Race Report: UK National Downhill Series, Round 5 - Revolution Bike Park

Round 5, and the final round, of the UK National Downhill series took place this weekend at Revolution Bike Park, Wales on an unprecedented sunny and dry Welsh weekend that saw not only race winners but series winners on the podiums.

A fresh track to the previous years was used, bringing some of the best trails that Revolution Bike Park has to offer. The track started off at the very start of Revolution Bike Park’s far side trail and finished at the bottom of the bike park where riders could let loose on the bike-park-style jump section. The track tested riders with probably the greatest variety of terrain seen this year in the national series.

In The Female class, Jenna Fellows stormed to victory, taking a 21-second lead and top podium, followed by Sophie Cade in second and Vaska Prostova in third. Sophie Cade went on to take the series overall win.

In the Women’s Elite, Veronika Widmann narrowly beat Stacey Fisher to first place by 2 seconds, with Aston Tutt taking third. It’s amazing to see World Cup level riders battling it out in both the men’s and women's field, and a pleasure to see the Italian National Champion coming to race in the British National series.

Yet more World Cup talent was on display in the Junior Women’s field with Pinkbike Racing’s Aimi Kenyon taking the win this weekend by 13 seconds ahead of Elin Berry in second and Bethany McCully in third.

In a packed Junior Men’s Field, initially less than a second separated the podium. That was until Jordan Williams blew the entire Male field away, showing exactly why he is wearing the rainbow stripes of the reigning World Champion, putting down a run that not only saw him take the win the Junior Men’s Race and the Overall Junior Men’s series but saw him 2 seconds clear of the time set by the Elite Male Winner Luke Williamson and the only person to break the 2minute30s barrier. It is no exaggeration to say that this young man is the future of British Downhill mountain biking.

In the Elite Men’s field, Luke Williamson took the win and the series title in what was a close-fought series with several World Cup level riders in attendance at each round. This meant Luke really had to fight throughout the year to be crowned series champion. At Round 5 second place was taken by Preston Williams. It’s great to see these two former Junior National Champions really finding their feet in the Elite ranks. Dan Slack followed in third.

Plenty of gossiping going on in the lift line

I'm not sure what they're watching - I'm going to say it's Go-Pro footage from the day before, but maybe not

Bikes going onto the uplift for the last time this year in the National Series. A big shout out to the race organisers and their team for a slick, well run weekend

There's plenty of flat out straights to enjoy at Revolution Bike Park

Gapping into the Welsh countryside

Stacey Fisher taking second place this weekend in what's been a great year for Stacey

It was business as usual for Jordan Williams, yet again taking the race win in the Junior Men's field but also taking the fastest time of the day in both seeding and his race run. Top weekend's racing for the Madison Saracen team with 3 race wins

The Veteran Riders having some quiet contemplation above the start line

What a weekend for Luke Williamson. Despite riding with numberplate 13 all year, Luke managed to take his first-ever Elite Male Race Win in the National Series

Straight out of the gate there was plenty of jumps for the riders to enjoy

Great to see the RAF and the other forces riders out racing this weekend

Not to be this weekend for Taylor Vernon, but what a year it has been for the Welshman

With the amount of rocks and roots waiting to catch you out, it's important to keep your eyes on the track

Can't get enough of these stunning Welsh views

Max Griffiths-Parker choosing to gap the roots instead of having to deal with them

It seems like Ben Deakin's trip to RedBull Hardline last weekend has given him some inspiration for some style as he sends it over the road gap

Louie Partridge wasn't scared to send it over the road gap

Becci Skelton leading the way for Aston Tutt in practice

The views here at Revolution Bike Park are stunning

Christopher Philogene took the last step on the Elite Male podium this weekend

Rory Kirk laying on a bit of style in the open section of the track

Sophie Cade sending it. It's been a good year for Sophie, taking the win in the Female Open class to add to her second place in the Female 4X National Series

Before the bike-park section at the bottom of the hill, the riders had to make their way through a couple of steep chutes. Giles Austing negotiated it with ease

Jay Lauder decided to send it over the roots

Anthony Harvey with a little pop off of the small board-walk section

Midway down the track there was a flattish section that required the riders to get on the gas

The first Madison Saracen rider of the weekend to take a win was the legend that is Will Longden. It's great to see the Madison Saracen team manager out racing

David List powering his way through the bracken

Ebony Webber took a big crash in her race run and was still able to make the walk up to the podium to claim her second overall in the Women's Open field for the National Series. Hopefully Ebony has speedy recovery

Jenna Fellows took the win by 21 seconds in the Women's Open Race, will we see Jenna racing in the Elite class next year? Her time this weekend would have seen her fourth overall

Aimi Kenyon not only took the win this weekend at Round 5 but also sealed the win in the overall series in the Junior Women's field

It's great to see more World Cup riders making a trip over to racing the British National Series. Italian Champion Veronika Widmann took the second win of the day for Madison Saracen team with her win in the Women's Elite Field

It's a tight squeeze through the trees for Charlie Flynn

Finn Clark on the gas

What can we say about this young man? Thoroughly deserved of his rainbow stripes in his final year as a junior, Jordan has not only laid waste to his age category but has humbled plenty of elite racers too

Ollie Morris looking smooth through the mid-section of track

Billy Matthews pinging his way through the rocks and roots

As always Action Sports Timing provided amazing live timings for the National Series this year and what an amazing job they have done. Credit to Chris and his team on their hardwork

That relief when you finish the last National of the year

Checking up on race times online

2 wise heads of the British Downhill scene, although I'm sure there was no wisdom in this conversation

Luke Blake finished in the top ten once again in the Expert field. An impressive feat for this Junior rider

Unfortunately, Anna Craig had a weekend to forget with a big crash meaning she didn't take to the start line for her race run

Luke Williamson was the fastest Elite Male in both seeding and his race run - a fantastic, dominate performance by Luke

A great moment, where the current reigning National Series Champion congratulated the new 2022 National Series Champion - you couldn't hope to find two nicer guys in UK Downhill

Great to see 4X National Series Champion Zac Hudson racing in a DH series. Not quite sure what crazy face Zac was trying to pull

Stacey Fisher has won back to back National Series Titles making it one hell of a year for Stacey after being crowned National Champion in Glencoe aswell

Ollie Morris is always having a good laugh

Not the result Ad wanted but it's not a National Downhill without Grandad

Not to be for Roger Vieira this year, but what a year Roger has had

Davi Roberts from Action Sport's Timing managed to squeeze in a few laps in the morning before returning to his duties running the times at the event

Jane Page collecting yet another podium this weekend, finishing off in fourth in the Women's field

Ben Deakin winning the Master's class, or as Deaks called it, 'The Hobby Field' as much as Deaks enjoys a laugh and a joke as he play things down. He loves his racing and the Master's field is no joke. It's some tight racing and I don't think he'd have it any other way