First race attended in 2013 & I was pitting for those Planet X boys Crossjunkie & Dave Haygarth who were riding in the Vets race on the Saturday.
Lazy start as we didn't need to set off early as its only an hour from home, van loaded and off we go.
Dave had got there before us and set up a gazebo & saved space for us to park, bikes out, turbo set up and Alan & Dave head off to sign on and overview the course.
Once the kit was sorted there wasnt a lot to do so coffee & butty scoffed as the youngsters got to grips with the course.
Both Dave & Alan had been hoping that the rain had continued all week and the course was going to be a mud bath, no such look and they both returned from their practice laps looking rather clean, a quick wash of the bikes as they wrapped up & kept warm.
It was going to be a fast race, both however were impressed with the course and looking forward to racing.
Warm up complete, wrist band attached and I was off to the pits to get set up for the race.
Both Alan & Dave were not expecting to need to pit - saving a mechanical as the course wasn't throwing much mud up to warrent regular bike changes.
Pitting was reasonably straight forward - well apart from dancing with two bikes across the pits each lap!
The start was a worry as the sound of falling bikes was clear in the pits, a silence followed as pit crews peered to see if their rider was down, or clear & racing.
Then for the rest of the race I played the waiting game for Alan & Dave to go through the pit areas, swop sides jostle with others for the best spot and hope that the lads didnt need to change bikes through a mechanical.
Quick snatches of the race as Nick Craig gave a masterclass in riding, a well deserved National Champ
Good ride from Dave with Alan falling fowl of all the germs he has been trying to avoid at home.
Van packed, goodbyes said & homeward bound for a curry and a beer or three
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