Round 6- Leighton Buzzard 2

once again all small pictures are links to a large one

Unloading the bikes and rubbing in deep heat

After being the sole Club DB at the second last CHEC round at Towcester, I was glad that three other club members decided to dust off the old motorbikes and give the last race of the year a go. Rotaxrob was keen to give his PBH another run out, and Twowheelsdad was happy that he could once again join in the fun after an enforced layoff since our Isle of Man TT trip back in June! He and his newly fettled CRF250X (complete with a set of cow horns otherwise masquerading as new handlebars) were well up for a bit of ‘shit flicking’ as he puts it. Unfortunately Scottrider could not make it (again) and I can’t help felling sorry for the poor chap - even though it’s self inflicted!

We were all I bit apprehensive about the weather and as we were getting changed there were lots of discussions as to what we should wear. I opted for plain MX gear as I normally suffer from the heat (extra insulation ya see!) as did Rob but TWD opted for waterproof pants and top. While waiting for the off Jeff Morgan No:51 walked up and introduced himself. He often goes onto my site at work, sorry, ‘at home’ and recognised me from the pictures on the site. It’s always nice to meet people who enjoy the site so if you see me, come and say hello next time.

Getting ready for the start - yes it was a bit chilly! jacket over the top of camelback promted lots of 'humpback' jokes!

We had all hoped for a non stop three hour event due to the poor light and unpredictable weather but in the end the organisers opted for two 90min sessions with a 30min lunch break (normally 60min). TWD started in the first wave, Rob the second and me in the third. I seem to have learnt my lessen about taking the first lap too fast, so I settled into a nice steady relaxed pace and tried to learn the course. The MX bit is first and this year it was set out very different to the first round in the beginning of the year. Only the first section where you go up the ridge was the same, and instead of turning left you turned right this time. The right turn took you down and around the pond (like before) before shooting up the slope and zig zagging across the field, but this time there were a few very tight turns that were rutted, therefore making overtaking difficult.

Me and Rotaxrob in the same pic on left then two more of Rob

Catching someone on the course is easy – getting by is not always that easy! A couple of times I had to take some unorthodox lines and just nail it, allowing the newly fettled suspension to keep me upright – sometimes it worked, and other times, not so well.
After the MX bit came the water splash, another bit I enjoy but a section that many people appear to struggle on. Coming out of the splash you turn into the woods and the water carried by the bikes turns the clay into an ice rink after a few laps. And I really do mean an ice rink, you can’t touch the throttle and loads of people were having small spills in this section.

Me (21) passing rider number 161

Unlike in Lane End and Towcester, the wood section is flat, so it makes for fairly easy going on the arms, and can be used as a bit of a rest after the MX field, especially when you end up in a bit of a queue. I was catching a fair amount of riders now and although most of the wooded section flows well, there are very few overtaking spots. Still being a ‘fun’ event it’s best to wait of an opportunity and squeeze past when you can. A fair amount of riders move over when they can but I had to resort to using the horn when I found a marshal in the way!

Collection of pics showing me and TWD

The woods make way for a sapling field and which is fun but can catch you out if you are not careful. After that you cross a small bridge that we had been warned would be very slippery (and it was) so I just coasted over it every lap but I did see several guys tipping off, one right in front of me. The bridge takes you out onto a grass field blast -back to the start line transponders.

Several of Rob

Not sure if it was on my first or second lap but I passed Rob fairly early on and set about hunting down TWD who I caught in the woods and rather unkindly shouted at him to “get the f*** out of the way, you fat c***” (it seemed funny at the time) and he pulled over for me to carry on. But he said later if he knew it was me he’d have let me wait!
I found the grass field a bit tricky as I could not get any grip at all and was having some almighty slides coming out the corners. Even on the straights I was having to short shift up two gears as the 450 was lighting up so badly. There was one guy that came past me on a small XR and boy could he ride, sliding the back end into and out of corners like a pro, whereas most of us just ride around trying to go fast.

I gradually picked up the pace and tried to make up places on the MX part but found it a lot more difficult to make passes with the layout as it was this time, compared to the last round. There was one nice burmed left turn that then led up to a table top jump. I took this at ever increasing speeds but then my feet came off the pegs and I slammed down onto my nuts, so started easing up a bit on the jump after that!

TWD on the deck.....Rob in the river... followed by TWD

Me again also in the water splash/stream

In the woods during the morning I got a bit of a fright as I was jabbed by a branch in my neck, just above the collarbone. I somehow managed to hit it ‘end on’ so it gave me a good poke that has left a nice mark and had it been sharp/splintered it could have been nasty.
I passed TWD again and latter found out that he had been into the pits after he dropped the bike on a slope due to a stationary bike at the top of a climb. Nudging the bike he slowly slid back down, laying the bike on the ground. He looked at his watch and thought oh well I’m out of time and headed back to the pits to fix down a wayward (hot start?) cable. Only then did he realise that there was another 30 min to go! Lunch came pretty quickly and the three of us gathered about in the pits to refuel the bikes and ourselves before heading off once again. During the break TWD admitted he was “having a bit of a mare” in the first session and couldn’t get into a rhythm.

TWD getting a bit of air....follwed by JeffNo:51.....and rob

I got stuck into the laps and again made some places up wherever I could, the mx track being the best bit for overtaking but it became a little slick with a few drops of rain so I was careful not to overdo it. The water splash was also a good spot to make up some places, as very often people were queuing, so I sneaked past and plunged through the water. The slick section become even more slippery and I’ve heard some riders were cutting the coarse here to bypass the slippery part. You’re only fooling yourself if you need to do that to get a better result lads!
I again found it easy to catch someone on the mx track but not wanting to put over an aggressive pass (it is only a fun day) I sometimes struggled to get by. I ran behind number 75 for a while, then managed to get the better of him on the table top jump and straight section immediately after that. As we were both in the air I saw a flash go off and I heard him say “that will be a great photo” and it is because it was my photographer that took it!

table top jump

The grass section was still giving me grip problems and I tried weighing the outside peg a bit to help grip. It’s something I’d read about but never tried, and I’m sure it actually worked.
On what turned out to be my third last lap I was making real good time though the woods and was feeling nice and relaxed. I passed several people who kindly moved over and all was well with the world – until a thought popped into my head that I couldn’t stop. The voice said “yep you're doing well and you haven’t even had an off today” NOOOO! Don’t say that, you’re bound to fall of now, and I did - about a minute later!
I clipped (well ok hit) a tree with my right brush guard and it sent me slightly off line, and you know what? The next tree just stood there, not bothering to move at all, so I had no option but to give it a good whack with the left bar, very inconsiderate of it I must say. I’m not too sure what happened next but I initially thought the bars swung full lock to the left with the right bar then catching another tree with the bars hitting me in the chest just next to my body armour (again – see lane end report). But now I think I could have gone down and landed on the bars. Who knows, did anyone see it?
Feeling a little dazed and half winded but very stupid I went to the bike just as the guys I’d passed earlier came by and asked if I was alright. I was too embarrassed to look them in the eye but gave them the thumbs up; I was too winded to talk!
Of course being desperate to get going I grabbed the bike and yanked it upright, only I made the same mistake as last time (again see Lane End) and pulled the throttle wide open. Before I could stop it, the bike shot off into the trees, upright and on two wheels, rider less! Head now buried in shame I laughed to myself, how funny must that that have looked!
I set off again, the bike slightly bent and tried to make up the lost time. I did one more lap and then noticed the clock was ticking away and realised I’d have to get a move on but made it with a few minutes to spare.

Packing up to go after a great day......me holding ribs again on right

Packing up we had a good yarn about all the best bits of the day and it was nice to be finishing the day on a ‘high’ but boy was it cold once we started loading the bikes! The car temp gauge was flashing 3 deg C as we left!
So now we have to wait for the results. Luckily the ribs are ok this time, the only damage being a bit of bruising and slightly pulled muscles.
I did notice there was a fair bit of rubbish left about the place when we left; come on lads, take your crap home with you next time!

Results!

Redbikejohn no:21 - 9th in over 40 class (14th overall)

Twowheelsdad no:10 - 23rd in over 40 class (41 overall)

Rotaxrob no:12 - 5th in over 50 class WELL DONE MATE (40th overall)

Jeff Morgan - 2nd in over 50 class VERY WELL DONE (36th overall)

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