South East Queensland Downhill Series Round 4

Round 4 of the SEQDH Series run by the Downhill From Here crew saw riders heading north of Brisbane to a private property between Mapleton Forest Reserve and Kenilworth where they took on Hella��s Descent. The track starts with an open, high speed section of drops and doubles straight out of the gate.

Shuttles to the top are always fun when your driver is Bob Davis, 63 years young and still racing downhill. — Shuttles to the top are always fun when your driver is Bob Davis, 63 years young and still
racing downhill.

The racers were throwing down a bit of style at the step down double early on in the track.

The a�?pencil techniquea�� was pretty common off this lip as riders tried to get a spotting on their landing before railing the next berm and shooting off down the track. — The a�?pencil techniquea�� was pretty common off this lip as riders tried to get a spotting on their
landing before railing the next berm and shooting off down the track.

You dona��t see too many Canyon frames going around Australia but this guy knows how to throw his around. — You dona��t see too many Canyon frames going around Australia but this guy knows how to throw
his around.

Warrick McNab squashes the final drop of the top section before taking on the switchbacks down the face of the mountain. — Warrick McNab squashes the final drop of the top section before taking on the switchbacks
down the face of the mountain.

The track then dives down the face of the mountain where riders had to try carry their speed through an endless series of tight, steep switchbacks littered with roots and rocks as well as off camber root sections and rock gardens.

Ben Power going high across the off-camber roots as he prepares to drop-in on a series of switchbacks. — Ben Power going high across the off-camber roots as he prepares to drop-in on a series of
switchbacks.

. Hayden Poptie attacking the inside line, the other options were to thread a slower middle line or drop off the outside. — . Hayden Poptie attacking the inside line, the other options were to thread a slower middle line or
drop off the outside.

More off-camber rooty goodness for the riders to attack.

Recent rain has left a lot of vegetation around the track and transformed the normally dusty track into a grippy, tacky trail that the riders were railing hard throughout practice before it got chopped up a bit prior race runs. — Recent rain has left a lot of vegetation around the track and transformed the normally dusty
track into a grippy, tacky trail that the riders were railing hard throughout practice before it got
chopped up a bit prior race runs.

A lot more a�?enduroa�� bikes have been seen throughout the series as technology innovations allow these smaller travel bikes to take on the downhill scene. — A lot more a�?enduroa�� bikes have been seen throughout the series as technology innovations
allow these smaller travel bikes to take on the downhill scene.

100% concentration down the whole track. There was no respite for riders with the endless turns, roots, and rocks. — 100% concentration down the whole track. There was no respite for riders with the endless
turns, roots, and rocks.

Early practice was a bit slick with the dew on the track but this soon translated into grip as the track dried out a bit. — Early practice was a bit slick with the dew on the track but this soon translated into grip as the
track dried out a bit.

The final section of the course opens up to a small field of high speed, flat and off camber turns before dropping into the last forest section featuring a high speed long-and-low gap before a transfer over into the finish-line step up.

Ryan Leutton was unable to gain a podium spot this round and relinquished his overall lead to Ben Power. — Ryan Leutton was unable to gain a podium spot this round and relinquished his overall lead to
Ben Power.

Loic Fery styling it out over the finish line step-up.

Big whips and nose-heavy landings were on order for the final jump

Sam Fraser: upside down and sideways in his final race run on the way to 5th place.

Ryan Leutton went into this round leading series overall for Elite Men but was unsuccessful in gaining a podium finish. Ben Power took his third win from three races and seems unstoppable on his way to taking the series overall. Lisa Matheson and Tracey Knight continued their dominance of the Open Women, taking the top two steps of the podium for Planet Cycles once again. The highlight of the day was Sam Frasera��s cork flip on the finish-line step up in his finals run and to add to it, he managed to claim the final step on the podium with that run!