Big Ringing in the New Year

by Allen Forbis

May 7, 2006 -- I know the New Year was 5 months ago but today was the Houston Big Ring challenge and the team used it to show what we have in store for the future. We hope to have a huge presence in the coming season and years. Today’s race was at Double Lake Recreation Park. Think of a BMX track with its perfectly bermed corners, now make it 7 miles long, and surrounded by pine trees. We had a total of 10 racers today. One of which was our first ever female MTB racer doing her first ever MTB race. We even had 3 members of our road team come out and give it a go and more of them showed up to help support the event.

The course itself was almost perfect today. The week’s rain and thunderstorms packed down the usually dusty and sandy corners into a Velcro like substance that made the race way too fast. Everyone I talked to after the race had a blast. Even the road guys were still smiling after they finished. Here are the results.

 

James Murff	4th
Rheannon Cunningham	4th
Matt Morgan	5th
Allen Forbis	8th
Greg Bauer	2nd
Kirk English	17th
James Janoch	11th
Sergio Botero	18th
Terry Dupler	16th
Brian Freeze	17th

All in all Team Tilson Homes provided a lot of support to the event and showed just what the MTB Team has planned for the future. More racers, a more diverse group, taking in many beginner and junior racers into our program, and plans to become a large part of the Kids Kup to help grow the sport in a fun positive way. Next up is the Houston Grand Criterium. The MTB will be looking to pay back the road team for their help and even get in on a little of the road racing action.

A quick interview with Kirk about what it was like racing on the dirt for a change,

AF: So how did the race go?

KE: (snoring)

AF: I think Kirk is asleep.