THE 2007 SDA Downhill MTB series kicked off in style at Innerleithen last weekend in dry, dusty conditions.
This sport is becoming so popular that when the first two rounds were released for entries all 600 places were snapped up in only 10 hours.
Come Sunday morning practice, the riders were looking forward to a great day's racing in sun, unlike mos
t races the previous year, which were in the cold and wet.
The track chosen for this round was a mix of tight technical stuff in the first third and then pretty much fast and flowing to the finish, which would suit the brave.
First category down were the juveniles, where Lewis Buchanan from Innerleithen, riding for his new sponsor Dusttilldawn/Last Bikes, was hoping for his first podium and he didn't disappoint, riding to a superb second place behind Mark Scott, third place went to Sam Flockart.
Next down were the youths, who just seem to get faster every year, Selkirk's Arran Gannicott, now riding for Santa Cruz Bikes of California, was hoping for a win here, but was pipped into second place by the super-fast Balf UK rider Danny Hart. Third went to James Scott. Riding in his first youth race Arran clocked a time of 3.26 – 21st fastest out of 317 riders, his time would have given him 15th place in the elite catogory.
The veteran class were next down with Peebles man Paul French hoping to continue his winning ways here after a successful year last year in masters. French kicked off his season well with a victory here, beating off tough competition from Alastair Maclennan in second with Seb Ramsay in third.
World Cup champion Tracy Moseley won the expert women category, while the masters was won by Tim Wilcox.
The junior class was next down the hill with local lad Ruaridh Cunningham looking for a win here on his home track. Competition in this class is so strong that it was always going to be a close-run race, and it was.
Santa Cruz rider Josh Bryceland rode to an amazing third fastest time of the day in his first year in the Juniors to take the win from second-placed Ruaridh by a second. Third place went to Chris Hutchens.
Seniors were next down with Innerleithen's ProbikeSport rider Peter Williams taking the win from Tom Rodgers, third place going to Blair Christmas.
Experts class saw the return Stuart Jenkinson who missed all last season through injury, well the break must have done him good as took the win from Ben Hall in second with James Stock third.
The Elite riders as usual the last to come down the hill with the crowds gathering around the bottom of the coarse. This weekend it was new comer Julien Camellini riding for Mojo taking the win by the narrowest of margins – 0.04 of second – from Joe Barns in second. Local lad Gary Forrest had a good race two seconds of a podium place getting seventh in front of Clovenfords' David Young in eighth.
