Rocky Mountain rider wins two national titles in one weekend

Scott Beaumont has been crowned National 4X Champion for the second year running after scorching to the win at Redhill, Gloucestershire. Beaumont focused his motivation and drive after sealing the overall series title just 24 hours before hand, to help him claim back-to-back National Champion titles. His second consecutive championship gold topped off a winning weekend for the midlands based rider who stepped onto the top spot of the podium two days running to cap off a perfect, unbeaten weekend. Saturday saw the fifth round of the National 4X series kick off under a blanket of blue sky and dusty track conditions. With 4 wins out of 4 for the series so far, and with series positions being decided on your best five races out of the seven races, Scott knew that all he needed to do was to make the afternoon's final to win the series overall. Not one to sit back and cruise down the Gloucestershire hillside and with his current unbeaten record on the line, Scott set about winning round five to claim the overall series title. Scott rode hard throughout the day and won all of his heats on the way to the final. Lining up in gate 1 for the final, Scott pulled a clean gate and put together a perfect run to make it 5 wins out of 5 and bag the overall series with two rounds in hand. The double headed weekend's highlight was Sunday's National Championship competition and Beaumont had a title on the line. As the current National Men's Champion everyone was there to take the jersey from his back and he was the only one who could loose it. Starting strongly Scott qualified fastest by half a second on the dry track giving him gate choice throughout the day and setting his day off in the best possible way. From there on, Scott rode hard and progressed to the final, winning all of his heats on the way and showing everyone that he was not going to give the jersey up without a fight. Minutes before the final the heavens opened and the rain came down hard, turning the dry track into a mud bath. The gate dropped and with a river running down the track Scott dropped the hammer and started to pull away from the other finalists. The rain had made the track conditions very hard going and Beaumont was conscious that as he was leading the final it was still his to throw away on the wet slippery corners. Unfazed by the conditions he pulled away further from the chasing pack and took the win and his second National Championship title, second title of the weekend and second win in as many days. Scott said after the race "I am so happy to win the National 4X Championships for the second year in a row. Rocky Mountain hand built me a 4X frame for the 2009 season and it has really given me an advantage. Winning the National Championships is a great way for me to say thanks to all the guys at Rocky in Canada and Silverfish here in the UK who spent the hours planning and building this frame for me" Scott rides Rocky Mountain, SDG, e*thirteen and RaceFace components. www.silverfish-uk.com Photos by Dave Richardson