Looking at the line up it's clear that there's a few of the big guns missing, perhaps it's due to summer (cough) holidays or maybe it's the nationals at Caersws. Billy Mathews from the SPS is out so fastest time of the day is up for grabs, and Martin Creaser is out after breaking his collar bone into four pieces at last weekend's King of the Hill race at Market Rasen. But perhaps the biggest news is that locals Team ETC are missing two of their fastest riders.
Can our rag tag team of weekend racers use the opportunity to catch up in the team championship standings, one things for sure with our A team still out (the Rule lads still busy with the freestyle motocross shows, and Brendog recovering from knee surgery) it wont be easy.
The first major change to the lineup is ripper Kieran Powell, despite crashing in his race last weekend and failing to make it onto the podium, he is in high spirits about riding lately and with loads of new bits on his bike bike he is confident that he can make it down the track, which with some steep and loose sections is a feat any 10 year old should be proud of.
Pete Keeton McGinley (who put on a storming performance in round 1) is unlikely to make it unless he finishes moving house early Sunday but his younger brother Danny has stepped up for his first taste of DH racing.
In masters it's wide open with Darren Wilson from ETC out with an injury (done on the infamous gap jump on this very track) and Stephen Hardcastle somewhere with altitude in the Alps. Davy Ledgerwood will be wanting to take the win for sure but who else wants a piece? Dom Bent is racing for the first time this series, and Ben Tilford just having returned from the Alps is going to be feeling pretty comfortable on his bike, either that or completely worn out! Steve Scott returns to the series to fill Martin Creasers shoes for Standards Down Racing, but has his rock and roll lifestyle taken it's toll? Don't overlook the medium sized member of Team Ledge Dan however, or indeed Team mother Huckers Craig Bargery who is also consistently just off the podium. Myself, well after my first podium at King of the Hill last weekend I was full of confidence, but earlier this week I crashed on aforementioned gap jump and my ankle injury has flared up again, still top five would be great!
Jennifer Wilson has had a good couple of weekends recently, winning at King of the Hill last weekend and a cracking performance at the National Champs at Moelfre the weekend before, where she beat friend and Team ETC rival Nik Burscough Brown, but the competition is stiff, Cath Short of Team Idiot (winner of the Farmer John's series) has also returned from an Alpine riding trip, and Kim Bent (world's level BMX racer) is racing again for the first time since round 2 last year. Can Nik keep up her record and win the category again?
Our hopes are high for the seniors category with Chris Jones of Team ETC unable to make it this week. Dan the man Charlesworth put on a stonking show in round 2, taking 2nd and all eyes are on him to take the win this time round, but as we all know his dedication is hit and miss at best, and he has only ridden a bike twice since the last race so indeed the pressure is on.
Roll on Sunday it's going to be a banger!
