SDH took a trip to Kinnerton in sunny Wales to hook up with Ancillotti Team Mechanic and NPS 2007 Coordinator Steve Parr and two of the up and coming riders on the Ancillotti Downhill team, Matt Simmons and Joe Smith for a trail building session scoping the new course for the August backup leg of the 2007 National Points Series.

Joe Smith and Matt Simmons

So after a good season in 2006, Matt and Joe are looking to make some serious waves in the downhill racing scene in the next few months aboard the new Ancillottis. Both riders have had a series of strong results. First of all a little info about the two riders.

Matt Simmons

Matt is 19 and comes from Telford in Shropshire. His first race was at Eastridge at one of the MSS rounds where he finished 8th, after that racing became the normal way of life.

In the last two years he has achieved some success with results both at home and abroad and was MSS and National Champ here in the UK. Matt represented GB in the European Champs where he placed 5th. The 2005 World Champs in Livigno Italy he also rode for G.B and finished a creditable 5th place in Juniors.

Previously riding for Muddy Fox, Matt moved up to Elites in 2006 and finished 3rd overall in the NPS and placed 10th at the National Championships. He also attended three rounds of the UCI World Cup, qualifying twice.

Matt Simmons

Next year Matt will be racing all the rounds of the MSS, NPS and attending as many rounds of the WC as possible, most likely the European rounds with help from Andy, Ancillotti team support and van driver.

Here's a roundup of Matt's results from the last two years:

Results for 2005
Dragon Downhill Round 11 Junior Men 1st
Dragon Downhill Round 10 Junior Men 1st
NPS Downhill Series Round 6 Junior Men 2nd
MTB Uplift Day/Midland DH Championships Junior 1st
UCI DH Mountainbike World Cup Elite Men 30th
World DH Mountain Bike Championships Junior Men 5th
NPS Downhill Series Round 5Junior Men 2nd
UCI MTB World Cup 2005 - Downhill Elite Men 48th
NPS Downhill Rd4 & National 4X Series Rd5 Junior Men 4th
European Downhill Championships Junior Men 5th
National Downhill Championships Junior 1st
Dragon MTB DH Round 6 Junior Men 4th
Dragon MTB DH Round 5 Junior Male 2nd
Midland Super Series Race 3 DH MTBJunior Men 1st
National MTB DH Points Series Round 3 Junior Men 4th
NPS 4X Round 2 Senior 9th
UCI MTB DH World Cup 2005 Elite 57th
National MTB DH Points Series Round 2 Junior Men 3rd
SDA MTB DH Series Round 1 Junior 4th
Dragon MTB DH Round 2Junior Male 3rd
Dragon MTB DH Round 1Junior Male 5th
National MTB DH Points Series Round 1 Junior Men 20th
Specialized Winter Series Round 3 DH MTB Junior 2nd
Specialized Winter Series Round 2 DH MTB Junior 1st
Specialized Winter Series Round 1 DH MTB Junior 2nd

Results for 2006
24Seven Downtown Race Elite 2nd
Midland DH Super Series Round 6 Elite 1st
Dragon DH Series Round 13 Elite Male 1st
Dragon DH Series Round 12 Elite Male 1st
National Downhill Series Round 5 Elite Men 9th
Midland DH Super Series Round 5 Elite 3rd
National Downhill Series Round 4 Elite Men 4th
Fat Face National Downhill Championships Senior Men (Elite) 10th
Dragon DH Series Round 7 Elite Male 3rd
Dragon DH Series Round 6 Elite Male 2nd
Midland DH Super Series Round 3 Elite 2nd
UCI DH World Cup Round 3 Elite Men 56th
UCI DH World Cup Round 2 Elite Men 71st
National Downhill Series Round 2 Elite Men 18th
National Downhill Series Round 1 Elite Men 2nd
Midland DH Champs and Round 1 Elite 5th

The Ancillotti team bikes are under constant revision and improvement. Many bike manufacturers release new models each Autumn in time for the next years' sales but the Ancillottis undergo a more frequent evolution with minor tweaks from one model to the next. Unfortunately Matt's bike was taken from the team van at Montgenevre at the Maxxis cup back in August, so today's photos were on board Steve's bike.

Joe Smith

Joe is 16 and comes from Abermule near Newton in Powys. He first got into mountain biking with his Dad, has been riding most of his life and racing since 2003.

Favourite riding location in the UK is Bala and abroad Morzine has its fair share of secrets tracks and trails. Joe rides as much as he possibly can, which can be difficult because of school commitments but within the next 5 years he hopes to be a regular on the World Cup scene.

When not on his downhill bike Joe rides BMX and now along with Matt has a mini bike for messing around on and a is on skis whenever he can.

Joe Smith

Some his racing highlights include:

2006 British National Points Series Champion
2006 British National championships 2nd
2006 24/7 youth Downtown Winner
2005 British National Champion
2005 British National Points Series 2nd
Represented Great Britain in the 2006 Youth European Championships.
2003-2006 Welsh National Champion

So keep your eyes peeled for these guys and the rest of the Ancillotti team at a race near you, their yellow and white kit and bikes are sure to be an eye opener!

A big thanks to Matt and Joe for taking the time to chat to us and to Steve for inviting us along!

SDH out.

Repo by Tristan Veneer and Photos by AJ Roberts.