Dragon DownHill Rounds 1 and 2
Mountain Ash, Rhonda, South Wales
April 3rd and 4th 2004
repo/fotos Simon Paton

Check the new number boards out! How smart are these, were majorly impressed, good job Jase. The Dragon series this year has pulled in some great sponsors which we'll mention as we go on. Though we'll start with Marzocchi and Windwave (Marzocchi UK Disty). In 2004 there will be a prize of 1pr of Marzocchi 888Rs forks to the competitor with the fastest combined time over the weekend, now thats a deal! www.marzocchi.com

It's an early affair at the Dragons with practice starting at 08:00 sharp! That means youv'e got till 11:00 so thats 3hrs and 5 runs if your keen and efficent. Transport was again the big trucks, a little fast in places and scary, do we need a rope / bar across the back, maybe? I was commisairing as well on Saturday under my official BC role. Note any race, you must have bar ends, not just the Nationals. If you have ever seen a bar go through someones cheek even with a full face on then you'd know why!

Dropped at the top theres the best roll down / wam up bit of track ever, even in the mud, rutted corners, puddles, little bumps and lumps to pump and double up, ace..

The start was off the rocks and Saturdays 2nd run saw many opt for a new unridden line around the outside avoiding the crazy mud rut of the 1st corner. It's always good for a course to change mid race, you should have seen the crowds debating.

The Original UNT©

The same course as always which is a long old affair. Rally down the big gnarly fast rutted slope, don't fall off half way like big Dave List did, it takes 30 secs to walk back up to get your bike. Sweet bus stops, the 1st being the best as you can totally hip / table it to the down slope if you give it enough gas. Rave Racings Jase Brennan binned it here though and cut his calf muscle real bad (Peaty style) and spent Sat p.m under the surgeons knife. Get well soon fella!

The long sections were still mega fast, just huge problems with spray and goggles, tear-offs were a necessity. Once cross the road a mega slog pumping through the woods that run parallel to the road then whoosh through the stream crossing. Unless your Dom from Kiddy on your Intense Uzzi, this snapped clean in half for no reason, unheard of from Intense! Also note Doms best mate Hippy Rich cracked his Boxxers clean wthout even crashing as well. Just don't loan anything to anyone from Kidderminister, period.

Theres then long log drops, has anyone doubled these up? It's a long 25ft if anyone ever had the gas cooking, well on a dry day that is. Before the infamous “Rowan / Titley” drop, there was a new uncut section that caught out everyone, sloppy and slippy slowing you down before dropping in. The finish was a quick tarmac road sprint into a rocky gully before popping the hump over the finish line.

Sub 4mins and your the cream of our elite, 4:30 was a good time and most aimed foor under 5mins. Now thats a long and tough course, thrown in with heavy down pours throughout the weekend. Tyre choice was crazy, Rob Warner rode a Michelin slick on the back! The Athertons rode spiked muds whilst the rest of us swapped between HighRollers / 16s and Swamps / Muds. I still don't know which was best, the course terrain was that varied.

The timing rolled perfectly all weekend with a live screen stuck to Jase's new window licking bus, with ramp at the back for the old and frail. Note the clever Dragon timing chips that you zip tie to the downtube. This just lets the time keepers identify who's who, stoppping all the confusion when 2 riders cross together or the numboards caked in mud.

Old faces appearing? Jerry Twigg fresh faced vets rider for 04 and predicted to clean up? Wheres Rob Munn, now theres a challenge. Paul French makes a welcome return to Masters, that's Howarth, Simpson, Old into Experts and Jones and French in, life doesn't get any easier!

Pro Elite saw the Scottish crew making the long road trip, was it the practice for the NPS or the thought of a pair of Marzocchi's up for grabs?

Next race, rounds 3 and 4 is the 24th and 25th of April at the Taff Buggy Trails. Next uplift days for your diary: 27th March Mtn Ash, 17th April Taff Buggy Trails – Book online with Jase at www.dragondownhill.co.uk

www.claytoncars.co.uk - Clayton Cars BMW are sponsoring free entries for the 1st place winners of the Junior and Youth categories at each Dragon round.

www.titec.com - Titec are donating a bar and stem combo for the 1st place winner of the Juvenille category at each Dragon round.

www.goldtec-cycles.co.uk - Alls good here, shock bushes, stems, chain devices, replaceable hangers and hubs etc..

For both days resuts go to www.dragondownhill.co.uk

A thousand thanks to Sam, Simon's missus, who got us into order on the start line every race come rain or shine, even I didn't dare to be late, she run a good start! She's hung up her coat after 4 yrs and we wanted to say goodbye! xxx

Keep Spinning.

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