southerndownhill.com - Forum

Before you read this, understand a few things first.  Am not 'having a rant' nor to I envy the task SPS have in putting on the nationals, I certainly couldn't do it!  I have been thinking about this for a while now and have decided to put my thoughts to the floor.  I would like to also state from the onset that I believe in qualifiaction for nationals, it is right that the top racing level in the UK should be for the more seasoned and experienced riders.  Now to my point (s)

I have rode and raced DH for many years, as the username suggest am still to set the world alight with results but do enjoy the craic what comes with racing and am steadily improving (my nomral results are in the 20 to 45th place bracket depending on lady luck!).  Last year I was unable to compete in the NPS series (or many races at all) due to a change of jobs and location as well as the associated costs that come along.  I hadn't really heard about the 5 point rule till it was announced and agree with the principals.  My question is directly related to people like myself who race in senior and didn't get any points during the 2007 season.

I have heard a lot people saying "all you need to do is go to a 2008 regional and get 5 points".  This seems quite straight forward untill you give it some consideration.  5 points at a regional in senior class comes from finishing 10th or higher, points only begin to get awarded from 15th up so essentially its top ten or bust.  The only exception to this rule is double points events of which all 5 nationals are as well as the regional championships.  In these points are awarded for riders inside the top 40.

Looking through the standings from the Midlands last year, the vast majority of highly placed seniors also (suprise suprise) did very well at national level, at the same time occupying the majority of point scoring positions.  This does make it very hard for anyone who does say, top 30 at regional level to get 5 points.  Such people are by no means un-skilled riders, certainly not going by the standards of people I ride and race with.  You can on the other hand do a championships race and stand a very decent chance of getting 5 points.  However, to my knowledge, there are only 3 races outside the NPS which carry double points this year, by which time most of the season will have passed.  If you are already a senior rider with 5 points then you are a lot more likely to get 5 points for 2009 doing the nationals as it is all double points, kind of an elite club.

I appreciate I am in a loose - loose situation here and am only really discussing my views out of spite for probably not being able to race the nationals this year.  Also ultimatley who give a toss about the ramblings of a twenty something alsoran!  I just question the difficulty level being placed on senior riders this year to qualify, it is a challenge!  Am affraid I can't think of an easier sollution easy, other than maybe a change towards the top 30 riders at each regional series in each cats overall standings being allowed to race nationals.

Hopefully I will get 5 points somewhere and be able to compete, I hope I do anyways  :( 

I can see where you're coming from, perhaps the top ten in each category should not be awarded points for this years nationals as they have already qualified? That would make it a little easier for others.

However that would then reduce the effectiveness of the qualifying rule. I think you are just going to have to put it all on the line so you can race nationals. Go to somewhere like the UK Bikepark, the level is more grassroots and so you will have a better chance of qualifying.

What races will have the qualifying points? Will it just be events like dragons, midlands and sda's or will places like PORC and aston have them too?

Dragons, Mildlands, SDA's, Caersws Cup have BCF points, NOT PORC and Aston is closed.

Alsoran

I can sympathise with your situation as in 2006 I had significantly more points than, however with my job in 2007 I was out of the county 6 months a year and it coincided with the main races, meaning I also do not have the five points required.  Remmeber these guy are trying to create the best event with a showcase of the UK's fastest riders in each category.

Maybe focusing on the regionals will give you that speed injection to get you into the top ten each week, then go on to crack the nationals.

Alsoran - Your not the first and I'm sure you won't be the last to bring this point up, anything that has BC backing normally has BC points, as on a thread above there is a list of these

Don't forget the 2 winter series going on up North at Hamsterley and Inners, they also carry BC points

Good luck in your points hunt

If eeryone could qualify with ease there wouldn;t be much point...If you think your  going to find it hard then your one of the people who isn't quit at national standard yet. So its a good motivation to step the riding up a  notch in order to qualify...Use it as motivation instead of complaining about it.

did you read anything that was wrote above?

I never said that it should be easy to qualify, it should be something that is earned.  I just believe the standard being currently requested is a bit too high for a categiry such as senior which has on average 100 entrants at each regional event.  Imagine for a second no one in the UK had any ranking points.  In theory, (excluding the 3 double points races this year)  that means 15 of those 100 are "of the standard" to score ranking points, therefore, on average 85% of senior riders are not of national standard, at least in terms of regional races.  Finishing on or around the top 20 at regional level in senior is by no means an easy task, I know people who race at national level who finish outside the top 20 at regional level and have well over 30 ranking points.

Does that make them "not quite up to national  standard" ?

Excluding the nps I got more than enough points last year and the way I was riding i wasn't close to national standard ;) ::)

it is good to have a point sysetem

but

what is national standard, somebody with 5 points?

I'm going to two dragons this year, entering the juvenile catagory. Say if I got 10th on both, how many points would I have?

16

Thanks mate, this is all so confusing!

PM me, Or msn me if you want anymore help.

85% of senior riders probably aren't at natrional standard, seeing as its the biggest category with the broadest and most likely age range of competitors for the sport.

I'm thirteen, entering my first race ever at Cwmcarn in the juvenile catagory, to be done on a Kona Cowan jump hardtail.... Fancy my chances? I think not......

If you're fast enough, why not?  If you're not fast enough, then I suppose the argument is that you're not ready to be racing at that standard, the NPS is after all supposed to be the pinnacle of racing in the UK.

You don't see many shite sunday morning occasional players playing in the premiership do you?

Rotoes

im guessing the south west series doesnt carry any points?

the football analogy's is right but I know of plenty of quick riders with out points
and I know of some very average riders with points
i

I know exactly what you mean, and I know plenty of people who fall in to those two categories myself.

Although the points system's been in place for a few years, it's never been used for this purpose before, so give them a few years to weed out the problems/niggles and we'll end up with a series that does only contain the riders of a suitable standard.

Rootes

P.S.  I haven't got any points, so won't be racing the NPS in 2008, but I still think it's a good idea.

That's what I'm trying to say.... I am a decent rider, but I don't think I'll be ending up with many points ( if any ) this year.

All I can suggest is that you do what I'm having to do this year.  Race any races you can that give you points, and aim for the NPS in 2009.

Rootes

Not that I'm planning on racing the NPS 2009, but say if I managed to get points in the dragon downhill series this year (highly unlikey, but still ;)), enough to enter the NPS in 2009, don't I also need, isit a BC license? Not really clued up on the subject, can't make sense of any of the stuff thats been thrown up in the site search.

Borgia

You will, and you'll need one this year too. You won't get any points this year if you don't have a valid licence...

Don't get how people find this so hard to comprehend all the points and ranking system is clearly explained on the bc site.

Hmm, still baffles me.....

Jack,

If you get the points, and enter an NPS on a Hardtail....even although you say you have ridden lots, at 13 you going to see a lot of riders right behind you at pace, believe me. You will have to be track savvy and listen for riders, other than that you will have a ball.

Alan

Kk thanks, I have a friend who rides a lot of races and is going to be with me at my first race (dragon). Hopefully he'll help out.

The main thing to remember really is that to get the actual points, you need a license so to even have the option to race the nps next year,say if by end of this year you feel like your ready, you'll have to have had a license a full year before to already have the points for next year just incase, unless you leave it to the get the points in a winter series right at the end of the year.

Ant.. 

Can someone tell me an answer to these two questions
first, some one told me you need to get points from after
a certain date like October to race the 09 nps's is this true
or can i use all of the points that i hopefully get from racing
the dragons?
Secondly,can someone sign you off to do a race?
Thanks
J

I doubt that you'd need to get points after October due to a lack of races between October and the following March/April.. Any throughout the 2008 season should be fine for NPS '09

And how do you mean sign you off? You'll need a Parent/Guardian to sign for you on your entry form if your under 18 if thats what you mean?

Nick

Are you talking about someone "signing off" the points?

You have to have a racing license . Then the points will be put onto your license after the race.

no i mean when a pro says that you are good inf
J

Are you actually being serious?! :P

Unless the systems unbelievably corrupt that won't be happening.

All riders have to earn their right to compete at the highest form of competition in the UK from now on.

As it should be.  A pro watching you ride means jackshit.

Rootes

It's over for this year but BUSA carries BC points

I understand you need a license to race the NPS, but do you need one to collect the qualifying points?
e.g. Could someone race this year with no license, collect the points, and then buy a license to race the NPS next year?

You need a license this year to get the points put on, if you want to race the nps next year.

Ant..