Race Report: Southridge Winter Series # 1

For many people New Year’s spells cold and snow, but in southern California it means that it’s time for racing mountain bikes at Southridge USA’s Winter Series. I always enjoy going to these races and this time was no different, especially with Supercross on the same weekend!

Race run photo of Troy D’Elia by Eric Foltz.

Foes Racing in the pits at Southridge.

Even though registration lines were long with many racers signing up for their annual memberships, the Southridge staff kept the lines moving and the Jasons and Evilio were pumped to be back at Southridge.

The Shimano Kids Races are a hit with competitors and parents alike.

I was eager to race Super D at Southridge just as much as the downhill, and the track used for this race delivered the goods. Starting on a fireroad from the top of the major hike a bike previously used for the Fontana Pro XCT Cup races, the track quickly traversed some rolling singletrack before diving down the ridge onto the pavement shuttle road and then hooked up with the lower section of the downhill track, finishing off with a healthy sprint down the Fontucky wall to the finish line. I had a solid run in the hero dirt and edged out Lawill, but E.C. put the power down and smashed the field by a hefty margin. Afterwards I went up for a few practice runs on the DH before heading home to go watch the Supercross at Anaheim. Brap!

Super D Race Results:

1. 02:20.62 Eric Carter 748ZK
2. 02:32.13 Jon Buckell 17ZK (Foes Racing)
3. 02:33.84 Joe Lawwill 22ZK
4. 02:34.11 Ryan Gardner 210ZK
5. 02:36.43 Jeremy Kneisly 16ZK
6. 02:36.49 Luke Wronski 50ZK
7. 02:53.84 Stephan Smith 6ZK
8. 03:01.50 Joe Simpson 6ZK

Sunday morning came early and we went out for a couple runs in the morning and found the track was bedding in well with the turns flowing together and my Hydro hooking up to the moist Fontana dirt like Velcro. I kept my race run smooth and focused on carrying speed throughout the track to the wall and put down all the power I had for it. Troy’s run was going similarly well, but a washout at the road crossing before the lower rock section ended up costing a bunch of time and will serve as motivation for the next race. My time was good enough for eleventh on the day and I will continue on my hunt to be on top of the box this year. See you at the Tucky!

Downhill race run photo by Jason Cleghorn.

Downhill Top 15 Results:

1. 02:03.42 Waylon Smith 8A
2. 02:05.82 John Keep 29A
3. 02:06.41 Kevin Aiello 28A
4. 02:07.28 David Klaassen Van Oorschot 3A
5. 02:08.09 Rich Houseman 5A
6. 02:09.09 Steve Wentz 800A
7. 02:09.58 Jake Payne 307A
8. 02:09.59 Preston Moore 808A
9. 02:10.57 Jeremy Kneisly 16A
10. 02:11.21 Graeme Pitts 741A
11. 02:11.32 Jon Buckell 17A (Foes Racing)
12. 02:12.07 Craig Harvey 26A
13. 02:12.52 Ryan Gardner 210A
14. 02:12.84 Adam Digby 217A
15. 02:12.95 Ryan Egusquiza 12A

Full results here on Southridge USA’s website.

Big thanks to the help of these companies!

Race Report: Southridge Golden State Championships

Foes B-29 hanging out at the Foes pits on Saturday.

Mountain bike racing made its return to Fontana last weekend for Southridge USA’s Golden State Championships event and Team Foes came out to race and show our new Hydro downhill frame.

Donny showed his patriotism and spent the big bucks for a fighter jet flyover.

NASCAR Flyover at the Auto Club Speedway.

First up for me was the Super D, which for this race was essentially half of the cross country track, and it always ignites the burn in my legs and lungs. It was basically a lot of pedaling and it hurt. Being the first rider on course with Joe Simpson (Incycle) on my tail, I rode conservatively in an effort to stay on the track and have energy in reserve for the flat time trial section along the wash. When it was over, Ryan Egusqiza (Rock Gardn) put down the fastest time, with me in second and Joe in third. With this result, I squeezed into third place overall for the series as well!

Can’t wait for some more gravity oriented EC style Super D tracks this winter!

Southridge Golden State Championships Super D Podium – Joe Simpson (Incycle), Ryan Egusquiza (Rock Gardn) and Jon Buckell (Foes Racing).

Pro Men Super D Results:

10:08.16 Ryan Egusquiza
10:16.64 Jon Buckell (Team Foes)
11:38.69 Joe Simpson

We were proud to have our Hydro frame on display with a few great parts, including Marzocchi’s Roco WC shock and e*thirteen’s new DH Crank, as well as their LG1+ guide.

Hydro frameset on display with the Marzocchi Roco WC Shock and the new e*thirteen DH Cranks at the Foes pit.

Saturday’s downhill practice was typical Fontana conditions – hot, dry and dusty. Troy and I worked to get our lines dialed on Donny’s tricky turns for Sunday.

Troy D'Elia racing his Foes Hydro. Photo by Eric Foltz.

Troy D'Elia racing his Marzocchi suspended Hydro to eighth place on the day. Photo by Eric Foltz.

This was my first downhill race in months, so I was pumped to be second out of the start gate on my Hydro amidst the usual podium contenders. Donny stated the count down and everything else went quiet – it was time to race! I charged the course as best I could and negotiated those awkward trialsy switchback turns, then hit the road on the gas. I caught my breath coming into the lower rocks, carried speed down onto the wall and then pow, there was the wind blowing the wrong way! Knowing that everybody else was going to deal with the same thing, I stayed on the pedals and hammered through to the end of the track. Troy D’Elia ended up eighth, I got seventh and Tim Mangini’s third place time was only a second quicker – tight racing! Big ups to Cody Johnson for his second place and to Ian Odom for schooling us with his five second margin to take the win.

Looking forward the next race on November 13th, the Predator Night Race and the 19th Annual Challenge the week after!

Pro Men Race Results:

02:36.50 Ian Odom
02:41.57 Cody Johnson
02:42.69 Tim Mangini
02:43.18 Kevin Aiello
02:43.28 David KlassenVanOorschot
02:43.66 Michal Kollbek
02:43.68 Jon Buckell (Team Foes)
02:44.34 Troy D’Elia (Team Foes)
02:44.52 Rich Houseman
02:44.88 Jeremy Kneisly

Full results here on Southridge USA’s website.

Jon Buckell racing the Foes Hydro. Photo by Blue Fire Pictures.

Racing my Marzocchi/Elka suspended Hydro to seventh place. Photo by Blue Fire Pictures.

Big thank you to everyone for their help, including:

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