#WeAreTheDevelopment

[thedevelopmentracing]

Challenging Enduro 2016

The Development Team’s former enduro rider, Chris Morrell, has had a rather cracking year.  He has worked tirelessly on his fitness over winter and you can quite honestly say that his bike is an extension of his own body when he is very much at home riding at warp speed down the trails.  Sadly I have few race reports so am relying on the Roots and Rain website for results.

Chris came on board with the team a little later in the season as I wasn’t sure whether to take on any more riders, his aim was to gain better exposure at the races and then use the team as a spring board, that was fine with me.

I think his first race with The Development was at Northern Downhill’s ND(H)uro event at Hamsterley Forest where he crossed the line in 20th place out of a field of 62 riders, top stuff.

The Tweedlove event with enduros being held on various courses throughout the Tweed Valley near Innerleithen was a corker.  Chris blitzed it to take 20th place out of an immense 165 riders!

Round two of the PMBA Enduro Series was held at Grizedale Forest in April. Chris, still fresh from his Tweedlove result, crossed the line in 23rd out of 110 riders, that certainly can’t be sniffed at.

May hit with a trip over to the Boltby Bash, this great weekend saw Chris bring home 15th place out of 59 riders.  ‘On fire’ is one phrase I can use here!

The fourth round of the PMBA Enduro Series in June which was in the South Lakes, it was here where Chris took 20th place out of 90 riders.

Fast forward to August and the biggest race of his calendar, the utterly brutal and punishing six day Trans-Savoie Enduro in the Swiss Alps.  In his own words when he returned to Blighty, “I never want to even look at a bike again!” Thankfully this was short lived! 

Day 1 - 25th out of 52 riders

Day 2 - 21st out of 52 riders

Day 3 - 24th out of 52 riders

Day 4 - 23rd out of 49 riders

Day 5 - 26th out of 50 riders

Day 6 - 29th out of 52 riders

No wonder he was aching and saddle sore!

Most recently he raced the ‘Ard Rock Enduro in Swaledale where he came 51st out of 415 riders, crikey!

Before the 2016 season ended he switched teams with full support from Marin Bikes, so he’s all set up get back out there in 2017.  

All the best for the future Chris,

Lee.