Shimano BDS 2016: Round Four, Moelfre - Race Report

On the open hillside of Moelfre, it is race day for round four of the Shimano British Downhill Series. A fast flowing, natural track known for its big jumps. Riders were up early for morning practice, dialling their lines, by 10:45 AM the track was open for elite riders only before seeding runs. A steady stream of spectators made their way up the track to catch some of the action.



After a full day of blissfully sunny Saturday practice and a dusty start to Sunday morning practice the rain clouds started rolling in. Seeding stayed mostly dry, however when the elite riders started coming down so did the rain. Umbrellas up, waterproofs on. Practice runs would be out the window with the soon to be wet, muddy, and slippery track.


Taking the lead DMR Juvenile boys were the first down the track for race runs. Luke William came down in first with a time of 3:04.257. Under a second away, current series leader Harry Barrett took second place. Leaving James Elliot in third. In Super Alloy Springs' Youth boys Henry Kerr bagged another first place by over a second. Atherton Academy's Kade Edwards' run of 2:48.210 carried him into second. Following three seconds away in third, Luke Birkett.



In Kore's Grand Veteran men, Richard Binns took the win with a time of 3:16.667. Putting a gap of over 13 seconds between himself and Steve Felstead in second. A further five seconds away, Mark Taylor came third. In Dainese Veteran Men, Madison Saracen Factory Team manager Will Longdon came down with a 2:15.503 taking first place by over ten seconds. Crossing the finish line in second, Andrew Titley. Jimmy Pewtress took third. In NS Bikes' Master men, Mike Tayler took first with a 2:51.503. Over three seconds off in second was Adam smith. Leaving Duncan Porter in third.


In Rachel Atherton's Junior Women, T-MO Racing rider Megan James came down in fifth place, five seconds away from Ellen Flewtt in fourth. Taking up third place, Carin Bell. Abbie Sloan's race run of 2:27.975 was looking solid however Aston Tutt crossed the line a second faster. Taking the win and putting Abbie into second place. In Uberbike Women, Megan Whyte took the win by 11 seconds. Riding for Evan Cycles Franki Evans came second. NX2 team rider Lindsay Hanley took third.


In Spank Junior Men, James Purvis took the win with a time of 2:43.155. Leaving Madison Saracen Factory Team rider Matt Walker painfully close behind in second by 0.093s! FMD Racing rider, Koas Seagrave sat in third. Charlie Hatton's time of 2:47.230 put him in fourth. Louis Mead came into fifth, three seconds off Charlie's time, giving him his best result of the series so far.



In Pro Tharsis Senior Men, Kieran Davies took the win by a second. With a time of 2:58.858 Kyle Farrow came second. Taking third place with a time of 3:00, Samuel Wardle. X-Fusion Expert Men were next down. Team NX2 rider Conor Martin took the win with a time of 2:47.803. Brad Mather came across the line with under a second off first place leaving him in second place. Sean Davis took third place. Taking fourth place with a time 2:50.182, was One Vision team racer, James Hurst. Calum Mcgee followed closely behind in fifth



In Schwalbe elite women things were looking empty without Rachel Atherton, Katy Kurd (who was recently injured at the Leogang World Cup) and Tahnee Seagrave (who is currently rehabilitating her injured elbow). Though it didn't stop her coming down to help out with the marshalling. Manon Carpenter took the lead with over 11 seconds. Ellie Maxfield followed in second with a time of 3:17.729. Riding for Grips bikes Lucy Drees who came third with another big time gap of 12 seconds! Times in Elite women were pretty spread out. Increasingly bad weather and the changing track conditions were not helping. Joey Gough's time of 3:37.710 put her in forth. Sitting five seconds away in fifth was Jessica Greaves.

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Last down the hill were the Schwalbe Elite Men. They were getting the worst of the heavy rainfall. Crossing the line into fifth with a time of 2:39.616 was Hope Factory Team rider Adam Brayton. Under a second faster, Ruaridh Cunningham came forth. Matty Stuttard came third with a time of 2:38.791. Fastest in seeding One Vision Team rider, Jack Reading's time of 2:37.503 wasn't quite fast enough to get him the win this weekend. Madison Saracen Factory Team rider Matt Simmonds was to take the win by under a second. Along with the fastest time of the day.



Results

Elite women
1 Manon Carpenter 3:05.811
2 Ellie Maxfield 3:17.729
3 Lucy Drees 3:29.444
4 Joey Gough 3:37.710
5 Jessica Greaves 3:42.619

Elite Men
1 Matt Simmonds 2:36.581
2 Jack Reading 2:37.543
3 Matty Stuttard 2:38.791
4 Ruaridh Cunnungham 2:39.120
5 Adam Brayton 2:39.616

Full Results here.


Special thanks to Farmer Jack and the BDS crew for the hard work put into the event. Along with marshals who stood through high winds and rain. Join us for the next round of the BDS at Revolution Bike park.

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MENTIONS: @TheHillsAreAlive / @shimano / @BritishDownhillseries

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