Welsh Champs 2010

The track at Llangollen is recognised as one of the steepest in the UK and with a new track being raced for the first time, me and my bro were pretty excited to be racing here. As we arrived we pulled up and you could see the whole track from start to finish and it looked like it was going to be fun!

Saturday was all day practice and things went really well, most people opted to go for flat pedals as the steep technical track was too challenging for them. I stayed on clips and felt more comfortable. After a few practice runs the track turned into a straight line, people were littered all over the track and was just a general mess. The marshals did their best job of putting the tape back, but with no joy as people kept running through it. Lines were forming all over the place and it was hard to decide which one to choose.

Sunday morning and the track had been re-taped and ready to race. After two practice runs my bro had a big crash and knocked himself out on one of the fast rutted sections. Will also had a massive crash on the lower section of the track. He was carried off by the Extreme Medic's team and allthough he was ok, wasnt allowed to race
I was ready to race. On my first race run I had a few crashes which left me way down going into the second runs. By the time the second race runs were here, the tape was all over the place, leaving straight lines for the people in the know how. My second race run was a bit better, I managed to stay on the bike and have an average run, finishing the day in 4th 3 seconds off the leader. It was a good weekend apart from the track tape changing every 5 minutes!

Jack

pictures from:

http://www.anthonywillett.com/

and

Stu Hopkinson.

British Downhill Series RD1.

With the sun out and many excited faces we all arrived in Rheola, south Wales for the first round of the 2010 British Downhill Series. It was the first time the team had all been together at a race and a good chance to introduce Josh into the team.

Saturday’s practice went very well with all the riders managing to get down the hill without too many problems. Will found practice hard as he was riding with a broken bone in his left hand. He used the day well, spending a good few hours walking the track whilst many of the elites showed him the secret lines.

With practice coming to an end, tire choice became the talk of the Pit. Richy and Jack both rode on wet screams for practice and as I prepared the spare wheels with High rollers, Only Richy choose to change.

Race day was here and out came the new race shirts! I picked these up on the Friday so fresh from the printers! Each rider came in and out of the pit in age order and headed to the top of the hill.

Will was first off in Juvenile, which allowed him to gain the hot seat and sit tight for the first 5 riders. He ended up in 5th position, which meant he was on the podium even with a broken hand.

Josh was next in Youth and with the pace so high finished in a very respectable 18th position. Josh is riding on the 6 inch Ancillotti FRP frame, putting many riders on full downhill bikes times to shame.

Jack came down the hill covered in mud and had unfortunately crashed twice on his way down. He Still posted a very fast time leaving him in 15th place and only frustration on what could have been a podium position.

Richy Thomas was last to join the team at the finish line, Richy went fastest with 14 riders still left to finish. Richy finished in 10th position in the elite category only being beaten by some of the fastest world cup riders in the world.

Overall it was a brilliant weekend. Bring on Fort William.

Josh Lowe Join's Ancillotti UK

Ancillotti UK is proud to announce its newest member of the team Josh Lowe. Josh will be riding for the team as one of our first young development riders aboard a short travel Ancillotti. Josh has been riding his Ancillotti for a few weeks, putting in three very strong results including finishing in 18th place at his first ever National Race.

Jacob Gibbins spends a day with Richy T.

Hi guys,

Fab photographer Jacob Gibbins has spent a day shooting with Richy T for Dirt Mag.

Check out Jacobs Website: http://www.jacobgibbins.co.uk/

Heres a cheeky peek at some of the shots:

Will and Jack Podium at the first Pearce Cycles Midland race.

Hi Guys,

This weekend saw the first round of a wet and windy Pearce Cycles Midland races.
Both Jack and Will made the trip to Bringewood in Shropshire for the race. With only 2 weeks to go until the first National race it was a good opportunity for them to get used to their new bikes and iron out any pre-season nerves.

Will Weston took second position in the Juvenile Category and the first podium with the team aboard his new bike. Hopefully the first of many for Will this season!!!!
Jack Geoghegan our expert rider for 2010 took the win, with over a two second lead from the rest of the field. Overall Jack still managed a very respectable ninth place with his time and with a field full of Elite World Cup regulars this shows just what a good time he posted!

What a brilliant way to start the season. Well done guys!
Andy

Richy Thomas wins the BUCS Student Champs

Richy Thomas out performed everybody on Saturday at the student champs at AE forest in Scotland with the fastest time of the day by over 3 seconds.
The practice day was sunny with the rain coming in on Saturday morning which lead to some interesting conditions on race day.

This was Richy's first race aboad his new 2010 Ancillotti giving him the best start possible to hopefully a brilliant season!

Well done Richy!!


1 401 Rich THOMAS University of Bath  2:14.154

2 400 Jack READING University of Manchester 2:17.939 +3.785s

3 402 Scott LAUGHLAND Heriot Watt  2:23.646  +9.492s

pics copyright of http://www.daviddower.co.uk/

2010 Ancillotti UK DH team