NPS Rnd 5 The Finals, Fort William

Riders made the long drive up to Scotland for the National Finals last weekend and what a weekend of contrast it was sun one day and pouring rain the next. Thats Scottish weather for you !. Fort William is a fantastic course one of the best in the UK and was the perfect choice to host the end of the 06 series; hard in the dry but in the wet its whole other game entirely. The change in conditions from the dry Saturday seeding run conditions caused problems for some; with riders coming off everywhere the medics where kept busy.

Racing kicked off with the top of the course covered in thick rain cloud. Despite the weather the racing was fantastic.

Youth saw some brilliant riding with Joe Smith taking third. Astonhill/Ancillotti rider Jack Geoghegan put in an amazing run to both qualify and finish in second, his first national podium but definitely not his last. Joe took to the podium again when all the points had been added up taking the Youth overall title he took home a big piece of silverware. Jack finished of the series ranked twenty-second overall.


Joe Youth Overall No.1

Fergus stormed the Experts taking the win by 10 seconds over second placed Liam Mason, but just missed out on winning the overall series ranking second.

In Junior Nick Geoghegan came away bruised and concussed after a huge slam on the Tissott jump, pedalling in over the front in 9th gear after his shifter snapped off. Still setting a time fast enough to take fifteenth. He finishes the series ranked tenth overall. Tony Tousamalis put in a great run to finish tenth and finished off the series ranked eighth. Rich Thomas ranked twenty first in the series.

Jules Coventry finished the series ranked ninth in the Womens.

In Senior Matt Kemp Astonhill/Ancillotti put in a strong run to take twelfth in the race and had clocked up enough points to finish seventh overall.

Elite saw Matt Simmonds ride hard to take ninth place on the day and rank third in the overall standings. Matt also took home a nice piece of silverware for his mantelpiece. Dave Young flew down the track coming away with a well deserved seventh and an eighth in the overall rankings.

Well done guys for a great weekend of riding and for a great series. See you next season.