Well then, is it April already?
Where has the winter gone? I’m sat in the ass end of Wales trying to sum up 2012 so far and to be honest; it’s been a blast!
Training was great this off-season. I stayed injury free and got some major gym and bike time in too. Thanks to Colin Ross and Ben (baltic) Reid for letting me tag along with their training program.
We mixed it up all winter doing a lot of road spinning, cross-country riding and down hilling (all pedal power) along with some motocross and enduro practice. Only one things for sure, I need more motocross practice, sitting on the line knowing your arms won’t last 20minute races sucks but we’re getting there.
Ready for the racing season we set off for the first round of the British Sprint Enduro Championship in February as a new laid-back team of friends and the old man. It was a mega weekend to say the least!
Straight away we managed to get into the Stena Plus lounge on the way over with unlimited alcohol and food, so you know how the trip started. However, being the athlete I am I stayed away from all the messiness but ended up driving nine hours through England while everyone else slept.
Anyway, the racing went ok. The track was covered in snow and temperatures were at an all time low for the UK but being the hardened enduro riders that we are, we got on with it. After crashing my brains out in the ice early on I recovered to end day one with a disappointing fifth. I wanted more. Having not rode a race for about a year I was too keen to get going. In my head I wanted to ride smooth and be cautious but that didn’t go to plan once I passed the beam.
Day two started good with an average time. I rode far better than the first day but still couldn’t run the pace of the top three but overall I had a good fun weekend and it was a sweet way to start the year.
We then went onto the March Hare motocross at Donemana. I really enjoyed the sand but my arms couldn’t last more than 10 minutes. With two solid motos I managed fourth overall on the day in the Premier class.
Jordan's getting faster in the Sprints but still one step short of that podium result he wants
Round 2 of the BSEC went good. I really enjoyed the track and also the fact that it wasn’t frozen! I started the day well off the pace but closed it back into the top three. Lying third coming into the last test I got kicked off a huge tree stump and had a big one. Trying to find my bike and straighten her up I lost almost 30 seconds and it cost me the podium but at least I improved to fourth this time. So I know the speed’s there, just got to avoid the trees a little better.
Day two I rode smooth and solid all day having good battles with Alex Rockwell and broke into the top four again with fourth. That result also put me into the lead of the E2 class so I was super-pumped about that. And with Rick Topping also winning Clubman it was a mega result for the squad. So with a big grin we trucked on home.
Changing things up a little I did some mountain bike riding before the first round of the Irish motocross championship. I got two really good starts and ran top five for about 10 minutes of both races but the big 350 KTM keeps stretching my arms and I can’t hold the pace I know I can ride. In the end I scored 9th, 8th and a 10th on the day but it wasn’t what I wanted though I finished all 3 races so that was a plus.
The next day I had a daft idea that I wanted to ride the first round of the Irish downhill champs at Kilbroney forest in Rosstrevor. Baltic loaned me a bike and with that I gave it a go.
Due to racing on Saturday I missed my practice runs at the DH and had to go in blind for a qualifying run on Sunday and on a track I’ve never rode before. Forgetting to use the brakes and being a little brave I qualified first in the Seniors by eight seconds, which was mega for me not getting any time on the track.
Hanging out with Atherton's and Ben Baltic Reid has given him a taste for pedal power
Coming into my race run I was bricking it. I felt like my legs were made of lead. I passed the beam and was going as hard as I could from word go. I hit all the lines I wanted until about half way down the trail when a tree stepped out in front of me!! I had nowhere to go but hit it. My shoulder took a big whack and the bike stayed still. I lost about 30 seconds with the crash so that screwed up my podiums hopes at my 1st DH race.
With one thing leading to another, we packed the van with 2 motocross bikes, 7 push bikes, 2 pairs of sun glasses and 2 wired up dudes and all food Tescos had and now I’m sitting in Gee Atherton’s house in Wales typing this up.
We’re of on a road trip for a month, 2 weeks in Wales riding with the Atherton’s then of to Italy for the last two weeks. Hopefully they’re gonna let me ride a European Championship in Switzerland before heading home, which should be mega fun.
Thanks to everyone that’s helped me out so far this year. Red Raven goggles, Norman Watt Motorcycles, Scott Builders, PMP Motorsports, Thor, Shoei, Gearne and Enduro.ie for letting me blog like a boss!
Until next time keep her on the red line!
Jordan #670
Twitter Me: @JordanScott670