Aug, 25th 2006.

I got 13th place today in Mountaincross.
What an amazing feeling. To go from getting 12th in slalom at the Deer Valley Norba last year, and being so estatic about that, to being 13th in the world a year later…. I can’t describe it.
The course was huge. Steep start, like Helltrack in Rad. It had theese deep pits you would jump into and out of. It was the first time mountaincross felt moto to me. Sometimes it felt like you were floating. Big 35+ft doubles and tabletops. There were so many spectators as well, and they were going absolutely nuts.
We qualified a few days earlier. It was getting fairly windy, and on the big jumps it was sketchy. I qualified 15th place which I was pretty happy about. Right in the middle, just where I was aiming for. I think top 5 was Prokop, Lopes, Rinderknecht, Tshugg, and Gracia.
In my first round I had Lopes, Lucas Tamme, and Wyn Masters, ( a local Rotorua shredder, and super cool guy) I had practiced the inside of the first turn a few times, which was good as I went inside of Lucas and pulled it off. I think he fell and balled up Wyn which gave Lopes and I a quiet rest of our run. (very relieved for the time being bye the way)
Next round I had Lopes again, Michael Deldycke, and Michael Mariosi. All who qualified top 8, leaving me last lane choice. Of ocurse I got the outside which I didn’t mind so much actually. I really came out of the gate too. I think after reviewing the video if I had been inside I may have ended up out front. Purley speculation but… I can’t help it. On FLATS too!
Anyway I didn’t expect to be in second place into the first turn, but just a bit outside (not protecting my line enough) and left the door open for M & M to get by. After that I battled back to 3rd and just couldn’t squeeze by Mariosi to qualify out. Oh well, shoulda ate my wheaties I guess.
Next year will be fun.

Pictures:

Simon’s podium

Shaums March gold medal men’s 30-34 (Mad March Racing), Gene Hamilton bronze medal men’s 40-44 (Better Ride), Simon Lawton bronze medal men’s 35-39 (Fluidride)

Sept 3rd 2006.

For the second consecutive year, Sun Peaks has hosted the UCI World Masters Mountain Bike Championships. Over 250 athletes age 30 and over raced for the World Championship title, in both cross country and downhill. Eighteen + countries were represented.
The downhill course had three separate sections that went straight down the hill for 200 to 300 yards at a time through the roughest terrain many of the veteran racers had ever ridden, and hit speeds near 45mph, then headed back into the trees at the midway point. The bottom section was re-routed through the single track above the driving range and finished in the village allowing for great spectator visuals as the racers made the last greuling sprint.
Simon described his own run as ” One of the herdest efforts, and all out highest speed runs I have completed in some time.” Simon, who placed 3rd very respectively behind Lars Tribus (2nd) and David Beeson (1st) wsa only 24 hundredths of a secon off the win. One of the closest margins in history.

Simon would like to thank all of his and Fluidrides sponsors.

Iron Horse Bicycles
Twenty20 Headcams
Sram/Rockshox
DT Swiss
FullSpeedAhead
Fluidride

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