661 Mini DH Forest of Dean

I went to this race with some unfinished business from the 661 mini DH. I had 2 horrific runs last time and was going to go along to change this.

The track was similar to the last one. They have to have the same bottom section due to forestry rules but the top was different. It was raining on and off all day but personally I found the mud a lot more manageable than the previous frozen conditions.
European and national Champ, Bernard Kerr, turned up to race along with other names like the Parkin brothers, Ash Maller, Dave List etc. In my eyes it was going to be a good race.

I didn’t miss any practise this time either so I could do some relaxed runs rather than having to sprint up and down like a yo-yo. I sectioned the top a few times and had time to do a couple of full runs too.

My first race run didn’t go to plan at all. After the new section at the top I didn’t commit to a right hand corner and went over the top of it into some really sticky mud. I kept it together for the rest of my run with some small mistakes as any usual run and was 1.2 seconds ahead of anyone. This was quite a surprise in my eyes, I didn’t think with such a mistake I would come through with the win.

The sun was coming out and the rain was dying off. I thought to myself that it would be getting stickier and slower so even if I had a good run next time I might not be able to beat my time by much.

My second run was good. I had no major moments and it was just smooth and in control. The course was running slower for sure. I pedalled up to the table top at the bottom; in the first run I couldn’t get enough speed to jump it faster than rolling and pedalling over it. For some reason, despite being even slower with the mud going up to it, I tried to jump it. I nearly made it and I got a “woooo” from the crowd but I knew it was slower.

I pedalled hard to the finish and despite Berny beating my first run time I took back the win going .3 sec’s faster and a second faster than my first run time.
I was really happy with the win and it showed me that I am on form for the season ahead. It was also good to know I have got better with dealing with pressure. I was at the top on my own being the last man down the hill and I wasn’t nervous at all.

Here are some pictures of the race;



It’s off to the first round of the Caersws Cup this weekend coming and I can’t wait to race again already.

Thanks to Last, Rezurgence, Lifestyle Ford, 2026 distribution, DMR, Funn, 661, Maxxis, KMC, Mojo suspension, and Shimano.