MSSS - Round 4 - Caersws

Due to the combination of a physical inability to respond to the unwelcome strains of Hells Bells by AC/DC from the alarm clock on my phone and last minute (but welcome!) decision of my wife to accompany me to Caersws, the day got off to a slow start. Add a fuel stop, shopping trip to Oswestry and the hour long queue of traffic into Newtown and I missed out on what could have been an awesome days riding.

We rolled into the field around 2pm - a quick change had me on the bike and in the tiny uplift queue in minutes. Plentiful tractors and slick organisation meant I was soon flying up the hill to check out the track. First run, I left the armour in the van as the blazing heat was too much!

Running on the 'old' Midlands track, there were a few changes to keep it fresh. Gone were the double start hills – instead the left hand mound was ridden backwards into a 180 berm and a new small double. Some hard cranking into the dust was required to get up to speed.

Riders rattled off down the right hand line, plunging into the trees and twisting through the roots before popping out, airborne, into the step down before pumping and doubling along next to the fire-road. Collect your wits and dive into the mega steep section, rattle over the rock garden and hop the two log drops. All familiar if you have ridden before.

Getting complacent, I gunned it out onto the fire road, ready to pin it to the tabletop/step-down kicker – only to find my route blocked! A huge bus-stop launched riders up and left, dropping back down over roots and into a left hand drift, spinning back up to speed for the launch before the step-up gap.

Carving left off the old track was the next new section was ankle deep in dust. Following someone through here was not an option if you wanted to see the roots and bumps! Three lines were on – the jury was out between high and middle, low sucked you in to the dust and kept you there!

The gate was open to the field – not like uplift days. The first time I hit this fast, I pulled up for some unknown reason. The drop feels bottomless – the huge berm at the bottom essential for the slingshot into choice of jump – small double to tight corner or huge gap to big berm.

My slack timing meant I only got two runs in – but the rest of the riders were loving the consistent slick uplift from landowner Ian Jones and his tractor-toting mates. A mint day!

Racing

Three practice runs in the morning gave me a chance to wind up the speed and see how the overnight rain had hit the course. Amazingly, despite what had sounded like a full-on deluge while in the tent last night, the dust was flying from first runs down!

Nev Duggan railing the flat corner into the doubles

The Midlands always seems to be a popular series with a large mix of riding abilities. Practice got pretty hairy with lots of 'traffic' and riders down. At one point, I pinged off the cart track into the new dusty section only to see the huge root obscured by a cloud of dust with the odd limb and bike part barely visible! I don't think I hit anyone – if so, sorry! Sketchy stuff.

Youth riders are getting quicker and quicker these days. Must be the size of their paper rounds - or else I am just getting older! Jo Smith took the Ancillotti over the line in a time not much slower that the Elites, with Sam Dale only 2 seconds behind.

Juniors aren't hanging around now either, with Ralph Jones pegged a 2:22. They'll only get faster now school holidays are upon us!

Barracuda Bob goes down in a dust strom

Masters was dominated by the ever-present Barracuda Bob. We all got to chill out at the start while the Marshalls radioed him past. Awesome to see that level of commitment - hope the Saracen signing won't affect the nickname! Since Colin, Colin, Colin Will-lliams was off racing the Mega in France, someone else got a chance to stand on the top spot for the old gits this time. John Finney was still hung over from France so had to settle for 4th. Sion Jones was looking quick but just couldn't quite pull it off (not like him!). Ian White took the top spot today.

Final field launch to the arena

I've been told I have to mention the "even older gits than masters" - The Vets - more often! Despite their years, many of them are still flying, with Ian Fisher kicking my arse on his first run but watching his back on the second! Steve Parr (could he be next years NPS organiser and hog roaster?) looking quick out of the gate - but not enough to catch Martin Crocket.

Bill Slatter nails the catch berm

Ad Morgan ripping it in his jeans to take the Senior win ahead of Phil Roberts, Andy Bickley and Nev Duggan. Bill Slatter came a right cropper, “bruising his boob” and spraining his wrist. I was pretty worried about how much he liked his bandage and couldn't wait for some “alone time”. At least he didn't let Nev touch his bone, like Hughes did last weekend....

James Hughes, bone in tact, at the finish

Speaking of Hughes, he rode fast on the 303. Comments during practice were "he's riding – everyone else looks like a passenger!". And that was with a week old open dislocation (read: bone sticking through the skin) of the thumb! The injury stopped him doing the large gap but didn't appear to scrub much speed off anywhere else! 2:20 for 4th place, only 3 seconds down. Tom Braithwaite flew down with fastest time of the day to win Elite in a 2:17.

Rob Smith sends the 303 towards the field berm

Tom Braithwaite dropping in

Results

Full results will be posted on superseries.net.

Tom Braithwaite takes a bow with FTD

Fingers crossed, I'll see you at the next round!