SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE’S STEVE PEAT WINS NPS #1 DOWNHILL

Sunday April 22, 2007
Innerleithen, Scotland
By Steve Peat

The season has certainly kicked off with a bang for
me!  Last weekend was Sea Otter and this weekend I
raced our first UK National of the year held in
Innerleithen, Scotland. The NPS is under new
management this season and I must say it was
refreshing to see a good buzz around the pits and a
professional set up for the racing.  The whole event
was made better by having a international field of
riders here too, Greg Minnaar, Julien Camellini, Marc
Beaumont, Brendan Fairclough and Gee Atherton, just to
name a few.

Innerleithen was the venue.  I have raced and
practiced here for many years now and the place has
never let me down.  The track this weekend was one of
the hardest we have had there, as there were quite a
few new sections, which took lots of bedding in.  Each
lap there would be boulder size rocks rolled into
lines which made it hard to flow good.

Saturday was practice and seeding runs.   I got 4 runs
in and didn't feel like I had learnt too much.  I knew
I had to go steady in the top woods, as it was easy to
make mistakes.  My seeding went well, I just had a
solid run with no mistakes and cruised over the line
in top spot with.  It was the juniors who set the pace
for the day though and Josh Bryceland set the fastest
seed of the day, 1 second up on me.

After a good bonfire and a few beers I settled down
for some kip.  I got a few practice runs in on Sunday
morning and started feeling better and better on the
track.  Rick Clarkson and I worked hard to get the
bike set up spot on and things just got better.  I
could see the likes of Marc and Gee were well up for
this race.  In fact it was funny to see the nerves
showing through so early on in these guys.

When finals time came around I felt pretty relaxed and
just went out and had fun.  I tried not to attack too
hard on top of the track, as it was easy to make
mistakes and hit the tight trees.  My run was pretty
good although I felt too cautious in a few spots.
Being the last guy down is always good, as you know if
you have done it as soon as you cross the line.  The
huge crowds went crazy and I had it in the bag.  Gee
was second by almost 3 seconds and Marc was third.
Greg had a crash up in the woods and I am not sure of
any other results yet.  One of the rides of the day
has to go to another junior  "Ruaridh Cunningham".  He
set the second fastest time of the day just beating
Gee.  If only Josh had not have crashed twice he might
have gone fastest in the junior category!!   Look out
for these boys.

The podium was good and the pits soon got packed away.
 I had a good feeling driving home, not just cos I had
won, but the UK race scene is at its healthiest and
this has been a good weekend for racing. Bring on the
next one.

 Thanks to my mechanic Rick Clarkson, and all my
sponsors for the support.

 Cheers to the organizers and marshals!

 Steve

Steve Peat
Santa Cruz Syndicate
www.stevepeat.com

Check out the new SYNDICATE site:
http://www.santacruzmtb.com/riders/index.php?syndicate=1

ELITE MEN:
1 Steve PEAT The Syndicate 3:04.12
2 Gee ATHERTON Animal/Commencal 3:06.90
3 Marc BEAUMONT MBUK/Santa Cruz 3:07.51
4 Matt SIMMONDS Ancillotti UK 3:08.29
5 Dan ATHERTON Animal/Commencal 3:08.47
6 Ben REID Iron Horse 3:10.94
7 Dave SMITH Syncros Electric 3:11.89
8 Joe BARNES Cycle Jersey/MFX Air Art 3:12.10
9 Neil DONOGHUE MBUK Santa Cruz 3:12.23
10 Julien CAMELLINI MOJO Orange 3:12.24

JUNIOR MEN:

1 Ruaridh CUNNINGHAM Bike Love Glasgow 3:06.05
2 Sam DALE Solid Electric 3:12.05
3 Scott MEARS Denton Cycle 3:14.71
4 Josh BRYCELAND Royal/Santa Cruz 3:16.49
5 Joseph SMITH Ancillotti UK 3:16.61

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