When you take on something new, its a good idea to play it safe. Round 2 of the SPS show took the Chainreaction NPS to Ae Forest, another tried and tested venue for many years, and just about an acceptable drive for us southern shandy drinkers. Looking at the weather forecast before traveling up, we were expecting the worst, but for first time in my memory the Scottish lands provided better weather than the rest of the UK. Considering we drove through what must have been the Banbury typhoon, we were spared this time around. This was my first experience of the Parr and Paton show, and the NPS seems to be continuously on the up. The Pits now feel like something is going on, Ae has always provided a good arena, with everyone packed in around the finish line. And there are services that the rider needs, with Fenwicks providing a good bike wash service and Mr Flooks and Roger from Wheel Pro helping people out in an emergency with repairs. And love him or loathe him, the Downhill Delboy on the mic all day does provide a good deal of entertainment and generates a good atmosphere. Apart from the rush of people, who didn't quite rush to get up and out of bed early enough to get on the first uplifts, the amount of cattle lorries taking everyone to the top was sufficient and ran pretty smoothly. Honda G-Cross were back providing some more glamour for the spectators, and the man trying to bring the beard back into downhill Nathan Rennie was also competing adding yet more pace to the elite field.

Greg Okeefe - Saturday Pre Rain

Practice started on saturday morning with the track dry from the week before, a few changes to the track meant some new obstacles for everyone to take on, the main section causing the most concern though was the off camber into the woods. Riders lined up the tapes like onlooking spectators many covered in bits of the landscape from the previous attempt which ended up in binning it. This coupled with the existing off camber section at the top would determine whether you were on it of off it. The corner just before the step down also caused the majority of people problems with a big old root sprawled across it, many people slid and the hit the deck even in the dry. But the dry course wasn't to last, although we missed the battering most of England was getting, we weren't going to get away Scot free, get it? Scot Free? Oh Never-mind. The rain fell and the top off camber becomes a tad more challenging, with the rocks shining giving you a subtle warning that if you touch the brakes now, you'll probably end up sliding into the pain cave. Word before we left that the finish was going to be different, but much to my relief the elevator was still part of the course, only 20 meters up the hill and about 15ft taller. The weather rolled out and we saw a steady progression in tyre choice, some people who don't mind frantic rubber changes started the weekend on Minions. The more laid back or just plain lazy came prepared with their high rollers, hoping they wouldn't have to change all weekend. The racket I was subjected to from sleeping in the van on Saturday night though made it all to clear that most people laid back or not, would be swapping things for the spikes come Sunday morning. And a trip to Scotland wouldn't be a trip to Scotland without a five minute hailstorm. As Sunday progressed though we were subjected to a few more downpours, but as racing started the course started to dry out again, and we were only hit with a few more light showers.

Greg Minnaar - Taking on the Rock Section

The Juvenile category was won by Lewis Buchanan with a time of 2:34 with Ecosse Racing's Mark Scott taking second from Fraser McGlone.

Danny Hart stormed the the Youth category and is getting faster all the time, conditions probably weren't the best when he did his race run, and had he raced a little later on would have probably seen himself inside the top 15 overall, still managed to pick up 26th overall though with a time of 2:23.13. Gareth Brewin riding for Descent-Gear picked up second and Harry Molloy riding for Muddy Fox finished 3rd.

Josh Bryceland was still whipping everything in his race run, for fun, and still managed to record the fourth fastest time of the day, if you see a photo on his Santa Cruz, it will probably be sideways. I suppose you can be a little bit lippy when you have just beaten Minnaar at such an age. The juniors have always been a muchos rapido category in this country and Solid Electric rider Sam Dale is hot on the chase of Bryceland and finished second ahead of Joe Smith riding for Ancilliotti UK, both finishing in the top 10 over all.

Josh Bryceland Santa Cruz Royal - Dropping into the finish and 4th Overall

A second podium of the weekend for Ancillotti UK as Paul French took the Vets category with a time of 2:31 from Seb Ramsay. Alastair MacLennan took 3rd place. Southerndownhill's Vet the Sprocket himself had a chain failure in his race run, probably due to me lubing it, damn that pesky PTFE.

David Tallontire one of the men responsible for the keeping Ae Forest in shape proved with his local knowledge and riding skills he was the man to beat in the masters category. A time a 2:28.35 took the win 4 seconds clear of Mark Wilcox in second place with seasoned pro Andrew Titley taking up 3rd place riding for Kona Sombrio.

The Non-Elite women saw Sue Mahoney top the podium with a time of 3:11 with Linda Davies in second place and Monet Adams taking 3rd place.

The Elite women field was a little on the small side this round with only 5 riders. Tracey Moseley wrapped up the win from Helen Gaskell by 10 seonds. Emily Horridge continues to build on her great start to the season coming third only 4 seconds off Gaskells time.

Tracy Moseley - Kona Les Gets - Two Wins out of Two

Helen Gaskell - Team Bikhut Halfords - Off the Stepdown

Em Horridge - Team Mountain Cycle Chatel - 3rd Place storming run and was buzzing at the finish

Peter Williams from Pro Bike Sport took the win and won the Senior category by over six seconds, which made him even happier when he scooped the the TF Tunes prize of two hundred smackers for winning by the biggest margin of the day. Tom Rodgers  came in second and Dale McMullen riding for Chain Reaction came in third place.

Expert category was won by a person who they said if he stayed on the bike he would clean up. Well despite witnessing him almost kill himself in the first practice run on Saturday and then him describe to me how he almost killed himself in his race run, he is staying on the bike. Adam Brayton topped the expert podium despite gashing his hand open on saturday and managed to fend off off Nikki Whiles who was also pinning it all weekend. Ancillotti had their third podium of the weekend with Rich Thomas coming in third.

The elite podium could have been a world cup podium. Gee Atherton scored the fastest time of the day with 2.11.82 with Steve Peat behind him with less than a seconds difference. The Foriegn invasion of the Lehikoinen and Minaar took third and fourth spots a good two and four seconds behind with Matt Simmonds producing another podium for Ancillotti UK. There were some big offs there though, Rennie on his birthday had an early meeting with a tree. Dan Athertons usually pristine white kit covered in a shade of brown, but typical Dan pulled a massive one hander off the 45ft elevator into the finish for the fans, nice work.

Matt Simmonds - Ancillotti UK - Kept it Pinned to get 5th in the Elite

Team G Cross Honda - Could defeat the home players

Steve Peat - Royal Camo'd up in the Mud

 

Gee Atherton - Team Animal Commencal - Managed a clean run and the quickest of them all at Ae

 

In all then another great NPS round has been wrapped up, some great racing, some great moments. Round 3 brings on the competition who has a generator that can power Leon Rossers van and electric hob, we promise the industrial unit that kept everyone awake wont make an appearance next time.  Next round is at Rugog farm, lets hope we don't have a repeat of last years mudbath.

Full results are available from Mikrotime .

Big thanks out to Paul From ridersretreat who supplied photos for the report, for some of the best accommodation in Morzine and Les Gets check out www.riders-retreat.co.uk . Also running a training week with Rowan Sorrel so check the site for details.

Next week we are off to Champery for the UCI World Cup Round 2, check back here for all the latest news from that.

Keep it on the wheels......