Race Report: PORC 2014 Downhill Championship Series, Round 3

It all started a week before the race even began with mixed weather reports and most forecasts predicting wet weather for the race. Riders were unsure of what set-up they were going to run, but come race day, the weather turned out for the better, the sun came out and temperatures rose, ensuring both riders and spectators were in for another treat at the track.

The race series has grown noticeably over the last year and people arrived from near and far. The main car park was full to capacity in the first few hours and the bottom field had to be used as the second car park.

A well organised event as usual saw riders doing a early morning track walk and then a seamless registration inside the Whisper Bikes shop. Riders then got on with practice for a few hours to make sure they grasped this very different track to the last one. A far more technical track compared to Rounds 1&2.

Spot on 11am, the music got turned on and up, and the riders gathered for the race start. Riders lined up in order, with young rippers first to go, followed by the women and the then rest of the categories. You could see the nervous excitement was tangible, and the stiff competition between riders that the championship has created, had everyone on their toes.

Lots of style points on this table, but go to wild and you'll get caught out.

With the timing beams moved to the top of the start ramp, riders were pulling away so hard and fast, spinning up their back wheels, bolting down the start ramp and into the first race table. Some styled it up for the photographers with others scrubbing it as best as they could. The super big race doubles followed and then into sneaky new, small step down. Riders had to hit this perfectly to set them up for the next jump, a cheese wedge kicker that caught a few riders out, keeping the medic and marshals very busy throughout the day.

Rachel Dyson representing was looking focused for the win.

Carrying enough speed you could then throw yourself into a blind rock garden and monster truck your way through it, only to find a 90-degree left hand flat corner. Yikes! Marshals had their hand full dealing with riders going down at this corner.

A little respite in the berm before the burn starts.

The track got a bit steeper with a quick switch back followed by a rooty, off camber section into a fire road crossing. Getting this part dialled was key to setting you up for the pump down to the bomb hole. This part of the track bermed through a dried up pond and spat you out the other end.

Pinning it down the track and over the small ladder, riders were then faced with the tough motorway section where only the fittest of the fit would find it a breeze. Riders had to pedal as hard as they could on this straight. It was a sure test of fitness and strength. It was an opportunity for riders to make up their time or, for those less fortunate (i.e. unfit), lose the race. At the end of this section, riders could feel lactic acid build up in their legs and had to either huck over a ten foot gap to clear a tree stump, or do the chicken run round it.

A PORC team rider catching a bit of shade before heading out of the woods.

With loads of speed into a newly built catch-berm riders shot out into the wood sections, darting between trees and with riders running wide handlebars, this section was all about threading the eye of a needle.

The end was in sight, but the team of track builders had been up to their usual antics and built two new berms to make the track longer. With little leg power left, riders had to rail the berms as best they could to cross the finish beams. A few unlucky riders got it wrong on the last corner, sliding out and going down under the finish beam.

With the sun continuing to blaze down on the Kent countryside, riders gathered at the top of the track to receive or applaud those had received podium spots. The support from all the sponsors at this grassroots event is incredible and riders were treated with fantastic prizes, including loads of raffle prizes given out to riders that didn’t make the podium, ensuring everyone stood a chance of winning a prize.


Check out a re-cap video from a local videographer of the day's riding (and crashing).

Full race times can be found on Mikrotime's website alongside the PORC 2014 Championship Series ranking table. Photos courtesy of Dave Hayward Digital Photography.

Thanks to: Downhill Freeriders, geebeebee media, Schwalbe, Kenny Equipement, Whisper Bikes, Juice Lubes, Broken Riders, Zagway, Mucky Nutz, Mulebar, Ti-Spring,com, Wizard Wash, South Coast Suspension, Mozartt.com, Enduro MTB Training, Jack Chapman MTB Coach, Mikro Time, and PORC's Mike Westphal for the venue.

Overall
1 Jack CHAPMAN (Senior Men) , Haven/Devinci/O'Neal, 0:51.94
2 Al WARREL (Junior Men), 0:52.42 (+0.4
3 Ollie EVANS (Junior Men), 0:52.49 (+0.55)
4 Ross HAMMOND (Senior Men), Team Aston Hill 0:52.90 (+0.96)
5 Matt COOPER (Junior Men), 0:53.30 (+1.36)

Young Rippers Under 12
1 Lucas MEAD , Team PORC/Whisper Bikes, 1:11.99
2 Taylor ANDRESS, Trace Defrein Collective, 1:14.85 (+2.86)
3 Nathan ROSS, Team PORC/Whisper Bikes , 1:16.17 (+4.1

Women 12 Plus
1 Rosa MARTIN, Team PORC/Whisper Bikes, 1:07.89
2 Rachel DYSON, Sketchy MTB, 1:20.79 (+12.90)

Juvenile Men 12-14
1 Riley JENNER, Team BTR Fabrications/PORC, 0:57.86
2 Charles GRIFFITH, 0:58.46 (+0.60)
3 Josh MEAD Team PORC/Whisper Bikes, 0:59.38 (+1.52)

Youth Men 15-16
1 Alfie KILLNER, Team Aston Hill, 0:58.22
2 Matt NEWINGTON, Sketchy MTB, 0:58.71 (+0.49)
3 Matthew McGOVERN, 0:59.81 (+1.59)

Junior Men 17-18
1 Al WARREL, Team Aston Hill, 0:52.42
2 Ollie EVANS, 0:52.49 (+0.07)
3 Matt COOPER, 0:53.30 (+0.

Senior Men
1 Jack CHAPMAN, Haven/DeVinci/Oneal, 0:51.94
2 Ross HAMMOND, Team Aston Hill, 0:52.90 (+0.96)
3 Will SMITH, Gate23, 0:56.27 (+4.33)

Master Men 30-39
1 Jay SHAW, Team PORC/Whisper Bikes 0:53.50
2 Tom DOWDING, 0:54.85, (+1.35)
3 Piotr SOLARSKI, 0:56.04 (+2.54)

Veteran Men 40 Plus
1 Joe KILLNER, Team Aston Hill, 0:57.15
2 Guy THERON, Whisper Bikes Race Team, 0:57.45 (+0.30)
3 Mike JOSEPH, Team PORC/Whisper Bikes, 0:59.74 (+2.59)