Fun in the Summer Sun!
This weekend we attended a 2 day event with Ringwood at Tincelton. Great to have a race meeting on our doorstep even though we had never ridden at Tincelton, we heard good things, and we were not disappointed. The track was awesome, well laid out with some great features and jumps.
Having spent half term away riding at Tracks in Suffolk, Rafe was keen to get back on the bike and put the last few days riding to the test. Rafe put in an amazing ride all weekend, battling against both the small wheels and the big wheels as their race was combined to make a total of 26 riders. He managed to stay on the bike each and every race, testing the nerves of both his parents!
With the warm weather expected over the course of the day, the track had been well watered, so was a little tricky for practice. However, it was just right for Race 1.
Race 1 – Good start, quick out the gates and showing a good pace. As the riders began to separate Rafe got his head down and gave a good smooth ride in the sand. With 23 riders in the race, Rafe was up their battling until the chequered flag. Overall he crossed the line in 3rd for the Small wheels and 10th combined.
Race 2 – Rafe was quick out the gate, however a few fallen riders in the first corner created a traffic jam! Which Rafe got caught up in. Luckily Rafe had the rest of the race to play catch up. Within a few laps he had worked up to 15th place, with some clever overtaking moves. Rafe works best in hunter mode and he worked hard to pick off the riders, until the end of the race, crossing the line in 4th in the small wheels and 11th overall.
Race 3 – Cracking start this time, with a change of gate, meant Rafe took the outside of the first corner, passing many of the riders caught up on the inside line. Even though it was the last race of the day, Rafe’s pace was just as fast as the first. The sandy track had gotten rough, but if anything, Rafe was getting faster! His hard work on his fitness was clearly showing, he crossed the line in 3rd and 9th overall.
Cracking start to the weekend, Rafe spent the evening hydrating and carb loading, ready for day 2.
Rafe awoke in a good mood, a quick run woke him up and got him going for the second day.
Race 4 – Same again please Rafe! Another cracking start, and as the track had been graded overnight, this meant for some fast racing! The jumps are great, riders would disappear from view and then pop up in the air at various stages. Another consistent ride by Rafe, he was on fire. He rode hard to the end, crossing the line with another 3rd in the SW and 9th overall.
Race 5 – Try and keep up with the top 5! Was the aim for this race, by trying to match their pace, this would help Rafe pull away and try and better his results. Great start again! Rafe was running 5th overall for the majority of the race, when back markers caused Rafe to change his line, meaning, 2 riders were able to squeeze past. Still a good result with Rafe crossing the line in 3rd for the small wheels and 7th overall.
Last race of the day, you can do this Rafe!!
Race 6 – Rafe was in the Zone for this race. Cracking start, he shot out of the gates and into 4th overall for the majority of the race, again back markers meant Rafe had to slow his pace into a corner and then change his line, meaning, he slipped back to 5th, he spent the next 3 laps chasing the 4th place rider (BW), who was tiring, but there was not enough time left in the race to make the pass. Absolute banger! 2nd overall in the SW and 5th overall combined.
Being only 10 years old, Rafe gave the big wheel riders a good battle, some of them being 3-4 years older doesn’t phase Rafe. It was great to see them fist bumping after a successful race! Forming friendships and making lifetime memories!
Pro’s from the weekend; 5 out of 6 podium finishes, good starts and stayed on the bike for all 6 races! Rafe’s fitness throughout the races was impressive! The track was hard going and racing against the Big Wheels did not put Rafe off.
Con’s from the weekend; Rafe has not quite got the pace of the top riders, fitness is there, so we need to work on pace and most of the work could be done with being the first or second rider to the first corner.
Top weekend, with a podium finish of 3rd Overall.
