Moore Large O'Neal Race Team: Pearce Cycles Round 2

7th/8th May saw Round 2 of the Pearce Series take place at the popular Bringewood track just outside Ludlow. The track has been around for some time now but a new top section had been cut which included a “road gap” jump, some slick “S” bends, a few jumps and drops before re-joining the original track before the fire road. The middle motorway section was jump after jump before hitting the speed trap, then entering the first woods. The second woods had another new line cut in before re-joining to the final finish jump and a sweeping left hand pedal over the line.

The 6 out of the 7 team riders were there with Expert Rider Callum Brookes representing the team over at Round1 of the European IXS cup at Kranjska Gora in Solvenia.


Friday saw the team pits area set up in the sunshine and the first chance the team had of a track walk. The track was looking dry and fast after the recent good weather, with the bottom section particularly sandy and no obvious line yet. Saturday morning came and practise started. The weather was overcast, with a little dampness in the air and proving to be colder than anyone planned, far from the sunny warm conditions of round 1! It didn’t stop anyone from enjoying the riding though and everyone got into the swing of things trying multiple lines choices and feeding off each other.

After a full day of riding, everyone was ready for the much-anticipated team “Brazilian BBQ” hosted by the Vieira’s. Not only is team mechanic Dirlon a top team mechanic, but also amazing with BBQ! Incredible restaurant standard Uruguayan steak was handed out to the team on freshly baked bread, the team were fuelled up for race day! No wonder they laughed at the typical British burnt sausage and plastic cheese on a burger!



Team woke up Sunday and the sun was shining, it was like it was back to Kinsham weather. The team went up to do their final practise runs before racing got under way.

Sion Margrave was first up in the youth category. Sion was feeling confident going into round 2 after a recent 2nd place at the bull track race so he was hunting another podium. He came down the hill on a reasonable clean run, however he was disappointed with his 6th place finish. Looking back at the splits, the top section was obvious where he was losing it as clocking 23/24th fastest speed through the speed track. The rest of the sector wasn’t too bad sitting him in 9th however his bottom section he made ground placing him back up to 6th. So he knew where to improve come race run 2. After having a pep talk he set about putting the wrongs of race run 1 to right. A faster top section had him almost 2 seconds faster on his first run. Going into the bottom section he was flying and the time reflected that. Having the 4th fastest bottom section, he managed to smash 3 seconds off his first run and put him back to a respectable 5th place, with the national champion, Harry Barrett only one place up in 4th 3 seconds behind. Plenty to work on, but results to chase the top BDS guys firmly in place!

Ellie Dewdney went next in the combined ladies class. With 19 registered but only 15 making the start line it was still one of the biggest ladies fields to date. Ellie was 3rd to last down the hill. Confidence was high and feeling fast, smooth and carrying speed at every opportunity, and making it pay crossing the line, into the lead by 4.5 seconds. Current leader Abbie Sloan was last to come down the hill, however even with a clean run from her she could only cross the line for 2nd place, 4.3 seconds back. Second runs came around and Ellie was last down the hill.


She set about race run 2 composed and letting it all go, feeling faster again in the top section, just as she was about to hit the motorway section a red flag appeared due to Abbie crashing hard in front going for it to make the time back. Race run aborted she carried on down the hill ready to get a re-run. However once got over the line at the bottom 3rd place Franki Evans had pulled back 3 seconds but was still in second 1.4 seconds back so with Fort William this weekend decided not to do a re-run, the race was won. Series ranking points would take a hit, but not completing the whole series anyway due to other race/riding commitments seemed not worth the risk. This was Ellie’s best result to date taking the win with a competitive field and most of her fellow BDS racers. Stoke levels were high!

Riley Jenner was up shortly after, and with two consistent runs at round 1 was sitting in 3rd overall in the series rankings putting him 3rd to last down the hill. You could tell he practised with the Vieria’s on practise days as he is closing the gap to them and getting faster and faster every race. A smooth clean run saw his first run safely down and into 6th place. Competing against factory junior riders racing the world cups is seen as a big ask but it’s one he’s rising too. His second run he went down faster still and took just under a second off his time, however the final few seconds are always the hardest to find. Riley maintained his 6th place and was just 11 seconds of Saracen Madison’s Matt Walker winning time, which was 0.6 seconds the Elite winners time.


Mitch Ingley was first up for the team in the elite class. With Brendan Fairclough and Adam Brayton to name a few in attendance the prospect of a podium was going to be tough for all of our elite riders. Mitch came down with a time of 2.08 which was enough for 12th place.

Roger Vieria was up next, fresh from one of his best world cup results to date with a 40th place at Round 1 in Lourdes, confidence levels for a upset were high. Taking some different high lines including “wall riding” jumps off the bank on the motorway section and pulling up for a high line into the final corner to get the best run in over the final two drops and avoiding the ever growing hole into the berm. Race run 1 didn’t go according to plan with a crash on the top section, his run was pretty much over. However his fast bottom split showed he was on the pace and a clean run 2 could provide a different story. Even with a crash he was still only 10 seconds off Fairclough’s leading time.

Brother Douglas was up next, having beaten him at Round 1 and set a fast qualification time at Lourdes, the friendly rivalry was back! With a clean top section, Douglas was up at the top split, however a slower bottom section would prove costly in the overall times. As the remaining riders came down he was sat back in 7th place, however his top split being 4th quickest. He knew where he had to improve.


Run 2 came for the elite boys and Roger was up first after his crash. Sticking to his same lines, minus the crash, he came flying into the finish area and into 4th place, taking 6 seconds off his time, but still 3 seconds back of the podium to Taylor Vernon’s time. We all were waiting in anticipation as the rest of the class came down to see how the others faired. His time was enough to secure 6th.


Mitch was next up and hoping to improve his time and climb the leader board, his second run was faster but only by 0.5 seconds which showed consistent riding and enough to maintain his 12th place finish. Even back in 12th place, he was still only 8 seconds off the fastest time of the day. Some real close riding from the top guys. Douglas finished off the team’s elite results but didn’t have enough in him to beat his brother this time so settled for 7th still.

Callum Brookes had also done the team proud at the IXS cup, finishing 68th out of 142.

The Vieiras, Riley and Ellie have just got back from Round 2 of the British Downhill Series at Fort William, race report to follow.

Credits to Dave Price photography.
Film by Millward Media.