Last weekend we raced at round 2 of the 2012 Schwalbe British 4X Series at Penshurst, Kent.

The weather forecast was horrendous all week leading up to the race. We were hoping that the forecast was wrong but..... It wasn't. This was one of the wettest races I have ever been to. It was a complete washout.

Practice started and there was literally water running down the track in rivers. It was a really tough day but we were up for the challenge.

Motos got underway at lunchtime. They went really well for Dave. He won 2 of his races and finished 2nd in the other one to qualify easily though to the quarter finals. He then went onto to win the quarter final and semi final to land himself in his second final of the year in the senior class. In the final he went from gate 2. With a great gate he got in front on the first straight and got into the inside on turn 1. Exiting turn 1 he got the power down and started to pull away. On the fast second straight his lead was getting bigger. By the finish line he had the win easily in the bag and took his first win of the year. With the win, also came the series points lead which was a fantastic bonus.

My day was pretty good as well. I won all my motos and felt great on the track. Like Dave I went onto win both my quarter final and semi final as well to book my place in the final. Having seen Dave win his final I wanted to make this the first double win for the team.

I went off gate 1. I made a great start and led into turn 1. Hugging the inside, I got a good slingshot out of the turn and set off on the high speed 2nd straight. From there I did not look back. Leading the race all the way to the finish and taking the win. Like Dave this also gave me the points lead in the elite category which was awesome.

So now we are out in Germany getting ready for the 2nd round of the 4X ProTour which takes place in Poland this weekend.

I will update with photos from Penshurst and our Roadtrip in the next couple of days.

Cheers for now,

SB

Qualifying:

Scott Beaumont 6th
Dave Richardson 40th

Race:

Scott Beaumont 12th
Dave Richardson 51st


Just back from the very first 4X ProTour event that was held in Houffalize, Belgium at the weekend. As you all will now know, along with Chris Roberts I have organised the 4X ProTour and created a 5 round series for 2012 with him. I have to say, the reward at the weekend, to see it all come together will be etched on my mind forever. What’s even better is the event was such a resounding success, we are still buzzing from the whole experience. One of the biggest crowds to ever watch a World 4X event witnessed some fantastic racing and a great start to the new ProTour.



For Yeti Racing UK, it was a frustrating weekend, but full of positives that we can move forward with.

Practice got underway on Friday night after all the riders had our ‘Class of 2012’ group photo shoot. The track at Houffalize is awesome. Huge corners, rocky, loose surface, a corkscrew bridge/tunnel and some big jumps. Both Dave and myself were riding really well and had the track dialled early. With qualifying straight after the practice session, we were confident and had some good speed, ready for the ‘one lap, no crap’ qualification.



A major change we have made to qualifying, is we have reversed the order for qualification, so that the fastest riders go last and the atmosphere builds throughout qualifying. This worked fantastic on Friday and the crowd really got behind it.

Dave was up first. He made a great start and got his run going well. He said he was a little cautious under the bridge, but apart from that, he rode a clean lap and by the end of qualifying, he had finished in 40th position. His hopes for this race were to qualify firstly but hopefully in the top 50, so for Dave this was a fantastic result.



I was seeded as the 6th rider to go from the end. I wanted to qualify in the top 10, but felt like more could be possible. Maybe it was pressure as a rider/organiser now, or maybe just the first race, but I made a decent start, and unfortunately unclipped from my spd pedals just out of the gate. I then had to roll the first double and lost some time. Got going again and rode a great lap. No other mistakes. Crossing the finish line, I was stoked as I moved into 4th. With 5 more riders to go, just 2 of them bettered my time and I ended qualifying in 6th. The best bit, just 1 second behind the fastest time. I was left contemplating what could have been, but also psyched on my speed and excited about the race on Saturday.



On Saturday, the weather was again great and the scene was set for a fantastic race. As practice started, there were alot of spectators there lining the track. Then more kept arriving, and more, and more. By the time racing started, the whole track was lined from start to finish and up to 10 deep in alot of places. It was a true festival atmosphere and one of the biggest crowds I have seen at a 4X in over 10 years of racing 4X. The support the public gave the 4X ProTour was evident to everyone at the event, and it made Chris and myself very proud.



Onto the racing and Dave was up first. From gate 4, he got away with the others but just could not get across on them into turn 1. Forced a little wide, he was in 4th, and to be honest just could not get past the other riders. The 4 of them were locked wheel to wheel, but it was a real stalemate race and he ended up 4th in that race which gave him 51st for the evening. A great start to his series and he will be back for round 2 in Poland in 3 weeks time.

So I was next up for the team. With 6th in qualifying, I had gate choice for most of the night. In heat 1 I made a great start and led start to finish no problem. In my 2nd round I did exactly the same, great gate, no mistakes and a win from start to finish. This put me into the quarter finals.



For this race I was on gate 2 with Joost Wichman inside of me. I made another good gate and battled Joost all the way to the first turn. Going through the first turn I was battling with Joost, but left the inside door slightly open and Joost’s team mate Patrik Bruckner dived inside and just got ahead of me. His momentum though took us both off the track. We got going again but I was in 4th and a way behind the other 3 riders. I caught them up again but could not get past them. So it was out in the quarter finals for me and 12th position.

I am gutted with the result if I am honest because I was riding at my best and 12th does not do my riding justice.



However the great news is the next round is just 3 weeks away and we will both be there fighting for it again in Poland for Round 2 of the 4X ProTour.

Before then we have the 2nd round of the Schwalbe British 4X Series at Penshurst in Kent.

That is in 2 weeks time.

Full preview will be with you all next week.

Press from the 4X ProTour in Houffalize will be emailed to you this week. There will be plenty online and a film that will be live today or tomorrow.

Cheers for now,

Photo Credits – Chris Roberts and Charles Robertson.

Cheers,

On Saturday 14th April, a little bit of history is going to be made in the Mountain Bike world. After the shock decision made by UCI to remove the discipline of 4X from the World Cup Series, yet allow it to remain in the World Championships in September 2011; the future of the sport was uncertain. Yet just a couple of weeks later, the 4X ProTour was announced as being the successor to the 4X World Cup.

Chris Roberts and Scott Beaumont have worked relentlessly over the winter months and have created a five round series that will continue to put 4X Mountain Bike racing on the World stage.
Interest in the 4X ProTour has been high from day one, but over the last few weeks it has gained even more momentum with magazine interviews, organiser promotion, Facebook interaction and frequent Twitter posts by fans. The 2012 4X ProTour looks like being a huge success, even before the gate has dropped on Saturday night. With over 100 pre entries so far, (and unlike former World Cups, registration will be available at the event) the first ever 4X ProTour event has a solid entry list.



Yeti Racing UK riders Dave Richardson and Scott Beaumont will both be racing at Houffalize this weekend and looking to start the 4X ProTour off with some great results.


Houffalize
Houffalize, Belgium is a small town in the east of Belgium.
The 4X track at Houffalize is a classic. Huge, loose berm corners, a corkscrew bridge/tunnel, pro line and road drop at the finish make this a pretty unique track. Racing is always close with lots of passing and favourites for the event never have an advantage here.


Directions to Houffalize
Plane
Houffalize is situated at:
-155 km from Brussels international airport
-90km from Luxembourg international airport
-70km from Liège Airport

Train
-65km from Liège station (Guillemins)
-160km from Brussels Central station
-45km from Libramont station
-18km from Gouvy station
-65km from Arlon station

Car
Houffalize is situated along the E25 Liège-Luxembourg motorway.
Coming from the south (heading to Liège), take exit 50.
Coming from the north (heading to Arlon-Luxembourg), take exit 51.
Parking lots are situated in the city entries, bus shuttles will ensure the transport of spectators into the city center during the whole week-end (14th and 15th of April).


Information

If you require further information on the race, have a look at the Houffalize official website: www.houffalize-mtb.be

If you require further information on the 4X ProTour, have a look at the official website:
www.4xprotour.com

Feel free to join the Facebook group:
www.facebook.com/4xprotour

Daily updates:
www.twitter.com/4xprotour