Maxxis Cup Round 2 - Vigo

"After a successful first round, yet more tanning and a fun few days down the beach, I was excited to get riding Vigo. I heard the track had yet more big jumps… I was a bit anxious but confident after the previous weekend’s triumph!

The practice was slow to begin with as this track had more variety to it than Gouveia. So learning lines was a bit more time consuming. With big northshore jumps, a technical rock slab that soon woke you up as it was only 70metres from the start gate, rock gardens and dusty turns; it was definitely going to be hard work. I finally shook the monkey off my back and went for these two big northshores and the road gap at the end of the course, all in one run… wow! It was a hell of a run I must admit! I didn’t know what to do with myself when I finished as I was so pumped with adrenaline!

Race day soon arrived and for once I was able to eat a bit more than a slice of toast. The first practice run was average, but I recalled the race in Gouveia where my first run was average too so I didn’t dwell on it for too long. My first race run was an early one and I was soon feeling the nerves. As I set off, I got a bit excitable and messed up the rock slab as the landing had blown out so much from all the riders, resulting in me coming off the bike. A spectator helped pick my bike up and I grabbed it and ran with a quick thank you to the guy for lending a hand! It didn’t help that I had come off so soon in the race as from then on I panicked a bit, trying to make up for lost time which was a bad move as I soon fatigued quickly. I came down in 3rd place, 4 seconds off Katy Curd in 2nd and Tracy in 1st with a time of 3:05.

Before my second race run I went and had a look at this rock slab to see if there was alternative line to save me from repeating the previous run. I saw a line and was sure to do it. The race started well. I had the rock slab pinned, and I knew this was going to be a good run. The next turns were good and I came into the rock garden before the first northshore but messed it up. With one foot flailing around somewhere in the air and almost coming to a complete halt, it didn’t look very elegant, but I cranked up the gears and sprinted round the northshore as I had no speed to clear it and sprinted everywhere I could. I missed the second northshore too as I was in a sprint mode. The rest of the track I had pinned and I were starting the feel the pain by the last section from having to sprint so hard so soon in the race. I cleared the road gap and even put in a couple of strokes to the finish. I came down in a time of 3:15, almost 10 seconds faster than my first run. I had my place in the hot seat for 20 seconds before Moseley came down and whipped me with a time of 2:53! The surprising thing was that I know I could have gone faster, I reckon without the mess up I would have got something below 3:10 which gives me a lot more confidence for the up and coming season.

It’s looking good so far. With a bit more practice, tanning, experience and more training, I think I’m going to have a good year. I just need to keep it up and keep pushing myself now. I need to learn too if I know I can go faster; to actually go faster!"