Excelent piece of MTB journalism... Hard to imagine how is he going to pull that out if he wouldn't be racing... Even if he doesn't qualify top 30 next year, should kept on the bike.
If instead of 80 only 60 people raced the spread could be up to hours in the quali field. The track is gnarly as hell, but the spread only indicates the lack of people in the race.
"It can end badly"