Practice Report: UK National Downhill Series Round 2 Fort William
The UK National Downhill Series returned this weekend for Round 2, this time at Fort William. The track here is legendary, and due to scheduling this year, the national round came after the World Cup. This meant fewer UCI Elite World Cup teams were in attendance, but it also meant there was lots of tight racing. It was a tough day on the hill with plenty of red flags making things a little tough, and sadly, World Cup Junior Female Leader Heather Willson was one of the people with issues today. Because of this, there won't be a track preview today. Hopefully, Heather is good to go for race day and also ready to race at Leogang for the next round of the World Cup. Unfortunately due to a stack up of races and a lot of World Cup travel I didn't make it up to Fort William, but Man Down Media's newest photographer Andrew Leinster smashed it with some amazing images of the seeding and practice day, and will be back for more tomorrow.
With rain coming in during the day, tyre choice was important in Fort William this weekend
There are no uplift trucks in Fort William. The national riders get the same treatment as the World Cup riders here three weeks before being uplifted by the gondola
It is not quite the whole World Cup track from three weeks earlier though, the big river gap was out, and as always the road gap goes too, so more like 90% of the World Cup track
The other change is we are back in the classic Fort William start hut! It has one hell of a view and a lot of history, so it's great to have it back
You have to be prepared at Fort William. The weather comes out of nowhere, and roll-offs and waterproofs are a must!
It's just not Fort William if it doesn't rain!
The views from the upper section of the track are mega, not that the riders had a lot of time to check them out
The cafe hip was back after its World Cup absence
It was a tough day at the Fort with a lot of red flags. Big thanks to the marshals, medics, and all of the team keeping riders safe
The rock gardens are as brutal as ever
Reid Simpson seeded in first place for the Juvenile men's class
Ad Brayton is one of the few World Cup riders making it up to Fort William. With an amazing 3rd in the Elite seeding, it looks to have been worth the trip so far for Ad
Bikes on the gondola ready for seeding
Frank Sieracki is making short work of some wet rocks
Some riders could not help but check out the view in practice
Matt Walker had a great day topping the timing sheet in the men's elite field
There is always plenty of opportunity to get your wheels off the ground at Fort William
A massive 14-second lead in seeding for Katie Charlton; Katie will be the last youth and juvenile female rider down the hill on race day
The woods lie at the bottom of the countless rock gardens, giving the riders a new challenge of sniper roots
Someone had a bad day
The small river gap was left in, but the big river gap from the World Cup was skipped
Ty Simpson running peakless
Leith Rowe carving his way through the berms
Steve Peat was back out racing. It's so good to have Steve back at national rounds, although I'm not sure the guys in his class feel the same way
Irish national champ Meghan Flanagan pushed hard for second in seeding in the elite women's field
Not everyone was having a good day
One thing is for sure: everyone loves the legendary Fort William Motorway!
Riders enjoyed the opportunity to send it in practice
Luke Mumford showing that all the work he's putting in racing at the World Cup is paying off with a 4th place finish in seeding today
Fort William always has a fantastic finish area!
Plenty to chat about for the Madison Saracen boys
A great job by the SDA team this weekend. Fort William is a challenging venue to set up! Everyone looks forward to race day to see who will win
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The woods turned into some carnage yesterday (me included).
Got loads of ace clips though, walked up after race runs.