Elite Mastered At Chicksands

Chicksands maybe the most popular bike park in England. It is definitley the most popular in terms of rider numbers 4X venue. After NASS was lost as a venue, the NPS4x series returned for the second time to Bedfordshire.
The track had a couple of tweeks. The kicker into the second table had grown and the inside line table approaching the triple was back to being a double. The most interesting change was four logs sticking out into the middle of the tight second turn. The aim - to prevent inside line take outs but most people seemed to cope admirably with only Oggy being a finals time casualty. The unused from round one chicanne and last turn to uphill finish added little pause for thought for any one walking away with the lead.
Racing was Chicksands usual flat out drag race with a few moves going in over the triple or into the three 180s at the bottom of the track.

Bernard Kerr and Scot Roberts were flying in the younger age groups, as was Suzanne Lacey clearing the triples from the outside line.
Dialled Bikes had an eventful day with (not so multi coloured) Mick Ridgway looking totally factory in his new MX kit and James Goodwin dominating the seniors. Team mate Scott Waterhouse had the crash of the day going as fast as anyone all day and hit his head into the upside of the triple. Scott lay on the track going blue until cool headed Keith Wilson vitoed the usual dont touch him rule to undo his chin strap and restore his airway.

Masters is turning into a real battle with ex pros like Rapid Racer Stefan Gleed and Darren Howarth (Guak) showing its a now Not So Fat Dads club, with rumours of riders riding and even training between races. Soon to be daddy Dom Bent was out gating everybody all day and getting serious coaching from Kim on the side line. A rogue chilli in a Bedford curry house nearly upset the day but come finals time ever consitent Dazzler took the win. Round 4 should see the return of some normality with Paddy Baker back from stag do in Poland.

The vets are growing in number and races are always eventful. Keith Wilson clearly took the win from Sean Hanson and Gary Gray, but races of the day for me were between Ian Wherry and Andy . They met thre times in the motos and each one was a comedy of incidents. moto 1 Ian gets stuck in the last corner mud Andy thinks the race is over and stops then both men scrabble over the line. Moto two I think they bumped each other then in the run off Ian leads only to be taken by a charging Andy. To watch these two 40 plus man pushing each other all day and laughing at every moment of it epitomises the essence of a race weekend for me. End of the day Andy makes the final and has caught the bug. Both men make a date to meet again in RedHill for round 4.

Elite is the pinnacle of the sport. Scott Beoumont and Lewis Lacey are doing their last races before flying out with the British team to the World Championships. Scott came 6th and Lewis 11th an awesome showing for the British. I have already mentioned how the traditionally fat dads master class is looking more and more serious, well last years masters national champion Ian Hopkins turned elite this year. Got to be the oldest, no offense Ian, rookie year ever. He has been looking good all season and Chicksands was where it has begun to come good. Ian is fast and fit and made his first final holding off a charging Dave Richardson in the semi.
Ian lined up with world team members Scott and Lewis and British 4X stalwart Martin Ogden. Scott and Lewis and Oggy got their usual awesome starts with Hopkins holding his own and keeping in touch. Coming to the inside outside decider before the triple Lewis suddenly swerved to the outside line letting Hopkins get past in the more techincal but shorter inside line. I lost sight of the riders into the switch backs at the bottom but apparently Oggie had a moment on the logs and Ian followed Scott into the chiccane to the finish. Some how Lewis pulled an inside move on the last corner that pulled him next to Hopkins over the line. So close Ian said he couldnt call it but the ladies on the line called it in Laceys favour by a knobble of his tyre as he lunged for the line.
1 Scott Beoumont (Rocky Mountain)
2 Lewis Lacey (Charge)
3 Ian Hopkins (Solid Bikes)
Amazing racing and a real tale of maturity, experience and youth.
Thanks to Gemma Hunt for the images.

Next round Rd3/4 Redhill July 12/13