Mechem stuns rest with outstanding run
THERE was a new – and rather young – winner on the downhill scene last Sunday.
Junior rider Finlay Mechem produced an impeccable first run over a slippery and rooty Mountain-Bike Winter Downhill Series round at Petit Bot to stun the opposition, leaving the seemingly unbeatable John Mapley to relinquish a win streak spanning multiple seasons.
Rainfall led to a course that strongly favoured smooth and controlled riding – and Mechem, who competes in the 15-17 age category, did exactly that.
He clocked 41.44sec. in the first of two timed runs, giving him a good second on Finn Jeffreys, Joe Collenette and Dan Clark.
Mapley was one of the many losing time to errors and found himself well outside that young mix of riders.
However, both he and mountain bike co-ordinator Gary Robert managed to get relatively clean and fast runs in the second to ensure the advanced riders had representation on the eventual podium.
Mapley posted 41.65, run close by Robert’s 41.71.
And then Braden Morris – even younger than Mechem – posted 42.05 for an excellent fourth overall.
Mechem looked destined to go even quicker and break into the 40s before he suffered a critical mistake of his own and barely ducked under 50, making no further progress.
But he had already made the mark he needed.
‘John was saying it was the first time he has been beaten in two years,’ a rather impressed Robert said.
‘It’s nice to see someone beat him for a change.
‘If he had not made that mistake [on the second run], he would have been even faster – it was definitely not a fluke and he was definitely riding really well.’
Veteran Dan Thwaite also showed excellent form, posting 42.29 for fifth.
In the women’s category, there were four riders in it and two solid showings from Sophie Dorey – 1-03.00 and 1-01.95 – put her on top.
Dorey made it three wins from three this season, with Nor Holden taking runner-up after opening at 1-10.75.
