2002 Giant NRS NPS Thetford Forest Sunday 7th April 2002

Thetford Forest has been the season opener of the previous two years and this year was no different. The course is relatively flat but made up of long stretches of tight singletrack. This produces close racing as it is very difficult to get away. But saying that it can also work in the favour of anyone who can escape a group. In the previous two races I have managed to shake off the group and open a gap. This worked in my favour as no one was willing to commit 100% to chase. (I won both of the previous event). This year was different though. With the U23 team riding then there would be more riders at the front. With a late 3pm start the day was going to be a long one. Everyone was on the line ready for the initial charge to the first section of singletrack. My team mate Paul Oldham lead the charge, there was a strong group of red at the front with Paul, Elliot Baxter and I. Just before the singletrack both Phil Dixon and Jody Crawforth (both Y2K) darted to the front. On the first lap a group formed with Phil, Jody, Liam Killeen and I. It was the Y2K duo setting the blistering pace. By the end of the initial lap we were joined by Nick Craig with Tim Morley just off the back of the group. Jody faded a little as the race progressed. The group was whittled down to four - Phil, Liam, Nick and I. We each tried to get away but no one was going anywhere. On the third lap Nick hit something and had quite a big crash and half a lap later I did exactly the same. I came around a corner and must have caught my pedal on a small stump, this stopped me and sent me over the bars. I was at the front of the group so had a bit more time to get up and chase to catch the back of it. I did not feel too good for the second to last lap (mainly due to the crash) but came around for the final lap. It was to be a sprint and I had had a look on previous laps of the line and tactics I was going to use. I was going to sprint for the end of the fire-road section and hopefully hold the other off around the tight narrow track to the finish line. It worked.... I committed 100% to get to the corner first. I think I caught the others off their guard. I held them off around the trees and took my third win at Thetford! Jamie Norfolk did a great ride to finish 6th and Elliot came in 10th - so it was a good day out for the new Helly Hansen - Giant team.