Isaac Pucci Wins final round of Brass Monkey Winter Series

BY: Ben Thomas

Published: 28th January, 2014

Brass Monkey Winter Series Round 4 – 26th January 2014
Report by Isaac Pucci

A wet and windy Sunday at the end of January saw the fourth and final round of the Gorrick's Brass Monkeys Series. It also saw the team debut its new 2014 Champion Systems team kit.

The 2013/2014 Brass Monkey Series is the first year that the series has had 4 rounds opposed to 3 in previous years. Yesterday’s race was held at Tunnel Hill in Mytchett which I’ve been looking forward to all year as it’s my local training ground and I know the trails well. The weather leading up to the race wasn't the best but after a sneaky preview on Friday I thought I had my tyres sorted but Saturday evening after coming home from a day at work the heavens opened for a short but intense spell. Even so I was confident enough to race with a Schwalbe Rocket Ron 2.25 front tyre and one of the new Schwalbe Thunderburt 2.1 tyres on the rear.

As usual I raced the 2hr 18-39 category as this is the closest category to an Elite race. The race went well with myself immediately getting a good gap over the rest of the field and was alone half way through the 1st lap. I rode a decent race with good legs and wasn't pressured by anyone to take any silly risks.

I had a bit of a problem on the 3rd and final lap with around 10 minutes of the course left to go as I heard a hissing noise coming from my front wheel. Luckily I had my Lezyne CO2 inflator with a 25 gram gas cartridge which gassed the tyre back up to a rideable pressure. I nursed it back to the arena and was still unsure if anyone else would come through the finish line under the 2hrs and go for a 4th lap. I rode to the top of the first hill to "lurk" as they say to see if anyone else had got through under the 2hr mark. I waited a good few minutes but nobody came through so the race was mine! An awesome way to finish my 2nd race for the new team with another win.

Next up for the team is round 1 of the Gorrick Spring Series on the 9th of February where all four members of the team will race together for the first time.

Thanks to John from Vermont Images for handing up USN bottle and gels. Thanks the teams new sponsors for all their support.

Follow the team on facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mountain-Trax-Vauxhall-Motors-Cycling-Team/330790256947713

Mountain Trax – Vauxhall Motors Cycling Team Rider Roster.
Ben Thomas, Isaac Pucci, Sam Stean, Tim Dunford