Everybody wants to be a National Champion, and the hardtail brigade are no different. But because no one wants to let them in to the party, there’s only one option, and that is a good old fashioned hijacking.
If you want a chance to be the 2008 National Hardtail Champion and also join in a hijacking then read on.
Ace from HardtailNation is the ring leader, find him if you’ve got any questions.

Jason Carpenter of dragondownhill has let us hijack the Welsh Champs at Mynydd Du on the 12/13 July 08. The race format is simple, as this is the Welsh Champs, the fastest Welsh person down the hill will take that title. The Unofficial Ht champ will go to the fastest HT down the hill period. The defending champ of both titles is Nathan Ball who also holds the Champs Race Jacket.(see below)

How to enter, easy go to the dragon site and enter the HT cat for the Welsh Champs, it may not state so on entry but you get automatic entry to the Unofficial Champs ( 2 for the price of 1 )for more info check Hardtailnation
As this is a hijack book early, as the Welsh Champs has been capped at 250 racers, once it’s full thats it !!

From Ace the Captain.

Just think, if you win you could be the proud owner of this lovely jacket. (Not sure what state it’s in after a year with Bally)

Last years Champ, Nathan Ball, is out of the running with a nasty slam, here’s his story:

Well the incident occurred last bank holiday at my local DH track, Ribbersford nr Kidderminster.

So there I was having a ripping day carving up the soft berms hittin the jumps and tight rooty corners really on one, half way down there is a long tabletop in to a bomb hole then tight floaty left hander and a 30 Byrd straight strewn with roots, then a take off step down into a fast landing. this day I nailed the jump pined the floaty left hander hovered over the roots hit the step down, then it went all wrong TOO FAST way to much air so I bailed…….

……… don’t remember the landing… but remember… sitting there took of my lid and thought bugger left wrist is bust, then I looked at my right and whoa it looked like a swan neck and the bones looked as if they were piercing they way out… alien style. then my vision went whoa blind, afterwards inspecting my kit my lid was battered gouges dents and paint from my bike, this was a big hit. helmets work!!!!!!

Luckily there were 2 lads there at the take off they sorted me right out, took me and the bike down the hill, so many thanks to those’s lads. thank you.

Got to the hospital so much pain!!! After hours in and out of reality the pain stepped up thus all the docs rushed over and proceded to man handle my swan arm cracking and snapping the bones back… PAIN. so he soon had a knee in his ribs and that stopped.

the damage was:

3 days in the hospital
Left wrist broke
Right wrist now in the right place but now with a Ti plate in there.
Six weeks sat on my arse

So that’s it ridin done for the year and many a day in physio.

Nathan Ball.

The Unofficial Hardtail Champs 2008