Friday 2nd August and the XC team headed to Delapre Abbey in Northampton for Friday Night Summer Series. The course was a reversed version of previous years and must be considered as one of the 'proper XC courses' of FNSS. Almost entirely wooded singletrack, with leg stinging climbs and super-fast descents.
New team members U23 Josh Walling and Vet Nick Popham played a pivotal role in securing the Naked prize money on the night, meaning as a team we've been in the prize money for every round we've raced this year. Sponsors please take note of our ability to get your good name noticed! Josh raced to an impressive 3rd (he's only 16 and ripped through the field!), Nick P coming in 2nd in his first race in the jersey. Great start men! Nick Towers was a little off the pace unusually, having to settle for 6th placed Vet. 'Beaten by faster racers tonight, I'm afraid', said an off-beat Towers. Andy Faulknall and Boss Man Paul put in solid performances finishing in the middle of the Senior pack on what was a demanding course.
Whatever the results tonight one thing was clear for everyone watching the race.........Naked Bikes Race Team gets noticed.
After all that race effort most racers possibly had a relatively easy 'bike day' Saturday........?
Nick T chose to work into the night prep'ing his bike for the Schwalbe 75k mountain marathon in Wales at 10am the morning after! 'It wasn't the best option' commented Towers, 'but it formed part of my preparation for CristAlp GrandRaid with Rich in August and Isle of Man E2E with Paul and Andy in September. Though not a race as such, the Schwalbe MTB marathons are as good a race practice as you can get - mountains, tough trails, race board and a target good finish time'. As it turned out all of the above applied and Nick came home 9th Vet in 4:02 - tired and need of a rest!
Looking to the next set of races we'll see Mr Edge doing Vets 6hour solo at Brighton Big Dog and the usual suspects racing the penultimate scoring round of Friday Night Summer Series 2013. Will Mr Edge push for another podium? Walling scare the U23s again? Will Popham teach the Vets new tricks? Will Towers hang on to the Vets series lead? Will Boss Man and Mr Faulknall bully they're way through the senior field? Follow Naked Bikes and find out!
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