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This weekend's race was the first of the NPS series and was great fun. The track was hard, a bit hit or miss in the bog and with the changing weather conditions over the weekend. The highlight was getting some really good practice runs in over the weekend and feeling comfortable on the bike. The most amusing moment over the weekend had to be when Pete, the team mechanic, met his first very drunk, broad-spoken Scottish women. He was not impressed judging by the very confused look on his face, while he tried to eat the lettuce and celery, (which was the only option for a vegetarian) at the 2nd chinese restaurant we had visited over the weekend.

Ben Cathro railing it

Well I finished 19th with Ben in 9th after an impressive leap off the elevator. Stanny managed 7th. I think we were all pretty dissapointed with our runs. At least they got into the top ten though, which was where I was hoping to finish, if not on the podium. Next time one of us will be on the podium I think. Another enjoyable and fun weekend with the Mojo team and I'm now looking forward to heading out to the first World Cup round in Slovenia. Chris Huchens


Stanny dropping in	Chris Hutchens and his WHITE trainers!

Despite the hellish weather on Saturday the first NPS of 2008 turned out to be amazing. The track was more of a river than race course and there were many riders impersonating fish flopping around in the slop. Team Mojo kept a positive attitude in the conditions and shredded the track to bits. Unfortunately small errors on race runs spoiled hopes of podium spots but the results were decent. Back home now for the big clean up operation then we'll all keep active till the next race in Maribor, which will be awesome. Ben Cathro

Aimee

	Words: Chris Hutchens & Ben Cathro Pictures courtesy of: © Ian Linton www.ianlinton.com
Aimee takes off!

Ben Cathro had the following to say about the weekend. Dunkeld is definitely the most challenging race track in Britain and this race was no exception. The organisers taped out what in many peoples opinion is the best race track we have had at Dunkeld. It took many casualties over the weekend but supplied a whole heap of fun for rider and spectator.


Stanny dropping in	Stanny on his way to 1st place

The race was an interesting one, it wasn't a matter of getting down as fast as possible, more a case of making it down in one piece. I didn't have the best day at the office this weekend but I'll be on the case for the next race. Most impressive site of the weekend was Hutch banging out some handstand press-ups...... Either that or Stannys rodeo rock stall to face plant.


Chris on his way to 3rd place	Chris Hutchens

Chris Hutchens had this to say. The start of my season is going really strong and I think the pain, sweat and tears (also spewing) from training over the winter is beginning to reap the rewards.


Ben Cathro	Ben Cathro

This was my 1st proper Elite race and I managed to grab the 3rd step of the podium. I can't complain too much there. The track this year managed to catch a lot of people out, including every elite rider bar one in the first timed runs. The middle section was seriously difficult this year and the rain over the weekend didn't help much. Conditions worsened for the 2nd runs with the heavens opening half way through seniors just for the experts and elite. I think this made interesting viewings for the spectators who I think got a real show. Well another good result for me and another medal to put on the mantle piece, this time an Elite Bronze one!

	Words: *Ben Cathro & Chris Hutchens* Pictures courtesy of: © Ian Linton www.ianlinton.com Podium picture courtesy of: © Brian Gibb

After an exciting weekend in Portugal, team Mojo/Orange were a little closer to home at Cwmcarn this weekend. The track was running as smooth as ever, with some sneaky lines opening up in practice. The black run had been taped, which included jumps and technical wooded sections in the top half and of course the open finish section. I wasn't too sure about the placement of the timing beams at the finish, but it did sort the men from the boys and show who'd been power training over the winter.

Aimee on her way to 1st place in the Elite Women category

The weather at Cwmcarn was typically Welsh. Unpredictable and cold would be the best way to describe it; although the sun was out and we had the occasional blizzard, which did the track some good if anything.

Tom Wheeler also on his way to 1st place in the Expert Men category

Results prove that everyone is getting along with the new bikes, with Tom Wheeler on the top step of expert, placing him 9th fastest of the day! Little Joe Taylor put together an impressive run placing him 8th in junior, probably the hardest category to race in. I was pretty happy with the weekend taking 1st place from Haby-blu Cann with a 3.26.

Overall a good weekend from Mojo/Orange. Well done guys!

Joe Taylor getting the tuck on!...

Joe Taylor floating on air

Aimee takes 1st place

Tom also takes 1st place

Words: Aimee Dix Pictures courtesy of: Mark & Richard James

Following a snowy weekend in Scotland last week, hot sun for practice was a welcome change and a chance for most to work up a nice tan on the 2 inches of exposed skin between their race shirt and glove....

The course was a fun, fast and open track, mostly consisting of big jumps to flat, testing bikes, wheels, and how much riders had been bench pressing during the winter. Unfortunately the sun did not hang around for the race, with a wet start to the day, but the wind caused more difficulties, with about half of riders being blown off their bike inches from the finish line on an 8 foot drop with a blustery cross wind.

Out of a heavily British field, Gee and Dan Atherton took the 1 and 2, with Cedric Gracia in 3rd and Mojo rider Ben Cathro in 5th, putting in a great ride and showing he is getting on well with his new Orange and looking forward to the coming season. Mojo technician, Aimee Dix came down a respectable 4th in the women's. And I finished a less respectable 13th, as a result of the new airport baggage weight restrictions meaning I had to jettison my lucky socks at checkin.

Stanny takes the hot-seat

Words: Stanny Pictures: Tom Wheeler

My first elite race ever and although it was a winter series race I was pretty excited. The likes of the Athertons, Stanny, Peaty, Camellini, Beaumont, Fungus Lamb and a few other riders were there. A tough field for such a small level race.



Stanny takes 2nd place	Chris Hutchens about to take off

The track was great but it did take a few chunks of flesh out of me and I managed to strain a ligament in my thumb on the Saturday morning, so it was a little sore when riding. Nothing that a good bit of taping can't fix though. Racing was good on Sunday and I finished 9th out of about 15 elite riders. It was a relatively pleasing result after hitting a tree at the top and then being close to a lot of fast riders' times. Stans no-tubes was working a treat over all the rocky stuff at the top - not one puncture from any Mojo riders.


Ben Cathro keeping tight	Aimee in full flight

Stanny says...This weekend saw a last minute decision to head up to Scotland for the final round of the Alpine Bikes winter series at Innerlithen. A small relaxed race to kick off the season, although a glance down the entry list read like a World Cup podium with the likes of Steve Peat, Gee Atherton, Mark Beaumont and Julien Camellini making up the numbers in the men's category, and Rach Atherton and Helen Gaskell setting the pace for the women.


Stanny on his way to 2nd place	Ben Cathro staying low

The course was a mixture of old favourites cut and shut together with plenty of trade mark Innerlithen squeezes between trees. The snow however added an extra dimension to contend with particularly for the uplift buses. The race saw Gee take 1st place, with me in 2nd and Camellini in 3rd, with most of the other riders stuck between trees I think! The women's podium saw Rach take the win, with Mojo rider Aimee DIx having a good run, missing out on a podium finish by only 2 seconds in 4th. Next week Portugal, where I'm hoping to thaw out.

Words: Chris Hutchens & Stanny Pictures courtesy of: © Ian Linton www.ianlinton.com

'This was my first ever BUSA champs (British University Sports Association Championships) and after the weeks training and testing in Italy (see related 'Mojo news' story) I had got used to the new Orange 224 Evo and was feeling comfortable on it. I flew back from Italy on the Friday night before the Championship, unfortunately missing a days practice, but what the hell, Italy? South Wales? Ahem... I didn't worry too much about this, but instead concentrated on trying to learn the track a little - I was lucky in the sense that the track is relatively simple with limited line choice.

The biggest obstacle of the day seemed to be the wind and rain, such a nice welcome back to the UK! After the 1st of the two timed race runs I was lying in 2nd place, I was happy about that as i was still working out a few things on the track (Editor's note: Hmm, simple track, limited line choice eh? hee, hee, hee...). The leading rider was a local hero from Swansea by the name of Will Soffe (you can tell he's Scottish and never taken a bus from Newport to Swansea! Local hero!?) congratulations to Will for finishing 3rd overall after the 2nd run!... My 2nd run went better and I finished 2 seconds ahead of 2nd place rider, Team Dirt Magazine's Ralph Jones who's on form at the moment having just bagged the first Midlands win of the year the weekend previous.

It was good having some competition and it gives me a good estimate of how my training is going on the run up to the season, though I can't stop pedalling yet, there's always more training in the bag!... That was basically the BUSA's for me and I couldn't have asked for more, maybe a little more champagne to drink! Edinburgh also finished 3rd in the Overall downhill which was a great result.' Away the lads!

Words: Chris Hutchens Pictures: Joolze Dymond

Chris keeping tight, even in the mud!

Not too wet then!!!!

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