MK’s blog

PRESS RELEASE – For immediate release
13th April 2010

‘Ridin 9 to 5’ at the Muc-Off 8 Enduro MTB – Race results

An unforgettable two-wheeled festival experience was delivered on Sunday 11th April at the six hundred acre private estate at Pippingford Park in East Sussex when 550 competitors gathered to take part in the Muc-Off 8, a unique new eight hour, eight mile enduro mountain bike race.

The sun shone for two days on an international field of competitors including the Norweigen Proteinfabrikken KTM Racing Team, which included the national XC Marathon cross-country champion Tor Halvor Bjornstad; corporate teams from Formula 1’s Force India, Mercedes and Red Bull and other competitors ranging from 19 to 61 years of age all taking part in the eight hour show-down.

With 1576 laps completed and a cummulative 12,608 miles ridden, the event went without a hitch with trained on-site paramedics having to deal with nothing more than one sprained ankle over the duration of the race.

Greg Saw, team manager and rider for Norwegian Proteinfabrikken/ KTM team comments on coming to England to take part and his first impressions of the Muc-Off 8 event; “It’s special for us to be here and riding as a team for team bonding and tactics and this event will help us prepare for the next Nordic 24 hour race. This is a refreshing and interesting format for an enduro race, and the course has a good mix of uphill, and challenging downhill to keep all the riders on their toes. The team element of the event means this is not just for elite riders.”

The Norweigen team went on to win the pairs category and also took the title for the fastest eight mile lap of the day at 40 minutes 07 seconds.

Competitors took up the gauntlet laid down by downhill world champion Steve Peat, who set a time on the downhill section of the course earlier in the year of 2 minutes 2 seconds. The downhill section was electronically split-timed and the fastest downhill time of 2 minutes and 7 seconds was set on the day by Mule Bar/Hargroves Cycles rider, Stuart Bowers.

‘Ridin 9 to 5,’ the objective of the Muc-Off 8 was for competitors and teams to complete as many laps as possible racing against time and each other within the eight hours with teams dictating their own strategy, using only one rider at a time on the course.

Muc-Off head man Alex Trimnell comments: “We wanted to create a fun laid-back event which was a challenge for elite riders and first timers alike and I couldn’t wish for a better atmosphere and vibe here today. We wanted our event to be unique and to design a varied course comprising downhill, cross-country and single track with a different enduro format, and from feedback we have had I think we achieved that. We also provided riders with free drinks, energy and nutrition through partner Clif Bar, and bike servicing with Cycle Surgery plus a free Muc-Off bike cleaning service throughout the day.”

Alex explains plans for the Muc-Off 8 2011; “Pippingford Park is a beautiful setting and a perfect venue for the Muc-Off 8 and there’s lots of space to grow the event and make it bigger and better next year. We want to create a bigger core bike cleaning area and more facilities such as a shower block and attract more competitors to enter the team disciplines, as well as attract further British and international pro riders, and more corporate teams.”

For full results visit HYPERLINK “http://www.dbmax.co.uk/store/vo2_results” \o “blocked::http://www.dbmax.co.uk/store/vo2_results” http://www.dbmax.co.uk/store/vo2_results

For further information visit HYPERLINK “http://www.mucoff8.com” www.mucoff8.com

ENDS

RESULTS:
1st Solo man – Ian Leitch – Ian was also 3rd overall
1st Solo woman – Rickie Cotter
1st team pair – Proteinfabrikken KTM Racing Team

For further press information email Lindsay Chant HYPERLINK “mailto:lindsay.chant@cyclevox.com” lindsay.chant@cyclevox.com or call Lindsay on +44 (0)1258 830095 / 07736 724068

For further event information email Andy Blow HYPERLINK “mailto:andy@votwo.co.uk” andy@votwo.co.uk or call Andy on +44 (0)1425 674955

For information on the Muc-Off brand and its products email James Cramp HYPERLINK “mailto:jc@muc-off.com” jc@muc-off.com or call James on + 44 (0)1202 307790

Note to Editors:

For images please contact Lindsay Chant.

Dorset based cleaning expert Muc-Off has partnered with top events company Votwo, and Cycle marketing specialists Cyclevox to stage the Muc-Off 8.

The venue is the impressive Pippingford Park Estate in East Sussex; a proven mountain bike

Race Report for Lake Havasu WORCS Race Round 3

Riders

Robby Bell KX450F Pro 6th
JP Davis KX450F Pro 15th
Justin Seeds KX450F Pro-2 5th
Jack Achey KX250F A 7th
Mark Harstine KX450F B 15th

Lake Havasu is always one of the biggest races of the year. It’s an awesome setting on the island in the middle of the lake. The course is very demanding with a moto section up on top, and deep sand whoops for the rest. There’s even a lagoon jump over the water. It’s tight, technical, and with lap times in the 6 minute range, you get double the amount of laps compared to other races.

In the Pros, Robby and JP were both looking for their best finishes of the year. In qualifying, Robby took sixth, his personal best. JP was looking good in practice, but got a flat front tire in qualifying and took a disappointing 16th.

In the race, Robby got off in sixth. He put on a great charge and moved into second on lap two. From here he ran up front until deep into the race when the flu he has been fighting caught up with him and he dropped back to sixth. I’m sending Robby’s race report for a more in depth story.

JP got off to a top ten start, but then had problems with his steering and needed a long pit stop for repairs. This killed any chance to challenge for a front spot. He salvaged fifteenth.

Justin rode hard all weekend, and his results continue to improve. He took 5th in the Pro-2s 5th in the 450A, and 9th in the Open A.

Jack rode well, but a smoked clutch slowed him and he took 7th in the ultra competitive 250F A class.

Mark Harstine started his weekend getting run over. Beat up and bloody, he raced on and came from 40th to 15th in the 450 B class.

Next Worcs race is at 395 Cycle Park near Victorville, CA. Robby will be over his bout with the flu, and is super motivated by his early run at Havasu. JP will have the bike problems handled, and looks to better his 6th place Primm finish. All of our guys will be testing at 395 and getting plenty of time on the track before the race so we will be more prepared than ever.

Thanks for all the support, in tough times, it’s great to have the best sponsors in the business. I Will send pictures as soon.

Bob Bell

Team Coordinator