Close racing

Close racing is good race, yeah?

Despite the trash talking Dukesie set a good pace of the start after getting in front of Barnsie on the gap jump. Brad Roughely was just behind while I was sat in 4th. Paul Whitefield lead the second bunch that closed the gap on us in the far single trail and he was sitting on my wheel when I ran a little wide, clipped my front wheel into a tree and stalled. He hit my rear, getting me going but unfortunately Paul fell off int he process stall those behind him too.

Awesome, unplanned tactic that I thought about repeating several times through out the race as I had riders all over my wheel.... Sorry Paul.

Taking the log A line I managed to climb a couple of spots and we hit the fire road and the sprint was on. Some how I held on and hit the next bit of fire trail in first. WTF!

So I take the first lap with Brad and Barnsie hot on my heels.

With the pace on I had my head down and completely missed the turn down toward the jump (Some one has removed the logs and tap that blocked this exit and I think it caught a few people out) Brad followed me and Barnsie was giggling as he tuned off and took the lead.

Swearing a bit I got him again on the jump while he beat Brad in a game of chicken where the B line rejoins.

I tried to set a reasonable pace while conserving energy through the next section and the trash talk was back on with Barnsie giving as good as I normally give him.

I've got a small gap as we hit the fire road and I somehow manage to hold Barsie off up first hill but he was closing fast. We head down the hill, around the first water hole and then from some reason I think the second one isn't too bad and it will be faster going around it to the right instead of the usual left. My front wheel sinks almost to the axle and I go from 30kmh to 10. Barnsie whips past and I just manage to get going again to hold of brad and we swing into the single trail again.

Barns takes lap 2.

I don't mind saying I struggled to stay with him especially climbing up off the bottom fire rd but knew if I could stay close enough I'd get him on the Gap jump again and could control the pace from the front.

Getting in front I back off a bit trying to conserve energy. I get away a couple of times through the corners but Barnsie rides back on to my wheel as we head down through the single trail and Brad isn't far behind.

I'm trying to keep the pace up enough that he doesn't get a chance to pass but not so high that I can't suck in the big breaths.

We get to the far end and I hit the single trail coming back towards the fire road with everything I've got and manage to pull just enough ahead that although I'm slowing down I hold him off on the fire road and as we head into the techi descent he's on my wheel saying "And then there were two, We dropped brad."

I know I need atleast 20 meters on him if I'm to hold him off on the final fire road climb so I hit the descent with everything I've got. I don't mind saying I scared myself a little coming into those off camber corners but I'm saying to myself "Stay off the brakes. Stay Off the brake. Pedal!"
It was definitely the quickest I've come down through there and once again I've got just enough gap that I get up the fire rd and turn into the last section of ST just as Barnsie gets back on my wheel.

My heart rate is off the scale and it's all I can do to get through the next lot without making a mistake that would cost me the lead and i finish just 5seconds up.

Elsewhere in the field racing was just as tight. brad was just 1min back in 3rd.

There was just 4 seconds between Dukesie and Stapo in 5th and 6th
7 seconds between Phil Mac and Kevin Bell
Less than a minute between Micheal Porter, Al Kemp, Darren McMahon and Chris Mills
5 seconds between Dan Roe and Lincon
3 seconds between Ian Hill and Stevie with Brett Mac just another 3 seconds back

and on it goes.