Orange Bikes
2009 Season underway - SDA & NPS 1st rounds
The racing season is upon us. Actually, it all started a few weeks ago with the first round of the World Cup in South Africa but now the domestic series’ are in full swing and Orange are back on the podiums.
Starting things off was the first SDA of the season on the 19th April which was held at the most northerly race track in the UK; Pitfichie. Sun, heat and dust characterised that event as well as a great track which threw it all at riders from the fast and open top section to the rocks and roots lower down. With a push up and a fair bit of pedalling required to keep your speed up, it was a track which suited those who had been training hard over the winter.
As it was, the event turned out well for Orange backed riders. In Elites, Ben Cathro took second whilst Joe Barnes was third, both for MTBCut.tv/CycleJersey whilst Mountain High’s Phil Ashbridge, also onboard a 224 Evo, took fourth. In the women’s, Bex Reilly showed that all her winter training had paid off as she took to the top step of the podium with a time over four seconds clear of her nearest rival.
Following on from Pitfichie we were back in Scotland just a week later for the first round of the NPS. Originally intended to be held at the Welsh venue of Rheola, some last minute problems saw Ae used in its place. Some changes were made to help keep it fresh and made for a great event. Despite it all starting off with some promising sunshine, it all quickly reverted to type once practice finished on Saturday and the rain loomed into view, making things decidedly more slippery come Sunday morning.
Tight times as always punished mistakes and so both MTBCut.tv riders Ben Cathro & Chris Hutchens rued crashes which pushed them out of the running in the Elite category. However, Joe Barnes, who was looking quick all weekend, stormed to a well deserved second place, just behind reigning World Champion Gee Atherton. Orange Bikes also made the podium in the Elite Women’s category when Mojo’s Aimee Dix pushed hard in the tricky conditions to get third. Once again, the tight times showed here as she was just eight tenths off second place. In the Veterans category, Alastair MacLennan may not be having such an easy time of it as he has had in previous years now that there is some fresh bloody in the category. After dominating proceedings in 2008, he was beaten into second place by less than nine tenths of a second at Ae Forest this time round.
The next big races are rounds two and three of the World Cup series which are to be held at the French venue of La Bresse on 10th May and the Vallnord in Andorra just a week later on the 17th. We’ll hopefully have some stories and updates coming back from the MTBCut.tv/Cyclejersey and Mojo riders so keep checking here to see what’s happening.
Words: Alasdair MacLennan
Pics: Ian MacLennan and Ian Linton