Team MotionBased

The Tamarancho course was the same as last year and provided a high-speed, loose fireroad descent to kick things off. The importance of getting to the descent first could not be overstated because it would be difficult, if not dangerous, to make any passes before the single track. Once on the single track, which begins climbing straight away, the gaps created off the start turn into real time gains, and with little in the way of open track once a rider is out of sight it is very difficult to make up any time. Olivier was certainly the man to beat as this is his back yard and "test track." He knows the Tamarancho track intimately and had just done an Eldridge TT earlier in the week to prepare for the heat and for the Downieville XC. "I knew exactly where to put my efforts on this course and even though I crashed early on, there was really nothing that was going to keep me from winning this one, until I flatted..." The flat tire was of the puncture variety and was quickly repaired using a Seal-N-Flate, thus saving another result from DNF. Shady finished 4th after blowing the field apart at the start of the race. Afterwards he said, "I had one lap where my body kind of shut down from the heat but after that I held on and it was really close between the three of us (Hewett and Anderson)." Overall he was happy about his race and the fact that Motionbased carried the day. Paula rode away from all of the women to take first in her race, and it looks like her efforts were good enough to finish second in the Sport Men's race. "I just focused on staying hydrated and keeping the rubber side down. I'm really happy I decided to come out and race today," said the women's champ, who was thinking of staying home and staying cool before deciding that she would actually race. Results: Pro/Expert Men: 1st Olivier Bock 1:21 2nd Jim Hewett (Single Speed) 3rd Rob Anderson 4th Shane Deal 5th Jim Moser Pro/Expert Women: 1st Paula Bock 2nd Karen Rehder 3rd DNF?? Follow this link to a DOT RACE of Olivier vs. Olivier (2005 vs. 2006). This one is most interesting because it shows just how much better the new Garmin Edge 305 is compared to the Geko 301. Check back later for Olivier vs. Shady in 2006! (Be sure to use IE for viewing Dot Races for now) photos - Scott Mosher