News Alert!

Orange Monkey Win First National Race!

The scene was set, the beautiful backdrop of Drumlanrig Castle towered over the finish arena in a remote part of the Scottish countryside, the morning sun was shining and the sheep were grazing around this truly amazing part of the country. Suddenly two of the countries top Juvenile riders stormed into the arena side by side sending the crowd wild as they got ready for a sprint finish.

Alex Baker is Orange Monkey’s youngest and most successful rider but it was a far from ideal start for the youngster having to fly in to Scotland late on the Friday evening and not getting the opportunity to pre-ride the tough course full of technical rock gardens, roots, and steep twisting climbs. Its round 2 of the National Mountain Bike Points Series and the competition is high with the best riders in the country all out trying to get top spot!

A pre race chat…

After a very successful start to the season, Alex anxiously circled the arena waiting to be called to the line, the nerves and pressure etched onto his young face, but as the gun went the nerves, pressure, expectation had vanished and what came next was a master class in Mountain Biking.

Alex nervously warms up…

Leading from the start and pulling out a gap on the first climb, Alex was joined by 2 other young Juveniles as the trio weaved through the tricky sections of singletrack, Alex fell twice with the disadvantage of not knowing what was around the next corner taking its toll but now they were down to two, with one of the other riders having mechanical difficulties. As the remaining pair stormed up the last climb it was the young Monkey who was at the front in control, and as they entered the arena down the big drop side by side, both at their limit, on the final bend it looked as if Alex had blown it, running wide before fighting back to win by half a wheels length as the watching crowd deafened the arena with cheers for what was the most exciting finish of the weekend!

The riders about to enter the arena… (Courtesy of www.joolzedymond.com)

For both Alex and Orange Monkey it was the first win at a National competition and one that team mates, managers and family were very proud of. The team has worked hard over the past four years and moments like this definitely make it all worth while.

The team has been supported by their fantastic sponsors throughout the season and it’s thanks to Trek UK, Bontrager, Bio-Racer, Torq Fitness, LAS Helmets, Joolze Dymond Photography and Jim Walker Distribution that they have been able to improve year on year.

What next? Well the team travels to round 3 of the Southern Area competition next weekend, then in 4 weeks time its back on the road to Lake Grizedale for the next round of the National Series but for Alex, surely the sky is the limit!

Alex takes top spot on the podium… (Courtesy of www.joolzedymond.com)