Hamsterley Down ‘n’ Out Winter Race Series

Round 3 - 9/10th February 2008

This weekend saw Ripon Downhill Racer Ben Moorhouse travelling a short distance to Hamsterley Forest, County durham to compete in the third and final round of the ‘Down and Out’ series.

The track this time started on the 4-Cross track instead of the usual downhill course. Out of the start and down the roll in takes you straight over two tabletop jumps and then a hip jump off the 4-Cross track. The track then goes round to the left with an inside line before joining back onto the 4-Cross track. Here you go over a set of jumps before sweeping round a long right hand corner with two small double jumps. Off a drop and you follow the 4-Cross track down on the rough path beside before dropping down a steep shute to the left with an obvious fast line and over a small double. From here you drop down the banking onto the fire road where a flat and tight right hand corner takes you back onto the downhill track.

Now there is a long sprint into the woods and around a rocky bus stop catching many riders out over the weekend. Keeping the bike level over an off camber section with drops and roots in leads you to a fast but short uphill sprint to the next section.

Over some small jumps and then turning right up onto the banking brings you to the new section of the track. Built just the week before this was a new section to even the local riders so proved difficult for some to learn quickly. With slick roots and tight corners many riders were crashing and struggling to get down the track. Here the track goes round a series of tight switchbacks and the ground is off camber and root filled meaning only the more experienced riders were able to take the faster lines. Round the last few corners and it’s a short sprint to the finish line to check your time.

After run 1, Ben put in a clean run with a time of 2mins 06.5seconds and giving him 4th place. In run 2 Ben crashed in the last few corners of the track meaning he wouldn’t improve on his first run time. No other riders improved their times allowing Ben to hold onto 4th place in the Junior Category.

With two 4th place results and a 2nd place, Ben was also placed 2nd in junior for the overall series results.