Mapley wins after lay-off
JOHN MAPLEY made a successful return to downhill racing after breaking his collar bone, winning the penultimate downhill of the 2011 series at Talbot Valley.
[caption id="attachment_64576" align="alignright" width="176" caption="(Picture by John Selvidge, 1183755)"]
Mapley (pictured) had been out of action sincer the injury picked up in round two at the Grantez, but he showed no sign of a lack of nerve or cobwebs as he clocked a fastest time of 44.68sec., winning from Keiren Duquemin on a borrowed bike, and Andy Colver in third.
The course started in a field above the valley with a few turns on the sloping hillside, then it went into a newly built and never raced section which had bermed corners, a small drop off and a number of jumps.
After this it rejoined the older course just before the table top jump and a short climb then sent the rider into a wooden down ramp which could be dropped at speed or rolled down, before the final section comprising a tricky, rocky bank, wooden drop, bridge over a stream and a bermed corner to the finish.
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