Lightning speed for Watts at MTB race
The local racer came out tops in the sub junior C-batch category recently.
LOCAL Kloof racer topped the log of the C-batch race at the recent rocky and slippery cross-country course during the second round of the 2017 KZNMTB Provincial XCO Cup Series in the Midlands.
Jonathan Watts and Jordan Bold dominated the C-Batch race, passing through the start/finish area on each lap neck-in-neck and both recording a finish time of 56 minutes and 31 seconds. Barring any incidents on the course, it was going to be one or the other that took the victory, and it was Jonathan’s wheel that was the deciding factor as he was ahead by a whisker. His final lunge across the line is what sealed the deal.
Speaking about his win, the Kloof resident said that it was always going to be a tough race against a rider like Bold.
“We both pushed each other the whole way, our racing is always as close as this. I felt pretty strong and I wasn’t sure if I would get the win at the end. We both came around the last corner at the same time and it was pretty close.”
“I came to practice this track yesterday and it was quite dry, but it rained last night so it got a bit slippery and muddy. I love this track, especially the rock garden and the awesome single track are my favourite parts.”
This season’s new batching format has created added excitement to the XCO races. The participants no longer race against their age group, and instead race against those with similar strength and riding ability, regardless of age. This format offers fresh new competition to those used to winning their respective age groups in the past.
The next event of the 2017 KZNMTB Provincial XCO Cup Series is round number three at the Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday, 3 June.
Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
