MTB Winter Series Round 3 race held at Thorntons on the 4 February 2024

The THIRD outing of the season attracted 62 entrants to a well-designed MTB course at Thorntons. The super-fast track this week, would see the riders having to have their wits about them as they tackled varying terrain including, flowing single trails, rooted pine forest and energy sapping fields. That coupled with the zig zag thorough the vines and infamous pump track that would leave the riders with nowhere to hide and some deflated, as the sharp rocks led to several retirements.

A blistering first lap of 5.34 put John Mapley in good stead in the men's expert class. A dual ensued, where the lead was exchanged several times until lap 6, when Mapley’s pedal power proved too much for Le Page, who had to settle for second. Ryan Langlois found himself slightly off the race pace but was still awarded third spot for his efforts,

The Advance Group event would see a fair amount of bunching up at the front until youngster Charlie Tourtel injected some pace on lap 6 to stretch out the field and take a fine win. Despite posting a final lap time of 6.06, academy rider Zach Smith, who continues to impress at this level, took the second spot from Mark De La Mare in third.  

Hot off the MX track the day before, Nor Holden led the “charge” in the lady’s class, with Frankie Middleton taking the win in the lady’s vets and Donna Smith leading the way in Sport category.  

Mark Smith was in a class of his own as he took a fine win in the Grande Vets ahead of Mark Naftel in second and James Dugid in third.

There were other category wins for Vets rider Pete Miller and Male Sport rider Tim White.

The junior race lasting around 40 mins, would see U16’s Seth Davey taking a well-deserved win from Finlay Stonebridge.  U14’s rider Remi Le Compte, notched up his third win of the series from Bailey Smalldon in second, in this academy fuelled class.

Jacob Piercey took his third straight win in the U12’s, although he was pushed all the way by Luka Robilliard. There were further wins for Hugo Johnson and Erin Pipet, who both continue to be the riders to catch in the U10’s.

The 4th round of the winter XC series will be held on the 25 February 2024. Before that the final round of the CX series will be held on the 18 February.