Time flies, feels like it was only a few days ago we held the 2013 Asia Pacific Downhill Challenge. Here we are back at the same track in beautiful Bali, the Patrol DH track. It hasna��t rained for 7 months and the heat was much much worse than last year! We were back in August to scout for a better lines to make the track faster and longer. We could still see some greenery back then. Now ita��s early November, most of it has gone to brown and the track conditions were dry and loose. a�?I never seen such a loose dirt in my life, worse than back homea�? said Ty Bowmaker who made the trip down to do the video documentary for us. We opened the track 3 weeks before the event to let riders have more time riding it and to see how the track was holding up. We watered the track as often as we could but that didna��t help at all. Most of the berms were blown out and there were ruts everywhere, tree stumps and rocks that werena��t there before started to show themselves.
The line up for the elite this year was quite interesting, it wasA�almost like the east vs west kind of race. We have more Australian riders coming every year. Jackson Davis is a regular, well almost like a local now. Along with him came Sik Mik, Jordcan Prochyra and Shane Wode. More Aussies racing in other categories too, Remy Morton the new kid who just signed by HUR team will race in Junior, Kian Esmaili in Expert Mens, Jake Royle in Master Expert. Wyn Masters remaining as the only New Zealander for the 2nd time. He flew in early to get as much practice as he could, he was keen to get the win just like everyone else. We also saw more Japanese riders coming, Hajime Imoto had been here before in 2011 but raced on a different track. Madison Saracen WC team rider Kazuki Shimizu who came 2nd in Asian Champs a week before also made the trip, Keisuke Hayashi, Fujita Shoya and Daiki Shimogaki completed the line up for team Japan. Fabian Cousine was not the only Frenchmen, Remi Thirion was invited by the Commencal and Bos distributor to help promote the brand and the new store opened in Jakarta. Malaysiaa��s national champion Adam Ahmed accompanied by Aaron Chan.
The local riders were also very keen to test their skills against the pro riders, Popo Ario the local hero was racing with an injured ankle but eager to get another win again after the legendary winning run in 2010. Ditra Pranata, Candra Purnamawan, Afrizal Brasco, Agung Fambudi, Dafit Iskandar, Mahfudz and Isrofudin are the Indonesian line ups. To wrap up the lists, Specialized sent their freeriders to have a go at the race. The Coastal Crew, they were stoked to ride their bikes in Bali. Even more stoked that they are very famous in Indonesia. We were talking to other riders during the year to try and get them to race the event but unfortunately most of them couldna��t make it due to their contracts expiring and the fact some will be changing team. Hopefully those guys can make it next time though.
A total of 200 riders registered and were divided into Men Elite, Men Expert, Junior, Men Open, Women Open, Master Expert, Master A,B,C and Grand Master. In other categories we also had riders from all over Asia and the world such as, Philipines, Austria, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Australia and South Africa. The organiser kept the limited slots because they want to keep the race a little bit exclusive so all riders can race the final.
There weren’t many changes on the track except the 1st off camber section was much more faster as we made it a bit straighter so the riders could carry more speed to the next section. The major changes were towards the bottom where we lost the A line because of the entrance to the steep rocks was no longer rideable and not much we could do to fix it. We decided to use the B line but with some changes to it. Garry from Trailscapes and Eric Sanjaya did a good job to keep everyone on their toes all the way down. The new bridge was a nice new feature added to the bottom part. Riders can either launch down from it or roll if they think ita��s faster. Garry also added 2 big jumps before the finish line, which some riders head scratching on how much speed they need to clear it. We saw few riders went down hard and some rims cracking as they came up short.
The track was opened for practice on Thursday, after the track walk. Most of the pros decided to skip it, may be because of the heat but not for Remi Thirion who is still waiting for his prototype fork and shock sent from France. Most of the local riders making the most of it to find their set up and get used to the climate. Wyn Masters was looking fast and got his lines dialed. He was throwing down big whips for the crowd and photographers.
Hiroyuki Nakagawa known as one of the WC photographers’ made the trip again, hea��s been a great help to us on promoting the event in Japan. When Hiro is on the track, you can bet there will be some epic shots and sick angles taken by him.
Friday was the official practice and each rider must do a minimum of 2 runs to be able to make the seeding on Saturday. Sik Mik looked very smooth everywhere, Remi finally got his suspension and was doing runs with Wyn Masters. Remi looks at home after a few runs. We saw some creative lines from him that others werena��t hitting it or were they just not playing their cards too early? A�Young Jackson Davis decided to race in Elite to see how close he can get with the big guns. Kazuki seems to have find his lines tooa��. he was looking fast all day and throwing nice style over the double at the bottom. Popo was struggling a bit with his injured ankle but was riding very loose everywhere. Tracey Hannah was again in the class of her owna��. it is sad that the women riders get less and less each year. Therea��s only 3 riders competing and we are wondering whether this sport is still attractive enough for girls ? God only knows.
Riders were up early on Saturday to punch in some runs in a tight time frame given by the officials for practice. Track condition was worse, in a way that it got even more blown out after the Elite men hammered the track on Friday. For some they found it a lot easier to ride as the Elite has pushed the loose dirt and rocks away by the end of their practice runs. A lot of riders were getting flats as sharp rocks appeared more and more towards the bottom of the track. Tracey won seeding by 42.774, from Fitriyanti and 1.26.292 from Tiara. We see a lot of crashes in Master categories but we also saw some fast old guys made it look too easy in some sections. Remy Morton took seeding by 8.495 from Local boy Anak Agung a�?Abiena�?. Will he be able to find that time to beat Remy on final ?A� Sik Mik was riding really well and won seeding with 2.29.923 from Remi just by 0.012 though, Wyn Masters in 3rd but 3.315 off the pace, Kazuki Shimizu in 4th with 5.150 back and Fabian Cousine round up the top 5 with 5.231 behind.
Sunday was a bit cooler and everyone put on their race face, the atmosphere at the top was very chilled. Most of the master riders sharing their story about the practice they had in the morning, how the track changed on some sections. Few took a tumble and didna��t make the start because of injury or the track got the best of them and decided to sit it out. In Junior Remy Morton was untouchable and took the win with 2.36.947 and clear by 11.531 seconds to local boy Anak Agung a�?Abiena�? in 2nd place. Fahraz SA in 3rd, Andy Prayoda and Calvin Krisna Dwipa round out the podium. In women open, Tracey took the win as expected by 43.120 to Fitriyanti and 51.662 to Tiara. Men Expert category has a good competition going on. Dimas Pamungkas took the win with 2.52.523 only by 0.093 from Kian Esmaili. 3rd Chrisdian Mardianto, 4th Eko Purwanto and 5th Erda Gozali.
During lunch time we have the usual poster signing by the riders. The Coastal Crew, Jackson Davis, Remi Thirion, Popo and Fitriyanti was getting down to business. Over 500 posters were signed all together in an hour, might be a new world record ? Wyn didna��t need any posters, just like a rock star he signed on the girls Ta��s and on the best spot.
The Elite started at 2pm, the temperature got a bit cooler and you could feel the sea breeze if you were watch from the top sections. The crowd was pleased by The Coastal crew as they threw whips on the big double near the finish linea��. Kyle Norbraten finished in 11th, followed by Curtis Robinson 12th and Dylan Dunkerton in 16th. Not a bad results considering the stack of field and hardly any racing experience. They put on a good show for the crowd and won the best whips too. As the 10 ten riders coming down time starts to come down in a big margin. Popo pushed hard but only managed 10th even though he better his seeding time by 8 seconds. Jackson Davis took over the hot seat better Popoa��s time by 4 seconds. Hajime Imoto rode really well and took the hot seat from Jackson only by 0.596 seconds. Time different becomes tighter as the faster riders coming down. Shane Wode took the hot seat from Hajime, then Jordan Prochyra took over and Fabian Cousine took over by 0.684. Kazuki Shimizu stayed for a while as Wyn Masters slipped into 6th when he crossed the line. He spun out in one of the corners he said and lost a lot of time.
Remi Thirion was fast out of the gate and looks like hea��s on a mission. Gapping down the off camber then boosting out of the berm at Barng section, he looks fast everywhere. Remi crossed the line with 2.26.119 thats 3.804 seconds faster than Mick Hannaha��s seeding time. We asked him where did he find that 3.804 ? he said he was just focusing on riding smooth and not to push too hard as the track was a lot looser than Saturday. Mick Hannah came down and keeping it low wherever he jumps as Sik Mik always does. He looks so in control and was looking fast as he took the last drop from the wooden bridge and sprinted into the double and pedal hard as he crossed the line. It wasna��t enough to beat Remia��s time, he was 1.631 behind. Such an intense race and the crowd really enjoyed ita��. this is the best race we had so far because the racing was so tight and there was a great atmosphere the whole weekend.
During this event Specialized Indonesia represented by Darrick Subrata and Rayza Tisnohadi donated, 1 S works demo frame to be auction and 1 Specialized Dissident Comp DH helmet as a lucky draw prize. Buy as many coupon as you want to get lucky. The money raised will be use to purchase as many bikes as possible that later will be donated to the people of Klungkung Bukit Tengah. Thank you to Wayan Agus Eka for making the highest bid on the frame. Hea��s now the proud owner of the one and only frame that was signed by The Coastal Crew. Today November 18th we have donated 42 bicycles, 40 of them are given to the students of a primary school in Bukit Tengah and 2 of 26a�� bikes were given to the priests in Goa Lawah a temple very close to the track.
After the event we were all invited to the after party by The Chillhouse at Deus in Canggua�� everyone had a good time good music and free flow of drinks at the VIP area. Some went home after midnight and some headed to Legian for more party. After all ita��s Balia��. party ona�� enough said.
Thank you to all sponsors United Bike, Specialized, Patrol Mountain, Shimano, FJC, Castle, Kabuto, Formula Bike, Spinergy, Commencal, Bos Suspension and The Chillhouse
Photo credits Hiroyuki Nakagawa, Simon Yeong, Christopher Berry and Damian Gerrard. Article: Andre Palmer.
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