SHRED RACING SERIES SUCCESS
After a really successful event at Newnham Park back in May the team at Shred Events were expecting a drop in entries for round five of the RaceFace Circus of Dirt. A manic season of mountain bike events paired with perfect beach and BBQ weather can usually spell disaster for local races in the British summertime but the reality was a different story. The RaceFace Circus of Dirt events have been building a decent reputation for being fast, fun and delivering the kind of race package that riders talk about for weeks afterwards. Round three added to that reputation with great riding and a quality turnout of riders.
The track at Abbeyford was fantastic, a warm, calm and serene woodland setting with a gentle flowing river at the bottom was overshadowed by the wood’s more precious commodities – booming downhills, some fun little jumps, gradual sweeping climbs and sections of trail with multiple line choices that made overtaking fun. A 25 minute lap for most, the track was plenty for riders to get excited about.
Big news of the day was again the Enduro. Three rows of riders on the start grid and some of those ranging from people that were going to have a go at both events of the day through to people that would take most of the two hours to do their first lap. The start was chaos and the fun didn’t stop with some riders managing five laps and others managing just one. With a pretty much empty track after the first lap riders had the place to themselves and with beaming sunshine and dry fast trails they couldn’t have asked for a better morning’s riding.
The afternoon XC race also saw swelling numbers with a cracking field on the start of the elite race including series leader John Whittington (Orbea / CNP) and Torq’s Anthony O’Boyle. It was local rider Luke Eggar glad to be back in the fold of the Southfork team that delivered the ride of the day with a win in the Elite category, riding a bike he’d borrowed off his dad!
Full results, online entry for round four and photos from the event are already online at www.shredevents.com
Please note due to extreme forest felling the venue had to be changed for round four. This will now take place at the immensely popular Woodbury Common, nr Exeter. The date remains unchanged, August 7th 2011
Photos: Snapper Chick
