Race Report: Rose Bike's British Downhill Series, Moelfre

By 11am the track had dried out and spectators were making their way up the sunny hillside. As seeding went on the track was becoming looser and ragged causing mechanicals. Flat tires and broken chains seemed to be the way to get down the hill...or not!



‘Got a good practice this morning. Felt quick on the bike, qualifying then with it drying out so much pushing on and slid out, went down and had a bit of a crash, rolled over the finish 8 second off first, pretty keen to push on for finals and hope I stay on this time.’ – Sam Dale

Race runs started off with DMR Juvenile riders, James Edmondson secured himself with yet another top spot with a time of 2:53.888, Morgan Tyler 5.03 off first place leaving Luke Mumford in third. Mazochi Youth were next down the hill. With three wins already in his back pocket, Madison Saracen Development Team rider Matt Walker takes the win with a time of 2:35.199. Pushing Joe Breedener into second by 5.100 seconds, in third Kade Edwards racing for Atherton Academy was a further 6.276 off Matt Walker. Steve Felstead Grand Veteran rider make it into first with a 3:11.37, followed by Mick Waud.



Team Chain Reaction manager Nigel Page got into his race gear for this weekend and took the top step in Dainese Veteran men with a 2:44.961 leaving 8.894 second between Leisure Lakes' Mark Weightman and Andy Marsh in third.



Atherton racing junior women had a good turn out with 9 riders in the mix. In first place with a 3:16.110 Eloner Melton took the lead from Aston Tutt by 2.566 second, with We Love Mountains rider Gemma Taylor in third. Rona Strivens in forth and Maya AtkInson in fifth. Hazel takes the win in the Flare clothing women category, cutting it close Becci Skelton takes on second with a tight 0.228 seconds away from the win, NX2 rider Lindsay Hanley taking third place.


In Spank Junoir men, still recovering from a shoulder injury, Orange Dirt World team’s Jacob Dickson still managed to complete his run in 2:38.571 leaving Steve Peat Syndicate's Frazer Mccubbing only 0.125 off the win. After crashing in seeding and qualifying 32nd James Purvise turned it round getting third place, not too far off with a 1.673second off Jacob. In Shimano senior men, Leuan Williams riding for Raw Sports won by 2.195 seconds, Tom Proffitt Took second, and Mathew Barrett from Barr3rr/ J-Tech/Knox/ Fiveten in third.



In NS Bikes Master men, riding for Pete Yates Cycles Dave List dropped three seconds from his seeding run and came over the finish line into first position with a time of 2:43.572, followed by Wideopen Mag's Kye Forte 0.950 seconds away.Team Skene rider Duncan Porter taking up third place. In X-Fusion Expert men it was another tight squeeze with Dan Farely taking a win, with Will Weston from NS Bikes/Hotlines/Manitou 0.765 seconds behind him in second place, followed by Perry Gardener in third.



World champ Manon Carpenter has had an up and down season so far but today she seemed to be in control after getting a time of 2:49.527, 8 seconds away Katy Kurd takes second and Gess greaves take third.Tahnée Seagrave turned up to watch but was was not racing this round.

'I've done so much racing recently the fatigue was starting to take its toll so I thought a weekend of rest before all the tough racing ahead rather than putting myself at risk was a sensible idea! -Tahnée Seagrave


Backing up his top result in quali, Madison Saracen’s Matt Simmonds took the win in elite men with a time of 2:30.02 giving him not only the win in elite men but the fastest time of the day and fastest through the speed trap. 0.672 of a second away Chain Reaction rider Joe smith missed the top spot this weekend but it was enough to put him into the overall leading ranking. Unior Tools Team’s Ruaridh Cuninngham was also unders a second off top spot putting him in third, leaving fourth for Mathew Stuttard from ride on. After not doing too well in seeding Sam Dale secured himself a fifth place in elite men with a time of 2:31.335.



All in all another great weekend in the stunning Welsh country side for the penultimate round of the 2015 BDS. Congratulations to all the winners from today's Rose Bikes BDS Round 5 and big shout out to the amazing BDS team keeping things smooth and friendly.

- Bonus Prizes -

Mudhugger Fastest Time of the Day: Matt Simmonds // Madison Saracen
Works Components Fastest Through the Speed Trap: Matt Simmonds // Madison Saracen
Ride Portugal Category Winner: Steve Felstead // Ghost / Global Bike

Words by Yasmeen Green. Photos by The Hills Are Alive and The Grip Media.

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