Gatorback hare scramble #7 report page

We set off early Saturday morning for the 6 hour drive up to Gainesville to the famous Gatorback cycle park.

I took an early evening walk around some of the track to see what it was all about.

It looked like a mix of tight woods and soft sandy whooped out sections that were really deep and gnarly.

 Then I took a walk out to the quarry area...wow...huge rocks, hills, concrete hard surface with tight uphill turns and some good descents.

All that led onto one lap of the superb motocross track. It was a totally awesome course that demanded some respect.

Practice

my practice lap took me out onto quarry area where steep up and downhill trails were mixed with fast flat out straight-aways, Some riders were already struggling with the hills.

The organizers had allowed the hills to be taken in two ways.

The hard route going up and over it or the easy route which basically went round it at a lower incline, the hard route was much quicker and that's what I took.

I came in from my practice and felt real good about this race, that's a good sign.

A lap of the motocross track made for some good overtaking opportunities.

Unfortunately the electronic scoreboard stopped working after my first lap.

I finished 4 minutes in front of the 2nd place rider.

The race

My starts are still the worst part of my race, again even with getting the bike started on the second kick I was about 10th going into the first corner.

I managed to pass about 6 riders in the first 1/2 mile or so and set about picking off the rest of them within the next 2 miles. I came round on lap one and the electronic scoreboard showed me as " leader"

I rode as hard as I could and really enjoyed the terrain I was riding on.

I loved the course, I grew up riding in gravel pits and quarries and this place felt like home. I kept up my pace and just tried to overtake as many riders as possible but not ride over my head.

I managed to complete 4 laps in around 1hr 40 minutes, which was good enough for the win.

I did have some scary moments, like barely missing a milk jug size rock while pinned in 5th gear, and nearly going over the handlebars when I came up short on the muddy double jump.

I crossed the finish line and was happy to take my first win of the year, I felt relieved  but I didn't feel tired.

The results.