North Wyong mountain biker, Brad Kelly, marked his return to the sport of downhill racing with a remarkable win in round two of the RedAss State Downhill Series in Ourimbah on the Central Coast of New South Wales on Sunday. After a two year hiatus Kelly secured the win by recording 3 min 11.73 second a full seven seconds clear of second place, Tim Eaton from Canberra. Third was Chris Barlin from northern Sydney.
Kelly qualified fastest in the first run of the day but admitted to making some mistakes. He then set about rectifying them in the all important final run by shaving off a further three seconds.
One concern for Kelly was a flat section of the course which required pedalling.
“See I usually wear flats (shoes),” Kelly said, “so anyone with clip on pedals may have been a threat.”
That threat never came however the former national level rider admitted that he was still a little uncertain on the start line.
“I was quite nervous as it was my first race in a few years,” he said.
“Now I’ll try to do a few more races to get comfortable.”
Kelly expects to race the third round in Canberra in June and has confirmed his entry in the fourth and final round in Coffs Harbour in July.
Eaton now moves into the series lead with 410 points and Balin is second with 252. Kelly moves up into third place on 251 ahead of the defending series winner, Newcastle’s Ricky Boyer who slipped back into fourth place with 240 points.
The elite women’s win was taken out by Sarah Booth from Newcastle. Booth, rode a creditable time to secure her first win of the season. The Australian Defence Force aircraft technician recorded 3 min 58.57 seconds and was ten seconds clear of her rivals. Booth says her time was due to a strong ride on the flat and the technical sections of the course.
“The course was technically hard because you have to do the sections before the jumps,” explained Booth.
“It also needed some degree of fitness too.”
Western Sydney riders, Joanne Fox and the younger Danielle Beecroft, placed second and third respectively.
Booth has now taken over the lead in the series with 390 points. Tegan Molloy from Jindabyne is in second with 385. Beecroft is sitting in third with 325 points and Fox moves into fourth place with 315 points.
Kelly now 34 and Booth now 32 years of age have proven that experience triumphed over youth.
However it was in the younger Under 19 men’s division where the podium places were decided by the narrowest of margins. Less than a second separated the top three riders the eventual winner was Canberra’s David McMillan with 3 min 29.04 sec. Second place was Bredbo rider, Thomas Crimmins after finishing just 57 hundredths of a second off the pace. Third place went to local rider Jake Newell just 22 hundredths of a second behind Crimmins.
The second fastest qualifier overall was Joey Vejvoda also from Bredbo however 16 year old was unable to repeat his performance in the final finishing in sixth place.
Vejvoda still leads the overall series on 385 points with Newell now in second on 380 points. McMillan and Crimmins move up into sixth and eighth respectively.
Over 220 riders from all over the state competed and praised the local organizing club, the Central Coast Ourimbah MTB Club, and promoters, Rocky Trail Entertainment.
The third round of the RedAss Downhill State Series continues at Mt Stromlo on 12 June with the final round to be held in Coffs Harbour on 10 July.
Sharon Payne
Bike Media
Kelly qualified fastest in the first run of the day but admitted to making some mistakes. He then set about rectifying them in the all important final run by shaving off a further three seconds.
One concern for Kelly was a flat section of the course which required pedalling.
“See I usually wear flats (shoes),” Kelly said, “so anyone with clip on pedals may have been a threat.”
That threat never came however the former national level rider admitted that he was still a little uncertain on the start line.
“I was quite nervous as it was my first race in a few years,” he said.
“Now I’ll try to do a few more races to get comfortable.”
Kelly expects to race the third round in Canberra in June and has confirmed his entry in the fourth and final round in Coffs Harbour in July.
Eaton now moves into the series lead with 410 points and Balin is second with 252. Kelly moves up into third place on 251 ahead of the defending series winner, Newcastle’s Ricky Boyer who slipped back into fourth place with 240 points.
The elite women’s win was taken out by Sarah Booth from Newcastle. Booth, rode a creditable time to secure her first win of the season. The Australian Defence Force aircraft technician recorded 3 min 58.57 seconds and was ten seconds clear of her rivals. Booth says her time was due to a strong ride on the flat and the technical sections of the course.
“The course was technically hard because you have to do the sections before the jumps,” explained Booth.
“It also needed some degree of fitness too.”
Western Sydney riders, Joanne Fox and the younger Danielle Beecroft, placed second and third respectively.
Booth has now taken over the lead in the series with 390 points. Tegan Molloy from Jindabyne is in second with 385. Beecroft is sitting in third with 325 points and Fox moves into fourth place with 315 points.
Kelly now 34 and Booth now 32 years of age have proven that experience triumphed over youth.
However it was in the younger Under 19 men’s division where the podium places were decided by the narrowest of margins. Less than a second separated the top three riders the eventual winner was Canberra’s David McMillan with 3 min 29.04 sec. Second place was Bredbo rider, Thomas Crimmins after finishing just 57 hundredths of a second off the pace. Third place went to local rider Jake Newell just 22 hundredths of a second behind Crimmins.
The second fastest qualifier overall was Joey Vejvoda also from Bredbo however 16 year old was unable to repeat his performance in the final finishing in sixth place.
Vejvoda still leads the overall series on 385 points with Newell now in second on 380 points. McMillan and Crimmins move up into sixth and eighth respectively.
Over 220 riders from all over the state competed and praised the local organizing club, the Central Coast Ourimbah MTB Club, and promoters, Rocky Trail Entertainment.
The third round of the RedAss Downhill State Series continues at Mt Stromlo on 12 June with the final round to be held in Coffs Harbour on 10 July.
Sharon Payne
Bike Media