Race Report: PORC 2014 Downhill Championship Series, Round 2

There was again a good turn out of riders at PORC last weekend for the second round of the PORC 2014 Downhill Championship. Although the track was fast and open, it meant a different type of racing skill was required in that checking speed and being able to control the bike when it was clearly wanting to go faster was essential. Go too fast and you'd be over the bars, which for some was on the menu both in practice and on race their runs.

Racers ready? One of the Team PORC/Whisper Bikes riders puts his first crank in at the start hut.

133 riders competed on the freeride-orientated race line that was very popular last year. Starting at the race hut, riders took on the 'warm up' table and then made a curved left hand turn down to a drop, keeping their wits about them riders had a couple more features to fly over until arriving at a flowy switchback to double, setting themselves up for the big feature of the race line.

Forget the whip, just keep it low. The first of the big tables at PORC meant riders had the option to get their style dialled or go flat out to the finish line.

The race line was fast. Very fast.

Out into the open, riders were faced with the long-standing table (made famous by Matt Jones back flipping it last year and then Grant Martin doing the same but on a DH bike), but this time, instead of heading straight down the road to the next double, the PORC build crew had been busy and had crafted another substantial table. Riders were flying and it made for good spectating and photography!

There were a few breakages on the day. Luckily Whisper Bikes was just a short walk back up the hill to repair any damage.

Although some breakages necessitated a different approach. Medics were on hand to those who took a tumble on the race line.

The uplift service was in full swing and a very welcomed alternative to the hot push up back to the top of the hill.

After this major race line feature, the trail toned down (slightly) but riders were still faced with doubles and rooty sections, the latter keeping tyres in check and mixing up the large jumps with a bit of tech. The last section was a test of speed and power with a final set of features making riders' muscles really feeling the burn.

In between the trees there lurks the mountain biker. The flowy switchbacks just before the tables were a natural slow-down for some but not others.

Racing in the Chelsea Flower Show? No, it's PORC! Great to see that Spring has finally sprung!

Table for two, sir?

Whilst everyone was out in the sunshine, Jors, owner of Whisper Bikes was in his workshop sorting out all sorts of repairs as and when they came in. Only thing missing was a conveyor belt.

These kids were new to biking but they sure looked the part.

Once again, the race weekend at PORC was a success although there were a few broken riders and broken bike parts in the process. Grassroots racing is taking over the South East and races like PORC will only get better and better.

At the end of the race, riders and spectators headed down the hill for an impromptu 'Best Trick' contest on one of the large tables. Matt Jones, Tom Reynolds and Tim Peckham must have had a sixth sense for the contest as they stopped their dirt jumping and also headed down. With megaphones blasting and music blaring, the competition was high. Jenner and Evans pulled some fine turns and tricks respectively but Peckham and Jones laid down some even more steezier tricks, with Tim Peckham crowned the winner at the end of the day after pulling a no hander backflip on the first table and then a superman on the second table, despite Tom and Matt pulling some massive no hander-back flips and supermans.

Oli Evans going in for the Brendog style.

Riley Jenner on his BTR Fabrications is pretty stylish on his bike and was doing some wild tricks.

Left to right: Jones, Peckham, Reynolds. Great seeing these guys mixing with the downhillers.

Get on board with race organiser Mike Joseph as he takes you down on his PORC Round 2 race run.


With thanks to the PORC 2014 Downhill Championship Series sponsors: Schwalbe, BTR Fabrications, Kenny Racing, Monster Energy, geebeebee media, Whisper Bikes, MuckyNutz, Ti-Springs, Zagway, Southcoast Suspension, High5 Sports Nutrition, Miles Professional Brake Components, Wizard Wash, Jack Chapman and Harry Molloy Coaching, Broken Riders, Enduro MTB Training and Downhill Freeriders.

Full race times can be found on Mikrotime's website alongside the PORC 2014 Championship Series ranking table.

Photos courtesy of Marcin Bialas Photography
Catch up with PORC via the Facebook page to find out details of the next race!

Overall and Senior Men
1 Matt COOPER, Junior Men, 0:47.28
2 Ross HAMMOND, Senior Men, Team Aston Hill, 0:47.30 (+0.02)
3 Oli EVANS, Junior Men, 0:47.67 (+0.39)
4 Adam HARDING, Senior Men, Solent Cycles, 0:48.16 (+0.88 )
5 Ben TAYLOR, Senior Men, Tamed Earth Bikes/ION Cloth, 0:48.30 (+1.02)

Young Rippers Under 12
1 Lucas MEAD, Team PORC/Whisper Bikes, 1:02.20
2 Nathan ROSS, Team PORC/Whisper Bikes, 1:12.17 (+9.97)
3 Tyler CHAPMAN, 1:15.25 (+13.05)

Women 12 Plus
1 Rosa MARTIN, Team PORC/Whisper Bikes, 1:02.40
2 Erika EXELBY, Army Downhill Development, 1:03.98 (+1.58 )
3 Rachel DYSON, Sketchy MTB, 1:46.19 (+43.79)

Juvenile Men 12-14
1 Charles GRIFFITH, 0:50.92
2 Josh MEAD, Team PORC/Whisper Bikes, 0:51.62 (+0.70)
3 Aaron BENNETT, Team BTR Fabrications/Porc, 0:53.23 (+2.31)

Youth Men 15-16
1, Alfie KILLNER, Team Aston Hill/Banshee Bikes 0:51.91
2, Ben BISHOP, Trace Defrein Collective, 0:52.15 (+0.24)
3, Ollie HAMILTON-FOX, 0:52.46 (+0.55)

Junior Men 17-18
1 Matt COOPER, 0:47.28
2 Oli EVANS, 0:47.67 (+0.39)
3 Sam ROGERS, Whisper Bikes Race Team, 0:50.47 (+3.19)

Senior Men
1 Ross HAMMOND, Team Aston Hill, 0:47.30
2 Adam HARDING, Solent Cycles, 0:48.16 (+0.86)
3 Ben TAYLOR, Tamed Earth Bikes/ION Cloth 0:48.30 (+1.00)

Master Men 30-39
1 Jay SHAW, Team PORC/Whisper Bikes, 0:48.65
2 Piotr SOLARSKI, Cherry Hill Riders, 0:48.95 (+0.30)
3 Brad VAUGHAN, 0:49.82 (+1.17)

Veteran Men 40 Plus
1 Alan MULDOON, MBR , 0:49.43
2 Guy THERON, Whisper Bikes Race Team, 0:50.67 (+1.24)
3 Brett Elliott BUTLER, Team DGB, 0:50.87 (+1.44)