British Series Round 4 - Dalby Forest, Yorkshire

The Orange Monkey team went back to Dalby this weekend for the latest race in the British series. It was a return to where it all began for Chris, revisiting the venue of his first World Cup experience back in April. The rest of the team had also ridden the course before but not the full World Cup circuit and it was with a nervous excitement that the team arrived for Friday practice at a dry Dalby Forest.

After mastering the now familiar flash points on the course such as Worry Gill, medusa Drop and the dreaded bus stop the team went back to their base for refuelling ready for a big day on Saturday.

Our young star, Alex Baker has shown nothing but good form since the season began but has never really been able to unleash it, due to a series of misfortunes that come with the sport of Mountain Biking, the whole team watched with fingers crossed that today would be his day. A great start put him in second place in the field with a Danish rider for close company. Then an unfortunate puncture for the leader saw Alex take the lead of the race and begin to push hard looking to shake off the ever present Dane. The anticipation in the team grew as the race unfolded with both managers by now a nervous wreck both screaming instructions from different parts of the course. With just one lap to go Alex was still pushing hard at the front of the race but the Dane was strong and made a move in the final 2km followed by a storming Scot who produced a flabbergasting last lap to just pip Alex to the line. Alex was greeted by his delighted team mates exhausted but thrilled with his 3rd place finish, his first British podium of the year and very well deserved!

In the Junior race, Ben showed us his technical prowess once again as he stormed to a 4th place finish in a strong Junior line up missing a podium by just 30 seconds! A large Elite field welcomed Chris back from injury as both he and Paul took in steady races building back up to full fitness and looking forward to the National Championships in two weeks time.

It was another brilliant weekend for the team and we were delighted to welcome South African, Rourke Croeser as our guest for the next few months. He took a well deserved 12th place in the Elite race after some seven weeks without a race!

The team will now head to Bike Radar and then to the all important National Championships in Pippingford before short break and some training in the French Pyrenees.

Photo 3 courtesy of Joolze Dymond photography