Is it that time of year again already?

The NPS 4X series 2007 kicked off this weekend at the indoor track at Sheffield....

Sunday morning and the first thing that struck me was my gates- they were consistently spot on! I know if Stoby and Uncle Buck are reading this they will not believe it, the only consistancy I've ever had out of my gates before now is consistantly bad!! haha.

After a good start to the day, things went a bit wrong, with my chain snapping in practice. After Steve the pirate helped me sort out a new one (thanks Steve), I lost my gloves, got confused and found them again. It was going to be one of those days...or was it?

I won my first moto. Things were good. My next two heats were a tough draw though, and to add to my problems my gears went wrong. I got a 3rd and 4th leaving me with the pressure on in the last heat. I sorted my gears and won it.

I think I only ever made it out of the motos in Senior Men once last year. If that. So to say I was chuffed to make the quarters with 2 wins under my belt was an understatement. Tony da Butcher would have fell over with shock if he'd have been there to see the grin on my face.

I n the quarter I kept with the pack till the first corner and exited in 3rd. I got the second straight pretty good, and was gaining on second....there was a big gap on the inside, I went for it, took second, and before I knew it I was in the semi's. I was over the moon!

I gave it my best shot in the semi, I was 3rd all the way and chasing hard, but just couldn't do enough to make the main. Oh well, I still had a B- main to go for!! I got a great first straight and as we bunched up in the first corner, somehow I swooped from 3rd on the outside to getting my nose in front for first! There was a downside though - to make the move stick, I had to take on a 6ft+ bloke! I tell you what, that split second felt like an age- so many thoughts go through your head in so little time. Either time really did slow down or that voice in my head really is a fast talker. Anyway, I decided it was best to hold off and stay on the bike today, settling for 2nd. It was the best NPS 4X race I have ever ridden. 6th over all out of 27 men. I never expected that.

To top the weekend off I got to watch one of the best races I have seen in a long while. The Elite final was a cracker. Dale and Scott Beaumont were neck and neck down the first straight, I thought Scott made it stick in the corner but Dale appeared first. By the 3rd straight Dale was leading with Scott, Lewis Lacey and Steve Taylor all catching, Scott lined up the winning move in the last corner only for Taylor to spoil the party going for a 4th to first move! Dale came out in the lead with Lewis gaining, carrying loads of speed and looking like he would walk past Dale to take the win in his elite debut. But sadly for him, Dale shut the door on the final jumps. Great race!!

Roll on Chicksands :o)

*Big thanks to Joolze Dymond for sending me the photographs!*

Check out the race report at Descent-World:
http://www.descent-world.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=561&Itemid=95