Deadly. There’s no other way to describe the conditions the top qualifiers came down in yesterday. The rocks were slippier than a cattle shed floor and survival was the only option.

Photos: Seb Shieck

It’s a shame that the weather played such a big part in yesterday’s race but to put Fayolle’s win purely down to the conditions is unfair. His time was within 0.1 seconds of Vergier’s quali on a track that was riddled with holes by the time finals came around and he still finished more than three seconds clear of anyone who came down wet or dry on a sub three minute track.

Having said that, we can’t help but wonder what a race we would have had if the rain had started falling a couple of hours earlier or later. So many stories, so much build up and so much excitement washed away in a 30 minute downpour.

So what are we left with? Familiar faces taking the glory in the women’s and the juniors’, joy for Fayolle and Polygon and everyone else with their sights set on Fort Bill. Expect it to kick off. Big time.