SDA Rnd 4 Fort William, Scotland

The Monster Track is Back...

Fort William, Scotland is arguably the hardest and certainly the longest track in the UK, and host for Round Four of the 2006 SDA series. On the weekend the conditions were relatively dry with only a few isolated spots being wet enough to cause problems in the grip department. The track itself was typically fast and rugged, featuring nearly all the sections used for the World Cup held here a few weeks ago, the open top section being the perfect example; big ruts and rocks pummelling body and bike before the middle wooded section, which over the World Cup weekend was so slippery it was only the mud which was keeping riders upright, was dry but still a little sketchy when some of the bigger roots became involved, before exiting into a rock garden which spat riders out onto the high speed motorway section of the course, a lung busting flat out pedal broken up by jumps of varying degrees of big, before dropping into the finish area absolutely exhausted but grinning like a maniac to check your time. Congratulations you've conquered the beast.

With two more rounds left there is still everything to play for in the race for the overall title. Team riders Fergus Lamb and Dave Young were representing this weekend. Fergus was on it, and carried on his domination of the Experts, setting a time of 4.25.321 a massive 21 seconds up on second placed Phil Ashbridge, taking first and 50 series points to add to his so far perfect score.

Dave Young looked smooth and fast all weekend and when racing came he put in a fantastic ride to take a well deserved first in Elite with a time of 4.24.781 coming in five seconds up on Chris Ball who took second.

The astonhill/Ancillotti boys were a long way from home but made the long journey count with some brilliant riding, In Junior Nick Geoghegan astonhill/Ancillotti took fifth spot and Scottish rider Tony Tousamalis took fourth. Well done to them both.

Youth also saw Jack Geoghegan astonhill/Ancillotti take fifth in the face of some fierce competiton with an impressive time of 4.58.848.

Well done to all the guys for yet another fantastic weekend. The next round in the series takes place at Dunkeld to decide who takes home the coveted title of Scottish Champion. Before then we have the Fat Face National Championships at Moelfre in Wales, this very weekend. See you there!