Last Sunday, (04.12.11) thirty-two handpicked talents took on the streets of Swansea to battle for the inaugural Red Bull Downforce title.
The route, discovered by some rider called Gee Atherton (you may have heard of him), started from an area called Town Hill – Nicander Parade to be precise. A mixture of surfaces faced the riders including mud, tarmac, grass, concrete steps and wet cobbles covered in moss for that extra loose factor.
The Red Bull event, run by BDS Don Si Paton was more of an exhibition than a thoroughbred race, but lets face it, any positive exposure for the sport is a great thing and is more than welcome in my books. The course was lined by hundreds of DH fans and random passers by who came across it while doing some Christmas shopping.
Practice started out a bit cautiously with riders picking their way down the route on the damp urban track. Gee, Dan and Rachel Atherton hung out all day, signing autographs and posing with fans – you have to give it to them, they are good for their sponsors. When asked, they wouldn’t let on what they would be riding next year. However, industry rumours are saying that it might be a brand with (uhem) just two letters in the name – keep your eyes on Wideopen for more info when it breaks!
After two practice and two race runs, the top eight riders faced the big final. Local rivals Dave Moulson and ‘Special’ Greg Hampton both had a spot in the final eight. Greg just missed a podium position and Dave crashed on the wooden berm at the bottom of Britian’s steepest (fact) road, Clifton Terrace. With next to no corners, riders had to be knocking 35-40mph by the time they reached the berm, so mistakes were easily made.
Newport’s own Rowan Sorrell took the centre podium and the first Downforce crown on an Orange 322 prototype, beating Michael Thickens into second with around five seconds to spare. Rowans trail-building compadre Nikki Whiles was less than half a second behind Michael, after pulling a sick no-footer over the tabletop box at the bottom.
The good news is, Red Bull wants to bring Downforce back for 2012 and it’s going to be bigger and better. We aren’t sure if Swansea will play host but I for one am looking forward.
1. Sorrell Rowan 2:15.807
2. Thickens Michael 2:20.499 +4.692
3. Whiles Nikki 2:20.920 +5.113
4. Hampton Greg 2:21.644 +5.837
5. Stuttard Mathew 2:21.810 +6.003
6. Baker Ben 2:23.077 +7.270
7. Drake Gary 2:23.185 +7.37
8.Moulson David 2:29.531 +13.724
All words and photos by James Tennant at http://jtmediauk.com. Give his site a click for more great images. Cheers JT!
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Great shots J!