This would be my second downhill race since i started riding dh about 2 months ago. I didnt really expect to get good results coz i was gonna be racing with rizal , ben , zure , mie and the other seasoned riders. It was gonna be a race to gauge my performance for the two months ive been riding dh.
I managed to check out the trail on the Friday and Saturday before the race. The trail was really nice and flowy on the top section. After that was about 400 metres of fireroad, loose rock and ruts which led into the new section. The newer section, SS 2 was kinda tough. A moderate step-down accompanied by a few bumps after that straight into a flat left corner, FUN ! After the SS2 section was a short pedalling section and straight into SS3. SS3 was a little technical, 2 or 3 switchbacks with a nice left berm and a drop off at the end.
Decided to push up to check the conditions of the track, it was rather muddy and slippery, gonna be tough for be coz i had minions in front and high rollers at the back which were practically slick! The seeding took AGES, there were more than 100 riders competing. Open , T-bolt , Hardtail and Invitational. I decided to just flow all the way down, try not to pedal as much, i passed the SS2 section with ease but i slided and wiped out turning into the left corner. Lost about 5 seconds there. Got on my bike and pedalled off, got to the short pedalling section before SS3 and made up for the time there. Drifted into the switchbacks, took the correct lines. Managed to get a time of 2.10.84 for that run, 5 seconds behind the 1st person, Zure.
I told myself to try harder this time, all out. 5 , 4 , 3 , 2 , 1 GO! I mashed the pedals and burst out of the starting point. Reached the first flat right corner, was REALLY muddy and slippery so i took the outside line, kept to the left and cut in. Flawless up till that tricky bit in SS2. Slowed down and leaned more, perfectly executed! Reached the pedalling section and mashed as hard as i could. Took the switchbacks nicely and managed to get a clean run. I was quite satisfied with my run. I clocked 2.06.24 for the run, came in second place, a good 3 seconds behind Zure.
Overall, it was a great experience, first race on a full suspension bike. Ended with good results, alot better than expected! A few riders were quite unlucky with their runs, a few wipe outs here and there. But it was all in good fun, you win some you lose some.
Anyway, here's some pics from the race, courtesy of Ameer:
Me
Zure
Ben
Rizal
Nan
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