VicDH Round 5 - Maldon -

Johnny Dawe pushes through the top rock garden, making it through unscathed this time.

The first weekend in March saw us head for Mount Tarrengower, right on the doorstep of Maldon for the 5th round of the Victorian Downhill State Series. The track has consecutively played a part in the series for a handful of years now. It has a reputation for its roughness and also its dust that seems to get everywhere, specializing in places it shouldn’t bea��

Sam Brownlie shows everyone how not to do it, but stays upright and on the bike.

Upon first inspection of the track the most notable thing was the top section, changes had been made through the top rock section, with speed being washed off and a higher line chosen. Though the track still traversed the same piece of the hill, there were a few changes to lines which meant everyone had to re-think how they were going to navigate the top section. As practice begun most people stopped to inspect the new section, but a few either didn’t hear about it or where boosted in confidence just pushing into it, this caught more than a few riders off guard, with plenty of harmless mistakes, but also some more serious ones to keep the medics busy!

Max Kreuzer stomps the landing after gapping the mid section of the rock garden.

Luke Ellison decides its easier to run through the rock garden.

From the top section onwards the track took a very similar course to the previous years, with some minor changes to corners with no real direct influence on the track, the large double and the creek jump were still part of the track and providing cases all weekend.

Kyle Coutts pushes hard out of the rocks and into the berms.

Pinner Designs team manager, Ben Ennis tries his hand at riding with the seasons end in sight.

As time passed and riders became more confident the rock gardens became a home for havoc, with many riders trying new lines where the smallest of mistakes could end with an ambulance ride. The medics became increasingly busy as incidents became more prevalent, until the late afternoon when there were so many accidents that they were happening in front on the medics treating another patient. By the end of Saturday practice the track had claimed quite a few top names in the elite field, leaving the race wide open as Dean Lucas had a broken wrist and did not attend Saturday practice.

Mount Tarrengower always provides some amazing views, by day or night... — Mount Tarrengower always provides some amazing views, by day or night…

Sunday rolled around and some of the injured riders were feeling a little less sore and a little more adventurous, jumping back on the bike for more riding, putting the injuries behind them to push for the potential podium. To everyonea��s surprise Dean Lucas showed up, with a bike, and proceeded to ride. This threw the mix all up in the air, would he race with his broken wrist? How quick can he actually go with a broken wrist? Nobody really knew, but after the first run, it looked like he could go just a quick as anyone else!

Luke Ellison shows us some more superior bike handing skills.

As riders rolled down for qualifying the track just began deteriorating under race conditions, with rocks moving under every rider through all the rocky sections, making line choice a split second decision upon arrival. Qualifying wound up with Tracey Hannah on top for the girls and Luke Ellison on top for the boys.

Oli Zwar flies through the final section of the track.

Racing began and no one really knew where to look, could Dean make up the time for first spot? with flat tyres and snapped derailleur hangers becoming almost more normal than a clean run everyone was wondering if anyone would make it down the hill in once piece with an operating bike.