Words: Tom Caldwell
Video: Tom Caldwell, additional footage thanks to Nico Turner
Photos: Alex Gann

To top off the 2015 season the Orange Dirt World Team headed back to North Wales, and to Antur Stiniog for the final round of the BDS. A practice day bathed in sunshine greeted the boys, with temperatures similar to Benidorm (probably) and hands-down T-shirt weather. The track being shaley and made solely from rock, was loose and very unpredictable. This was however completely turned on it’s head and made 10x worse on Sunday when the rain showed itself and blew through the valley all day.

It luckily held off when Steve Peat and Rob Warner sprinkled Jason McCroy’s ashes beside the track, but aside that Dirt Orange team rider Phil (Atwill) mentioned it wasn’t a track you could push on. He was getting on with the lubed-up wet slate, but had foot dabs and understeer galore in his race run. See what he had to say, 

“I honestly gave it everything, but it’s not really a track you can push on, I had multiple dabs, understeer, and a nice headwind the whole way down, but yeah I tried my best and it is what it is. Just want to say a massive thanks to all the sponsors, Ben, Derick, Tommy, and anyone else I’ve missed from this year. It’s been a hell of a journey, I’ll see you all next year!”

Jacob (Dickson) on the other hand was pushing for the junior overall title, having to only beat Frazer McCubbing at Antur to take the title. The pressure was on but Jacob held his own and kept it steady all weekend to get himself on the box and also go home with a few shiny medals around his neck. Check out what he thought of the weekend, 

“The rain made it so slick today, on the rocks and slate, there is absolutely zero grip on them. They tried to put clay and sand on the rocks to give you some grip, but it’s not really worked, I just felt like I was fannying the whole way down… if that’s even a term. I was just steady, I’ve been taking it steady all weekend and I’m happy with 2nd here.
I’m extatic to get the overall title, even with my result at Llangollen where I got a DNF due to the mechanical. Over the moon to get it this weekend, and thanks to Ben, Derick and everyone on the team.. see you next year!”

So that’s it for 2015. It’s been a complete blur, but it’s been filled with good times and podiums and we’ll be back next year, bigger and better. Stay tuned for way more Orange Dirt antics this coming winter and into the 2016 season. See you all soon!