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NPS DH Round Three - Moelfre
Moelfre, Wales
James - 13th August 2007
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For 2007 luckily the NPS has taken a new direction, gone is the farce we used to call a National series and in are riders to run the event. Si Paton and Steve Parr have taken a huge gamble in taking over the NPS and turning it around into something worthy of racing.
The NPS 3rd round at Moelfre is the first one I have been to 'under new management' and having experienced my fair share of the old organisers attempts first impressions were everything. Strolling into the pits was a pleasant experience, confronted with the Team Loctite truck with a few bikes and racing cars parked outside was a surprise for sure. After walking past the Fenwicks guys with their powerwashers and cleaning products it turned into a proper pit atmosphere, all the trade stands and bike teams including the big Animal Commencal van standing out in zebra print! Definitely the NPS is getting back on form.
The track at Moelfre is a classic love hate relationship for most riders, its fast, loose and difficult to master. The top section quickly drops off the start gate into a couple of rock drops and some wide grassy corners before quickly dropping into the tight switchback section, get this bit wrong and you were quickly into the gorse and painfully off track.
Into the hip jump and cross the stream into the really flat out bit, a transverse around the hill on tight singletrack with plenty of rock drops and a bus stop to catch you out should you get it wrong. After this it was into the finish area having tackled a couple of fast off camber grass sections it was a drop in to the slab, followed by the ski jump into the finish area, hold the line tight to the tapes and beware of the stream crossing, this took out Peaty last year on his way to the win and cross the line.. fast boys were around 2.25 for this long course.
Uplifts for the weekend were pretty spot on by all accounts, plenty of tractors shipping riders up and down the hill. The bumpy route up meant a few scratched bikes but luckily riders were able to grab their bikes because they were on the same trailer, not like Forestry Commission rules where they have to be seperate.
Racing was super fast, it rained the night before but the strong sun and the wind blowing across the hill soon dried it out again and dust was everywhere. Watching the elites come down in the finals, Julien Camellini was the first to surprise everyone coming across the line in 2.26 when everyone before had set 2.28 at the fastest, Marc Beaumont stormed to the finish in an amazing 2.24 and Dan snatched 2.25 and second place being the fastest qualifier the day before.
The biggest mention went out to Matt Simmonds, who despite not being picked for the Worlds squad beat a few of them with a 2.28. Rachel Atherton is back and on it, putting in a 2.42 after having only ridden her bike again for the past couple of weeks! Danny Hart was on a flyer, in Youth men putting a lot of pressure on the Elites with a 2.33 and styling it up off every single jump. Joseph Smith and Ruaridh Cunningham were also piling it on with 2.29 and 2.30 respectively even though they're in Junior.. watch out Elites they're coming to get ya!
Big thanks go out to Si and Steve, all the sponsors of the series, Extreme Medics for putting people back together, all the marshals for sitting out all day and the tractor drivers for putting up with riders all weekend. The NPS is looking good again! Check out the official NPS site.
As usual we have a gallery of over 300 race pics, have a gander at them all here. Till next time!
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