Monday 15th June 2009 From Silver Rocket Media…
The WA state four cross racing season kicked off yesterday when some WA’s best BMX and mountain bike riders converged on the four cross course known affectionately as “The Paddock” just outside Pingelly, just over an hours drive south east of Perth.
The Paddock is a fast flowy layout with multiple genuine passing opportunities and is built on private property on a clay base surface. Track conditions for race day were perfect after some mid week showers, followed by a few days of sunshine packed the dirt down perfectly and made for tacky grip levels.
Some small changes were made to the track from the last race here with the large triple changed to a double double, or a quad if your name is Daniel Sprague who could boost the whole pack, and some inside lines added on a few turns. The new changes were a unanimous success speaking to the riders and the proof was in the pudding as every heat, semi and final saw passing moves pulled off not only on turns but through some of the jump sections as well.
Overall round one was a huge success and race organiser Mac said “The day ran pretty smooth and rider numbers were well up from last time and the track changes we made from last race have worked really well so we are happy with the overall result.”
Former world BMX champion and now regular mountain bike racer Daniel Sprague took home a clean sheet winning all his heats and the semi on the way to taking out the elite men’s final but he didn’t have it all his own way with a few riders snapping at his heels and throwing down some passing attempts that nearly paid off.
“In the final I had to come from lane one so I was a bit worried, I knew I had to get a really good gate. I got a good gate and sort of crowded the other three to get myself some more space to get away and after that it all went to plan.” Said Daniel.
The “Kalamunda Kid” Deon Baker represented the downhill brigade and used his winning form from round two of the state downhill series to have another solid result taking home second place in the final followed by fellow downhill racer Stuart McDonald who was 3rd. Old school bmxer Jade McPherson crashed out of third place on turn two to round out the elite men’s final.
U19 rider Mikey Tailor, also from a BMX background, was clearly a cut above the other U19 boys at the last round and so he stepped up into the elite class and went into the finals as the number two qualifier behind Daniel Sprague. However he just missed making the final but took out the win in the small final and will no doubt race in a final soon.
Olympic BMX finalist Tanya Bailey also hit the track for her first four cross race in WA. Tanya debuted in sport class and showed why she is a champion by swapping positions, banging elbows and showing the men up all day. Number one qualifier after the heats only a small mistake at the start in the final robbed her of the overall win. Tanya finished 2nd in right on the tail of Paul De Klerk who got a good clean start and had enough power to stay ahead of Tanya and Tony Keogh recovered best to finish third after a first jump tangle with Jerome Soubeyran.
In the U15’s final Jacob Parker got the hole shot by half a bike length and was never headed taking the win ahead of Jake Byrne and Daniel Cobham. Unlike Jordan Prochyra who left his move in the U19’s final until the last straight moving past Luke Reed for the win with Shaun Black and Kirby Watts also making the final in third and fourth respectively.
Round two of the WA state four cross series will be the first race held at the all new Goat Farm four cross course in four weeks time on the 12th of July before the series returns to Pingelly for round three on the 9th of August.
Unofficial series points after round one…
(full official results to follow soon)
Elite men
1 Daniel Sprague 125
2 Deon Baker 100
3 Stuart Macdonald 75
4 Jade McPherson 60
5 Mikey Tailor 50
Sport
1 Paul De Klerk 125
2 Tanya Bailey 100
3 Tony Keogh 75
4 Jerome Soubeyran 60
Under 19
1 Jordan Prochyra 125
2 Luke Reed 100
3 Shaun Black 75
4 Kirby Watts 60
Under 15
1 Jacob Parker 125
2 Jake Byrne 100
3 Daniel Cobham 75
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