We're back!

It's true. Despite a multi-disciplinary race squad with a variety of goals and targets, there are actually some weekends in the year where the Naked Bikes / Haibike / Impsport team don't actually race!

Sorry if you missed us...

Anyway, with the nights getting that little bit lighter, we're obviously moving closer to the MTB season proper.

Before that though, there was the small matter of closing off the Thetford Winter Series racing for the team this weekend, and they did it in some style!

Both Nick T and Nick P were in action, both taking home 6th in the 4hr race and 2.5hr races respectively.

Hero of the day (and series) was Ross, who managed a podium appearance both in terms of the race itself and the overall series. With this level of success early on in the year, we're expecting huge things from Ross as the season develops. He certainly seems to be getting the most out of his new Haibike Greed Team!

Ross: My race at Thetford couldn't have gone any better. There was no chance of me getting 1st in the series because Paddy Atkinson already had his 3 wins. I went with the aim of 2nd in the series which meant I had to beat Michael Shuldham. We were on equal points going into the final round so whoever crossed the line first out of the two of us was guaranteed 2nd in the series. For the first lap Michael sat behind me in 2nd and 3rd, Paddy had a got away in the first 10 minutes and nobody tried to stick with him, the rest of the field was out of sight behind us after the first half an hour of racing. From round 2, I knew Michael had a good sprint because I couldn't stay with him when he attacked in that round but I passed him later on in the race so I knew his endurance wasn't as good as mine. I knew I had to keep the pace high to stop him from attacking so I aimed to tire him so he dropped back and it didn't come to a sprint finish. After a lap and a half, I managed to pull away and opened the gap by about 2 minutes a lap to finish about 5 minutes ahead in 2nd place in both the race and the series. The course really suited me because it was dry and fast so I could keep it fast and flowing and the training I have been doing on the road really paid off! "

Ross takes home 2nd for the race AND the series

Nick T - The final round of the ever popular Thetford Winter Series is my marker for the eve of the new season. It only seems like a couple of months since the end of last season...........oh, it was!
My winter base/build training seems to be coming on reasonably well, still a lot of prep. work to do, but this race gave a good idea of how it's all progressing. Thetford courses, though relatively flat have a great habit of being pretty relentless for endurance racing - all pedalling, few sections to recover, but great indicators for where your threshold sits. Like I said, progress reasonable, still a lot to do!
The race itself was straightforward (other than the 20mph headwind on 2 of the longest fire road sections), intense first 2-3 laps, pushing maybe a little too hard, before settling into a sustainable pace. No delays as we caught and lapped the 'Fun' cat racers. Good race manners both ways and a bit of forward planning = no back marker hold-ups. It's not so hard I think?
I was pleased to ride laps 5, 6 and 7 at identical splits, 33:42. Maybe no jet engine, but consistent diesel at least! By lap 6 I'd managed to close in on the 6th place rider and figured he was tiring a little. Without warning he pulled up with a cramped glute and a painful yelp. Not pleasant, but my gain. I started to spot the 5th place vet up front on the long sections, but he looked to be holding the gap. I really put down what I had left on the last lap in the hope of snatching his place. On this occasion it wasn't to be, but 11 seconds gap was a good gain. The 5th place vet admitting he was rather spent and was lucky to hang on to it with me breathing down his neck. A compliment like that goes 1000 miles for me. Chapeau to him for holding out! 6th place for me, no cigar, but satisfied smile on face.
Attention now on improving that functional threshold - turbo, pain, sweat, gurning + miles hopefully = gain (if only marginal!)


Nick P: Last race of the series so hoping to be a good one. The sun was out and the it was the first round that was warm. Race prep went well , then on to the turbo warm up, but after a great pre lap with my bike working perfectly and swapping the wheel for turbo warm up, on one of the descents on the pre laps it knocked my wheel out, so gears were out the rest of the race. I had a great start on the front and led the race for the first lap then settled back but the bike was playing up so just did the best I could. There was no pit crew on the 2nd lap again so missed out on feeds again (going to have to get a bottle holder stand) Last lap a 15 strong group of back makers doing the bomb hole really slowed my finishing lap.Nick P: Last race of the series so hoping to be a good one. The sun was out and the it was the first round that was warm. Race prep went well , then on to the turbo warm up, but after a great pre lap with my bike working perfectly and swapping the wheel for turbo warm up, on one of the descents on the pre laps it knocked my wheel out, so gears were out the rest of the race. I had a great start on the front and led the race for the first lap then settled back but the bike was playing up so just did the best I could. There was no pit crew on the 2nd lap again so missed out on feeds again (going to have to get a bottle holder stand) Last lap a 15 strong group of back makers doing the bomb hole really slowed my finishing lap.

Finished on 2hr 4 min that put me 6th and 4th for the series but if did another lap (and I could of) I would have got 5th n 3rd for series (but did not know that until the end)