Hopton Woods Charity Weekend

At the Midlands Championships last year, Jason Brennan of Rave Racing was very badly injured during racing. Due to the efforts of the Extreme Medics, the North Wales Air Ambulance, Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital and his own bloody minded nature, he's making his way towards recovery.

Pearce Cycles have helped support Jason since his accident and, for the end of the season, laid on a weekend of racing at Hopton Castle, Downhill and Gravity Enduro, to raise money for rehab equipment for Jason, and for the Air Ambulance that helped save his life.

Chaz Owen - Mick Whyte - Alex Thompson

Saturday - Downhill Midland Championships
Dave Pearce laid on a cracking course for us, taking the right-hand-most line off the start ramp, into the greasiest tight rooty section you can picture, crossing the road gap, more slippery diagonal roots waited to take your wheels away, before you dropped out of the quarry, and over the road into the open section. Ruts and mud characterized that section before you dropped over a slippery log into the woods again, steep switchbacks that caught many out with the tightness before dropping over the final road, over the rocky steep bit and down through tight trees into the best berm I've ever ridden and into the finish field. A fantastically tricky track with a bit of everything for everyone in, from pedallers to technical experts.

After too many (!) practice runs, we got down to the single race run. In Junior, RGsquadron rider Chaz Owen smashed out a 2:32.2, placing him in fourth, less than a second behind the third place rider.

Mssrs Cobb and Paton were unable to attend the Midland Champsionship Podium

In Veterans, RGsquadron rider Mick Whyte made best use of his new Nukeproof Scalp Comp to carve his name into the third place trophy with a 2:42.1. Team boss Alex Thompson placed 23rd in Senior with a 2:59.2

Other local top place finishers were Paul Warnock in 4th place in Veterans and Racersguild stalwart Bob Dangerfield placing 10th Vets in his first ever DH race. In Senior, Gareth Weston took 2nd and heads off to Expert in 2013, Scott Barley (SBR+) took fourth.

In related news, serial crash artist Sam Madison took a win on Sunday at the Southern champs! Nice one Sam!

Sunday - Gravity Enduro
With 190 people entered, the first Pearce Cycles Hopton Gravity Enduro was well contested, and the weather held out for them well.
RGsquadron rider Mick Whyte got his spare Oneal kit out and hit the trails hard for his second day of racing, finishing an agonising 8 seconds off a podium position, taking 5th in what looked to be a hard fought, well stocked Veterans category.

Racersguild supremo Harry Clark survived to take a respectable 25th in a tough Masters.
TheBikeschool.net and fellow Works Components  rider Adam Halling killed it in Expert to take victory by nearly two minutes. This man has a talent for slaying trail!

A fantastic weekend for all concerned and lots of money raised for Jason and the Air Ambulance.

Full results on Roots and Rain:
Midland Champs DH
Gravity Enduro


RGsquadron simply wouldn't work without our sponsors, don't forget to visit them!
Works Components : Home of the Angle Headset. Slacker is better.
Oneal Clothing : Body armour, helmets, clothing.
Nukeproof Scalp : Quite possibly the most successful DH bike for a long time, in terms of value for performance, nothing at all comes close.