Race Report: DMR Bikes Pump Track Challenge

DMR Bikes Pump Track Challenge took over the pump track built by Jason Carpenter next to the sports and social clubs who put on a great BBQ for the all riders.

The track has two long straights. A big Tarmac S bend at the end of the first straight then a lovely flowing last straight.

The weather forecast was for rain and storms. We arrived in the middle of the big storm, the local parish council were very pleased we had chosen Bishops Tachbrook for a round of the DMR Bike pump track challenge and were working hard to make everything run smoothly. They took charge of the car parking, making sure everyone was parked safely.

The track is set inside at the end of the football field and lined with trees which keeps the wind and rain off the track.

Before the start of racing the popular Lezyne exploder competition had all the local young kids jumping at the chance to blow up some inner tubes, much to the delight of the parents cheering on their kids to make the loudest bang.

The local riders were all keen to show they are fastest around the track and a lot of riders were there before hand getting in the extra practice.

The Rippers category is made up of kids from 10 years old racing on a variety of bikes from catalogue bikes to full on 4X race bikes. Ryan Bennett and Cal Mahon were in contention in all of the 4 timed laps but it was Elliot Thompson Knight who went fastest in all of his runs to the take win.

The Seniors category had a few last minute entries just before we started, one of the late entries Rob Sherat only got time to do one practice lap and managed to crash but continued to race and finished in 5th place. Only one lady turned up to race so Michelle Padget wanted to race & decided to race with the boys. The lead in seniors never changed during all the 4 runs with Stephen Wallis winning with a time of 20.372 from his closest rival Chris Beckett only 0.313 seconds behind. The racing was so tight and spit by only a hundredth of a second.

The Pro category had a good mix of riders with the local favourite Nathan Parsons and the winner of the last race at Bristol Ben Baker. Baker, making his way up to Leamington to race on what looked like a bit of pimped up pump track bike, was not the only one to bring out his pump track bike. Parsons also had a trick looking bike built for pump track racing. The speed and style was really being thrown down by the Pro's, Tom Gethin was throwing some flat tables over the last double however Baker was showing the crowd how to pump the rollers round this long track.

The seniors were doing a lap in 20 seconds but the first timed lap for the Pro's was a time of 18.708 and was local favourite who pulled a cheer from the crowd meaning the race was on!

The racing through the rounds got more intense with each lap. Tom Gethin went into 3rd place with Ben Baker in 2nd but no on could better the times of local rider Nathan Parsons who took the win by 0.089 seconds.

It all came down to the last round where the results changed meaning Gethin was pushed into 4th place leaving Matt Sills in 3rd, Ben Baker in 2nd and Nathan Parsons takings the win.

The podiums took place under blue sky's with the top riders all picking up some great prizes from Lezyne and the Pro's picking up the £400 Prize money from DMR Bikes.

Thank you to Bishops Tachbrook parish Council for hosting the race.

Full results on www.pumptrackchallenge.com