So it was a big mystery all week who the fourth rider was going to be for Felt Racing, and about 20 seconds before Rider 4 was due to start, it was revealed that it was John Claxton, fresh from his crack at the 24 Solo Worlds. With the big secret hanging in the air, and people believing any old lie we dreamed up, the scene was set for another hard race.
Jack pulled his 'angry pants' up nice and high and was psyched for the start of the race, winning the prologue and then during a tumultuous first lap, came home with around a minute gap on second place, setting Jason up for a great first lap who extended the lead to around 2 minutes and so continued the trend.
We would love to say that during the day we had so much of a lead we were able to kick back in the sun. But that would be a blatant lie, as we were only ever a mechanical away from throwing in the lead, the boys in pink not giving us an inch all day.
And so to the racing. As you can see from the previous post, there is the results posted up there, and the times we all put in were amazingly close all day. John was able to take out the fastest day laps from an embarrassed Cal Britton and proceed to sneak the fastest night lap by one second from Jason (we think) and from there is was all pretty plain sailing. As the day wore on, the lead slowly snuck out until the end where it was around 15 minutes and we were again in the race to get one final lap out..!! With 10 seconds to go, and the countdown starting, Jack charged down the final hill, but with more than a minute to travel, Jason was spared a long cold lonely lap and we settled for the win on the same lap as the rest of the field. Still, its always an exciting and nervous time for all of us, particularly the rider looking down the barrel of a final lap.
Ben Randall rode a super solid race all day to do his #1 plate proud and came away with the win and a trashed set of hands from the rocky course!
Apparently Shrek was on course scaring women and small children alike.
And so that was the ball game folks. We went out to race a consistent race and lift at occasions that warranted it, and with Jack smashing himself senseless on the first lap, it was only fitting for us all to go out and give it our all. With our home away from home as comfortable as we can get it, with our grass to stretch on, fluro lights, music, chairs and generators. Always a pleasure to return to your team mates and partners in comfort!
And speaking of comfort, our Virtues were the best things out. They were absolutely awesome out there, with 5 inches of travel eating up the bumps, and able to fly at the flick of a switch up hills. I struggle to find the words to express how impressed I was with them on this course. The flat rocky road was a doddle, whilst others swerved to find a line, we were able to power straight through. Pro pedal on, and they climb as well as anything in an enduro, and then can eat almost anything on the downhills. They make it so much more fun!!!!!
And with that, I shall leave this post, with the next one to comment on the fantastic new NightLightning lights that lit the way with power to spare! They really did add to the edge we already had with our bikes, and with John also being a Night Lightning Athlete, the team was totally sorted!
Till later, ciao.
Oh, and whilst I think of it, Paul is back in town, so comment on his blog, and see if we can bully him into updating it after his Worlds experience!!
Jack pulled his 'angry pants' up nice and high and was psyched for the start of the race, winning the prologue and then during a tumultuous first lap, came home with around a minute gap on second place, setting Jason up for a great first lap who extended the lead to around 2 minutes and so continued the trend.
We would love to say that during the day we had so much of a lead we were able to kick back in the sun. But that would be a blatant lie, as we were only ever a mechanical away from throwing in the lead, the boys in pink not giving us an inch all day.
And so to the racing. As you can see from the previous post, there is the results posted up there, and the times we all put in were amazingly close all day. John was able to take out the fastest day laps from an embarrassed Cal Britton and proceed to sneak the fastest night lap by one second from Jason (we think) and from there is was all pretty plain sailing. As the day wore on, the lead slowly snuck out until the end where it was around 15 minutes and we were again in the race to get one final lap out..!! With 10 seconds to go, and the countdown starting, Jack charged down the final hill, but with more than a minute to travel, Jason was spared a long cold lonely lap and we settled for the win on the same lap as the rest of the field. Still, its always an exciting and nervous time for all of us, particularly the rider looking down the barrel of a final lap.
Ben Randall rode a super solid race all day to do his #1 plate proud and came away with the win and a trashed set of hands from the rocky course!
Apparently Shrek was on course scaring women and small children alike.And so that was the ball game folks. We went out to race a consistent race and lift at occasions that warranted it, and with Jack smashing himself senseless on the first lap, it was only fitting for us all to go out and give it our all. With our home away from home as comfortable as we can get it, with our grass to stretch on, fluro lights, music, chairs and generators. Always a pleasure to return to your team mates and partners in comfort!
And speaking of comfort, our Virtues were the best things out. They were absolutely awesome out there, with 5 inches of travel eating up the bumps, and able to fly at the flick of a switch up hills. I struggle to find the words to express how impressed I was with them on this course. The flat rocky road was a doddle, whilst others swerved to find a line, we were able to power straight through. Pro pedal on, and they climb as well as anything in an enduro, and then can eat almost anything on the downhills. They make it so much more fun!!!!!
And with that, I shall leave this post, with the next one to comment on the fantastic new NightLightning lights that lit the way with power to spare! They really did add to the edge we already had with our bikes, and with John also being a Night Lightning Athlete, the team was totally sorted!
Till later, ciao.
Oh, and whilst I think of it, Paul is back in town, so comment on his blog, and see if we can bully him into updating it after his Worlds experience!!
posted by Ash Thomas at 5:26 pm
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