could be had? Well I dropped seven runs down. Then add two race runs, who could complain..

Results If you came down sub 1minute then you were flying!

Pro-Am Burton took a convincing win here under the guidance of manager Adam Powell, fitness guru to the stars. Everyone went slower second run out of the top three. As did Ben Deakin who snapped clean his SRAM XO crankset leaving him with a leg wound worse than his battle scars from his tour of duty in Taliban country.
Burton Oliver 57.19
Ferris Duncan 58.74
Bartleman Carl 59.04

Ladies Stone was already a second and a half up first run so no pressure second run which she made count to stamp her authority on the womens category. Kurd back from a horrific arm injury showed she will be a force to be reckoned with in 2012.
Stone Jess - Trek Gravity Girls 1:04:97
Curd Katy - Rose Bikes 1:05.78
Bartleman Lianne 1:09.49

Veterans Little the local favourite crashed his brains out first run, leaving the front door wide open for the little man from Birmingham to take the win.
Paton Si - Descent-Gear.com/Pinkbike 1:03.08
Little Peter 1:03.93
Sanders Ian - North Nibley Racing 1:04.13

Masters ex Elite DH racer and dance floor mover Bishop is now an enduro expert (17th at Mega in 2011 A final) wasn't slacking on his Cannondale trail bike. Haines on a new sponsor for 2012 just wasn't fast enough for "Damage" onboard his Brooklyn who was "Wideopen" in this race.
Davage Jim - Brooklyn Machine Works 58.10
Haines Dan - Foes Racing 58.56
Bishop Aidan - RRP/Cannondale/Mavic 1:00.10

Seniors Prior was safe as houses after run one, good job as he messed up come run two good and proper. Ward and then Robinson both lost a second come run two so their first runs counted. All three sub one minute, should be in Pro-Am!
Prior Mark 57.97
Ward Jake - Braintree BMX Racing Club 58.68
Robinson Max - Koo Bikes/Swansea Uni 59.10

Juniors a consistent Owens wrapped up third nicely whilst Whitby and O'brien both went sub one minute first run, second runs for both riders went outside that magical one minute barrier.
O’brien Michael - Speedsport Saracen 59.63
Whitby James - SLAM69.co.uk 59.82
Owens Thomas - Team Skene / C.T.S. 1:00.76

Youth second run curses struck again with every rider in the top three going slower meaning their standings after run one stayed static.
Willicombe Owen - Kustom Bikes Downhill 1:01.00
Richards Shaun - Lodge Cyles 1:02.80
Johnson Leigh - Lodge Cycles 1:04.86

Juveniles the top three were smoking fast, all sun 70 seconds was impressive with a stackd field of 28 riders means the future of DH in the U.K is bright.
Hatton Charlie 1:04.54
Tennyson Jack - Peddlers-cycls.co.uk 1:04.93
Walton Archie 1:07.41

Rippers now that is what you want your age category called isn't it and they did exactly that, rip it up! 10-12 year olds and thirteen of them in total and made it down safe and sound and quicker than you would have thought. Keep an eye on these three amigos, all in with a shout of a rainbow jersey by 2022. Non more so than Edwards who those of you as old as me will know his Dad, Tom Edwards who used to race Pro back in the golden days of DH alongside Rob Warner when he used to wear lycra.
Edwards Kade - Torico 1:09.24
Thomas Robert - Gravity Project 1:16.04
Emmett Jamie - Pearce Cycles RT 1:20.61










Next 661 event is 26th February, see you there.

Stay Unclipped.

Si Paton..

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