CRC/Nukeproof Team Report From The Saracen BDS R2

Congratulations to Team CRC/Nukeproof rider Matt Simmonds who took third place at the second round of the British Downhill Series in Fort William, Scotland, over the weekend.

Matt seeded second on Saturday afternoon and backed that up with an amazing run in the finals. It was great to see Matt standing on the podium alongside two World Champions - Danny Hart and Gee Atherton – and double World Champion Greg Minnaar, who took fourth.

Team Manager Nigel Page was ecstatic at Matt's effort, saying: "It just shows that Matt's training throughout the winter has paid off, and Matt looks to be on pace with the world's best for the upcoming World Cup race season which starts back here on the weekend of 8th and 9th June.

"This is a huge boost for Matt's confidence and a fantastic result for the team."

Unfortunately after seeding right up there in seventh place, Joe Smith suffered a rear puncture in his race run, scuppering any chances of a double podium for the team after the first BDS round in Combe Sydenham. On a positive note, Joe was riding very fast before his puncture and this weekend provided the perfect training for the first round of the World Cup.

Team rider Sam Hill missed out on Fort William as he's back in Australia training and preparing for the World Cup season. Good news for British race fans as Sam will be back in the UK very soon, racing at the third round of the British Downhill Series at Innerleithen, Scotland, on 2nd June.

Never far from the podium himself, Team Manager Nigel Page raced in the Expert class, finishing fifth – he put his success down to the Nukeproof Pulse, which worked flawlessly all weekend on Fort William's fast and rough track.

As you can see from the results list, this was a stacked, world-class field.

1 Danny HART Giant Factory Racing
2 Gee ATHERTON GT FACTORY RACING
3 Matt SIMMONDS Chain Reaction Cycles / Nukeproof
4 Greg MINNAAR Santa Cruz Syndicate
5 Marc BEAUMONT GT FACTORY RACING
6 Josh BRYCELAND Santa Cruz Syndicate
7 Adam BRAYTON Hope Technology
8 Samuel BLENKINSOP Lapierre international
9 Harry HEATH 5ten / Cyclestore.co.uk / Renthal / Schwalbe
10 Greg WILLIAMSON Trek
11 Andrew NEETHLING Giant Factory Racing
12 Bernard KERR Pivot Factory Team
13 Marcelo GUTIERREZ VILLEGAS Giant Factory Racing
14 Patrick THOME SCOTT 11
15 Ben CATHRO Sick Skills MTB Coaching
16 Harry MOLLOY Madison / Saracen
17 Sam DALE (elt) Madison / Saracen
18 Jack READING KORE / Mojo / O'Neal / Schwalbe / Shimano
19 Ben REID Dirt Norco / O'Neal / sun ringle
20 Rich THOMAS WideopenMag.co.uk