Race Report: 100% Mini Downhill Round 1 Forest of Dean by Mandownmedia

The biggest little race of the year took place at the Forest of Dean last weekend. The Forest of Dean round of the Mini Downhill always brings plenty of riders and supporters out. This year it even announced the start of the downhill season, with it being the first race taking place in the Forest in 2023. The team at 100% Mini Downhill always put on a good event, and this was no exception. Choosing a classic track in Mr Rooty, this one minute 14 second track for the fastest riders was not to be taken lightly, with an upper section consisting of a slightly pedally, berm filled single track which crossed the fire road twice breaking out into the mid-section which, as the name suggests, is littered with roots from top to bottom. Then heading into the final section, with some step downs and table tops, the riders faced a slightly awkward and very muddy pedal to the finish. The track seemed to go down well with riders of all ages, with 225 riders taking part ranging from Under 13s all the way up to Veterans.

New Year, New team for Anna Craig. The World Cup rider showed her class taking the fastest time overall for the women

With a field of 225 taking to the track it was great to see 10% on the field were women - it's great to see the women's field growing year by year

No gloves for Leo Ransom, despite it being mid-January

Not content with just running the event, Chris Roberts was out keeping on top of social media at the same time. Big thanks to Chris for putting on such an amazing event as always

After a season of racing World Cups, winter doesn't seem to have slowed down Luca Thurlow

You always have to be cautious of influencers in the wild

No major incidents on race day, thanks to all the marshalls who give up their time to allow us to go racing

Big shout to the 4X Family who were out racing heckling everyone on their way down the track

Big shout out to the 4X Family who were out racing heckling everyone on their way down the track

No sooner than people finished then they were working their way back up to cheer everyone else on

No sooner had people finished, than they were working their way back up to cheer everyone else on

First race of the season meant there was plenty of opportunity for a good gossip

Frank Sieracki looked like he was having tonnes of fun doing battle with the classic Forest of Dean track Mr Rooty

Louis Kebbell dropping in on the second fire road crossing

Cooper Cassells picked his way through the tech-filled mid-section

Not content with just winning the Junior race, Luca Thurlow also took home the fastest time of the day

Gavin Owens had a pretty good start to the year taking second place in the 30-39 class

Ruben de Vaux smashing through the roots on his Atherton bike

After a big crash this rider headed back up to have a better look at the line

The crowd assembled around the root garden

Not everyone struggled with the roots however, Jack Turner made it through in style

Different part of the root section but an all too common result, the crowd were enjoying the crashes almost as much as the riding

Does it even happen if it's not on social media?

Inside or outside made little difference, deep ruts and roots lay in wait whichever way you went

Ooo a penny!

Jacob Wood working out his Swedish Gold. The Ohlins suspension on Jacob's Commencal was getting a tough test through the roots

Bikes in their natural habitat

The mid-section of the track was the toughest by far; there's a good reason this track is called Mr Rooty. It was catching riders out all day

After clipping a newly emerged root on the left-hander, Ioan Hepburn foot dabbed his way along to the next section of the trail, with increasingly louder swear words the further he went

James Trowbridge on the gas

A mixture of parents screaming their kids on and busily trying to check the live timing to see where they finished up

An almost impossible flat corner, covered in sniper roots lay in way for riders before the second fire road crossing, meaning plenty of people had to get the power down after crawling through the corner