NZ DH Nationals Round 2, Napier - Practice
The second round of the NZ DH Nationals is here and it's being held in Napier, on the East Coast. 2012 was the last year that Napier held a round of the National cup, so for this year it's a different track that riders will be racing on. With the weather being hot and dry of late, the track has dried up nicely after prior rains, meaning that runs should be fast and times should be tight.
![Dew and cooler temperatures greeted the first riders as they arrived.]()
![Registration was the first stop of the day collecting numbers and timing chips.]()
![The pits were all go as bikes were set up and equipment was prepped.]()
![6 vans were the shuttle service for the event and kept everyone rolling all day long.]()
![NZ DH Nationals Round 2 Napier - Practice]()
![Jack Fisher flattening out on the first feature of the course.]()
![Hidden in the forest was fresh tacky dirt not yet touched by the heat.]()
![The thick forest meant that light levels changed dramatically between sections and the harsh dappled light made spotting obstacles in the track even more difficult.]()
![The shuttle lines were kept fairly short throughout the day unless a crash temporary closed the course.]()
![Jason Gurr charging.]()
![Keeping out of the heat was essential between runs.]()
![NZ DH Nationals Round 2 Napier - Practice]()
![3Sixty Racing NZ had a sweet setup going on in the pits with their bikes displayed when not in use.]()
![With a lack of rock on this track roots became one of the main technical issues facing riders.]()
![A new way to keep your weight low on the bike.]()
![Charlie Makea riding on water. Unfortunately a mangled disk rotor cut his day short.]()
![The step-down onto the straightaway was a tricky one and took multiple riders out. Leonard Sonntag dominating it.]()
![Wyn going supersonic.]()
![NZ DH Nationals Round 2 Napier - Practice]()
![Brook dropping into the steepest section of the track.]()
![Keegan Wright keeping low on the bike through the off-camber.]()
![The Medics had their hands full with multiple crashes meaning multiple quad trips.]()
![NZ DH Nationals Round 2 Napier - Practice]()
![Coming straight over a drop into an off-camber turn meant that picking your line correctly was essential. Some managed it easily some did not.]()
![NZ DH Nationals Round 2 Napier - Practice]()
![Dropping into the last section.]()
![Unfortunately some riders did end up in here today with the hard ground being unforgiving upon impact.]()
![Brook leading Wyn out of the last forest section.]()
![Blenki floating through the doubles. After winning the previous round he ll be looking at collecting this one as well.]()
![NZ DH Nationals Round 2 Napier - Practice]()
![Everyone was showing plenty of style over the last feature. Bryn Dickerson with a Suicide No-Hander.]()
![Blenki getting sideways at the end.]()
![NZ DH Nationals Round 2 Napier - Practice]()
![Brook coming in to land. With this being his home track he has a good chance to take the win tomorrow.]()
![With it being forecast to be dry tomorrow times should be tight as riders go for maximum points. Bring on race day.]()
MENTIONS: @DemoB
Dew and cooler temperatures greeted the first riders as they arrived.
Registration was the first stop of the day, collecting numbers and timing chips.
The pits were all go as bikes were set up and equipment was prepped.
6 vans were the shuttle service for the event, and kept everyone rolling all day long.
Jack Fisher flattening out on the first feature of the course.
Hidden in the forest was fresh tacky dirt, not yet touched by the heat.
The thick forest meant that light levels changed dramatically between sections, and the harsh dappled light made spotting obstacles in the track even more difficult.
The shuttle lines were kept fairly short throughout the day, unless a crash temporary closed the course.
Jason Gurr charging.
Keeping out of the heat was essential between runs.
3Sixty Racing NZ had a sweet setup going on in the pits, with their bikes displayed when not in use.
With a lack of rock on this track, roots became one of the main technical issues facing riders.
A new way to keep your weight low on the bike.
Charlie Makea riding on water. Unfortunately a mangled disk rotor cut his day short.
The step-down onto the straightaway was a tricky one and took multiple riders out. Leonard Sonntag dominating it.
Wyn going supersonic.
Brook dropping into the steepest section of the track.
Keegan Wright keeping low on the bike through the off-camber.
The Medics had their hands full, with multiple crashes meaning multiple quad trips.
Coming straight over a drop into an off-camber turn meant that picking your line correctly was essential. Some managed it easily, some did not.
Dropping into the last section.
Unfortunately some riders did end up in here today, with the hard ground being unforgiving upon impact.
Brook leading Wyn out of the last forest section.
Blenki floating through the doubles. After winning the previous round, he'll be looking at collecting this one as well.
Everyone was showing plenty of style over the last feature. Bryn Dickerson with a Suicide No-Hander.
Blenki getting sideways at the end.
Brook coming in to land. As this being his home track, he has a good chance to take the win tomorrow.
With it being forecast to be dry tomorrow, times should be tight as riders go for maximum points. Bring on race day.
MENTIONS: @DemoB
Author Info:
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24 Comments
- 62 1
ChazzMichaelMichaels
(Jan 16, 2016 at 17:56)
I have never, ever seen a rotor do that.
- 15 0
chazmak
(Jan 16, 2016 at 20:49)
Neither have i bro that must have been some ruthless rider who smashed that bike :]
- 9 0
Nathan-MTB
(Jan 17, 2016 at 0:46)
Im still wondering why there was no comment on that one
- 8 0
RedBurn
(Jan 17, 2016 at 2:04)
what happened ? I wanna know!!
- 4 0
chazmak
(Jan 17, 2016 at 18:51)
@RedBurn It was just at the top of the track got unbalanced having too much weight on the front I flipped over and my bike shot into a tree my shifter tore off. But I got up and cruised down and then everything exploded 50 meters down My wheel stopped and I looked down at the mangled rotor.
- 2 1
ivankvkharkiv
(Jan 18, 2016 at 11:46)
I was really impressed too!
- 9 0
FurryCrew
(Jan 16, 2016 at 20:05)
Dang, how do you mangle a rotor like that without exploding your rear wheel in the process.
- 7 0
tmakea
(Jan 16, 2016 at 9:29)
awesome picks man cant wait for final
- 5 0
glenno
(Jan 16, 2016 at 15:33)
Brook FTW !!!
- 3 1
Kre1985
(Jan 16, 2016 at 18:29)
His five ten shoes are sick
- 1 0
mtbracer4098
(Jan 16, 2016 at 17:12)
What's the rest of the schedule look like!? I want to hit some of these when I head down next month!!
- 2 0
harryheath
(Jan 16, 2016 at 22:46)
Sweeet write up mate
- 4 3
bonfire
(Jan 16, 2016 at 2:29)
Was just in Napier. Had literally no idea there was riding to be had.
- 11 0
Maverickdh00
(Jan 16, 2016 at 10:42)
r u nutz, Eskdale bike park is 10mins from city, any bike shop could have told u that, missed some great trail.
- 1 0
coney
FL (Jan 16, 2016 at 16:56)
is this particular track in Eskdale forest? from the video of brook chasing blenki it looks like some off-map custom line. last time I was there was 18 months ago but.
- 2 0
DemoB
(Jan 16, 2016 at 21:38)
It's in the new DH block, about 10 minutes further round the coast than the old park, which is getting logged soon.
- 1 0
Turboute
(Jan 16, 2016 at 22:58)
Haha getting out if the heat in New Zealand. You guys are funny.
- 1 0
beater32
(Jan 16, 2016 at 20:48)
Any results in yet ?
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