The National Championships is the UK’s biggest 4X race. It gives all 4X riders the chance to be crowned National Champion. Underdogs clash with Elites, and predicting this race is impossible! The 2011 4X National Championships take place this weekend, 17th July at Harthill in Cheshire.
The 2011 Schwalbe British 4X Series has been a tremendous success so far with increased entry numbers, more trade stands and great racing. Round 4 will take place on Saturday 16th July. The Harthill track was made famous in 2010 when the Euro 4X Series used the venue for the first time. The Phil Saxena designed track provided some of the best racing action ever seen in the UK with loads of passing and the majority of races coming right down to the finish line. For 2011 the track has seen a few changes, most notably to the pro line doubles which have been made more usable for racing. After some adjustments the track should now flow even better than in 2010, and provide a real challenge for the riders.
DMR Pump Track Challenge
On Saturday evening the 2nd round of ‘The DMR Pump Track Challenge’ will take place. Round 1 at Leamington was a lot of fun, and round 2 at Harthill is set to provide more of the same. Usually, less than 1 second separates the top 5 riders, and with £400 prize money up for grabs, be sure to look out for those tiny mistakes making the difference. During the races, spectators will be able to join in the fun with the ‘Lezyne Exploder’. A competition where 2 people will try to explode 2 inner tubes using Lezyne’s impressive pumps. Winners will receive prizes from Lezyne.
Schwalbe National Championships
The big event of the weekend is the Schwalbe 4X National Championships on Sunday 17th July. In the Women’s race, defending National Champion Katy Curd has had, somewhat of an up and down year so far. An abundance of speed has placed her amongst the World’s finest riders, at times, during the World Cup Series, but plenty of crashes and injuries have prevented her reaching her true potential so far in 2011. She will be looking to carry the great form that placed her in 3rd at the most recent World Cup in Mont St Anne, Canada, forward to this weekend’s Championships.
Joey Gough has to be the revelation of the year. Actually revelation is entirely wrong. She is the comeback queen! After retiring from 4X, 4 years ago to concentrate on her BMX racing, she returned to 4X at the start of 2011. In only her 3 race back she finished 2nd in Fort William at the World Cup in June. She was in fact leading the final, but was passed in the tough rock section by World Cup leader Anneke Beerten from the Netherlands. It was an amazing ride, and she will surely be the main competition for Katy Curd. Nichola Anderson, Suzanne Lacey and Cara Murray are all riding at their best this year, so any slip ups from our female World Cup stars will be punished by one of these riders.
In the senior men’s race, there will be a new Champion crowed as the defending National Champion, Will Longden will not be in attendance. His ongoing back injury will keep him from racing this weekend. So who will be the main contenders for title? So far, Scott ‘Boom Boom’ Beaumont has won 15 of his 18 Elite races during the 2011 Schwalbe British Series (motos, quarters, semis and finals). His form in the British Series this year is great and the former 2 times National Champion will be looking to make it 3 this weekend. Scott Roberts is the man who has the ability to beat the World’s best on his day. 2011 has seen him really improve with great rides in the British and Euro Series, and he has finished inside the top 15 at 3 out of 4 rounds of the World Cup in 2011. His recent 10th place at Mont St Anne will give him the confidence that he can take home the jersey. Pat Campbell Jenner won round 3 of the British Series in Afan. He will still be revelling from that result and with the technical race track suiting him at Harthill; he could definitely be the man to win. Last year’s top senior rider, Nathan Parssons finished 3rd at the National Championships in 2010. Now an Elite rider, he will have less pressure and a 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the British Series so far in 2011 means a 1st is just around the corner. Keep your eye on Natedog.
The great thing with National Championships is that Senior and Elite riders are all mixed in together in one category. Every year a senior rider steps up and challenges the Elites, so if you want to get behind one of the seniors, look towards riders like Tom Gethin and Dave Roberts to throw a spanner in the Elite riders pride!
The address for Harthill is:
Hales Superbole, Harthill,
Cheshire,
CH3 9LQ.
For any other information that you require, please look at the series website:
British 4X
