De Fault!

Racing bikes is fun.

Got off to an ok start. Was with the lead group through the first bit of ST before loosing 50-60m to them on the long fire rd out to the fare end of the course.
Tucked into the next bit in 5th. Some deep braking and hard efforts got me back onto the lead group and I could see Richard chasing hard behind too,

A missed gear change saw Brad stall and go from 3rd to 6th and let Barnsie and and the new bloke, Hutto get a bit of a break. Richard also caught us and took the opportunity to slip in front o f me.
A small mistake from Garry saw Richard round him up too and I though "well if he's going I'm going" so I called track, jumped on Richards wheel and we managed to open a good gap.

At the gap jump I took advantage of the A line to take the lead with Richard nipping at my heels.

Coming through timing for the first time I thought we'd made a little ground on the front two but knew they'd increase their lead on the fire rd.

We hit the far ST again and Richard was still pushing me hard, suddenly up front I saw Barnsie off the bike. "You OK?" "Bloody, Flat" he started making his way back along the fire rd.

Hey I'm in second...

We make our way down and up, twisting back and forward and come back up along side the fire rd only to see Barnsy helping Hutto at the side of the trail "You guys OK?"
"My battery fell out..."

Shit! I'm in the lead. Richards riding like a demon... Pressure's on.

Hit the A line again a get a small gap on Richard. Head past timing and into the last lap and suddenly there's a light behind me. I'm thinking Richard has put in a massive effort up off the bottom fire road only to realise it was Hutto. He caught me very easily... Apparently Richard has a small incident trying to integrate his handle bar with a tree and smash his gear lever.

Anyway we're up the first bit of ST for the last time and Hutto is all over my wheel and not even breathing hard.

We get onto the fire road and my legs are screaming, he just ride up beside me as though we are doing a Sunday ride on the family bike path.
Heading into the ST he lets me go in front. "Just call if you want to pass." "Na I still don't know where the track goes"

Bloody hell that means I've got to lead him through. I set a reasonable pace and get the occasional gap only for him to reel me back in with ease. I get a small gap before the bottom fire rd and manage to hold the lead going into the final ST (Though I really don't think he was trying. Me on the other had, well I was at 100%) up through the last bit of fire trail and we flick down through the gears and launch down the fire trail to the finish. Pretty sure he let me win

Hutto later reveals he is fresh of a 6 week training program at the AIS for road and track and was happy to sit behind me as it was his first MTB race and he really didn't know the track... Still I'll take that win,
as say Homer says "The two sweetest words in the English language, De Fault!"