Haha, that sounds like a report of the World Champs this year!

That's good news. I'm all up for some regional 4X in the off season. Otherwise before I know it i'll be avoiding the bad weather, and sitting in all weekend, and suddenly it'll be April and the NPS 4X will be starting and i'll be so rusty from not riding that I just wont bother (again).

Love the idea of the mini series doing 4x, dual and mini DH at chicksands but i think the need for timing gear on the mini DH adds unneccesary faffing about, although it would be good to include as its an awesome course.

Back on solely dual though, couldnt there be some kind of unnoficial/off the cuff kind of event? On the day signup, 3 or so categories, simple knockout rounds and DIY numberboards and nothing but a bit of pride if you win. Its a manually operated gate, so shouting 'ready!' and and pulling it when you like is as good as any random start gate, and turning up knowing you'll actually have some genuine competition as opposed to just trying to beat your mate will add a bit more fun.

I used to enter the dual races at Chicky, it wasn’t that long ago they ran them…

I’m not sure if Steve still runs them (I’ve moved away in the last couple of years), what with the 4X being a more developed, in demand track and probably taking up more of his time to maintain… 

The dual races they ran weren’t totally “non-contact”, the rule was stay in lane till you pass the red flag (at the end of the switchbacks, going into the 2nd table top) after that point there is no lane discipline, and riders can take any line they fancy, although normally the first rider past that red flag was 90% likely to win, simply by hogging the faster lines down the rest of the course although there was the odd surprise…

It was a great course to race on, and to do well you had to be comfortable on both lines, obviously it’s nowhere near as fast and gnarly as the 4X next to it, but good fun little races…