ZealOptics Irish NPS Round 5 Preview

Mallow, Co Cork

Sunday 7th August 2005

July 05

Sunday 7th August sees the ZealOptics Irish Downhill NPS get well underway with the fifth round being held in the National Championship course - Mallow, Co Cork.

The Track

1st Wooded Section:
Out of the gate it’s some fun, quick singletrack that has some tricky corners. A bumpy right hander over a small bent tree and a speed bump sets you up for a very fast drifty right with some roots on the quick exit. Quite fast now left across a forest path and small right hand berm into a smooth chute. A berm to the left sends you across some fun steps/bumps and a big berm takes you around to the right. A quick chute with some small jumps swings around right then left into a quarry style drop. Last weekend people were landing about half way down it. This throws you across the fireroad and back into the trees.

2nd Wooded Section:
A tricky, off camber roll in off the fireroad has you bouncing through the stumps and roots. Some difficult corners and small compressions sets riders up for 3 small jumps that are quiet close together and even closer to the trees. They can be avoided but that’s no fun. A hard left and a nice carve right takes you tight chute out onto the fireroad and a quick spin to get your breath back.

3rd Wooded Section:
The fire road gives you a fast entry speed to this very quick section. A small sets of deep braking bumps and tricky left hand kink sends you through some rocky patches and over a lump/jump. This launches you into the open section.

Open Section:
This will sort out the men from the boys, everytime I see someone ride this it blows me away. The speed on this section is unbelievable. 30mph plus. Nice and rough too. Loads of brakes and a little left right combo sends you across the rocks. Drop off the end of these and the speed goes right back up. Steep, fast and rough into a very tricky left to instant right hand berm. A nice bit of singletrack takes riders out to the fireroad and the sprint to the finish line… (thanks to 021 racing for the track description)

How to get there

Accommodation can be found HERE

Pre-entry is available on 021racing by downloading the entry form and sending to it the guys at 021racing. Uplift will be available on Saturday and Sunday.

We at IrishDH.com would like to thank 021 racing for again hosting, organising and building the course for the would urge all riders to show your support by attending the fifth round of the NPS.

Check out 021racing for more info...