Race report by Rich Henthorn For the most part, the Bud Light series doesn't have much going for it in terms of venue. Grant Ranch (95% fireroad), Bonelli Park (flat and wide), Briones (100% HOT fireroad). But this is Laguna Seca and it is very different from those other courses. At least 60% singletrack, even more if you consider only the amount of time spent on it. The course starts on the hill that is used by the Sea Otter for the dirt crit and dual, about halfway up, going away from the main road. We're then funneled to the right to the trail that heads back toward the main road right against the fence, emptying out on the road at the bridge. After crossing the bridge it takes a left into the camps and down the little hill to beginning of the Sea Otter singletrack. After about a mile, we veer off the Sea Otter trail to the right and ride some trails that I've never done before. It's a pretty fast, bumpy, but fun ride down to a creek bed. We then climb out and back to the Sea Otter course. All this is singletrack and quite exciting. The climb out is tougher than I remember from the pre-ride the day before. After that, it's the Sea Otter course to the top of Hurl Hill, including that bumpy ride down to that creek crossing and the bumpy, flatish singletrack to the base of Hurl Hill. The course goes left (instead of right like the Sea Otter) and heads mostly downhill to the track. Over the covered bridge, right on the little access road, then back on singletrack to the start-finish. Just like the Sea Otter, it's important to get a good start so as not to be stuck behind slower riders when you get to the singletrack, although with only 25 racers it's not quite as bad. I had a decent start by starting in the big ring and just riding it to the top. I'd say I was in top 12 or so. As soon as the field got to the singletrack, I was surprised at how cautious the pace was. I passed a couple slower (more cautious) riders before we got to the "new" section off the "main" (Sea Otter) trail. I figured I was in the top ten at this point. The first descent to the creek bed was uneventful - no passes, good speed. I dropped to the little ring for the climb out and it went well until the very top. There, the guy immediately in front of me stalled right at the crest and forced me to dismount, but just momentarily. But by the time we got back on the main trail, I had lost a couple spots. I followed these guys really close on that fast, fairly straight singletrack before the twisty descent to the creek. My first break occurred at the bottom there at the creek. The guy two places in front of me was in way too hard a gear for that first 20-30 yards after the bottom. He had to dismount and took the next guy with him. I made it by without loosing any momentum and, being in the correct gear, motored up that little climb. By this time we had already caught the group 2 minutes in front on the bumpy, flatish singletrack that meanders it's way up to the base of Hurl Hill. I passed as many as I could, politely asking for room when appropriate (don't want to get any nasty e-mail). I tried to put as much space between me and those guys and I felt like I did pretty well. The rest of that lap and the entire 2nd lap I was just trying to keep the effort at that fine line - push the pace, but don't blow up. I was racing against myself, not seeing anyone in my group. Instead of pushing up Hurl Hill in the middle ring (like Charles), I used the little ring and then, once at the top, went to the bigger rings. It felt good to get off the seat and stretch out a little. I don't think I caught anyone in front, nor did anyone pass. On the 3rd lap, I stole a quick look back during the climb out of the new section and noticed that the two I had passed at that creek crossing were now closer than I had expected. Only about 10-15 seconds back. Damn. Once I got back on the main course, I really stepped on it on the fast section leading to the twisty descent, passing a rider from another group in the process. What a rush! When I made that hard left to begin the descent, I didn't even see those guys, but by the bottom I could hear someone close. I held him off during the singletrack climb, but he passed me on Hurl Hill, displaying excellent form. He was feeling it, I could tell. I couldn't stay with him. I made it back, holding on to my position and finishing 10th (out of 24 finishers). For me, that's good. It's the best I've done in this series ever. I made up some ground on a couple riders in the standings, as well. After having a banana and bagel at the finish, and watching Charles come across the line, I picked up my bike to ride back to my van and...flat front tire. Must have happened during that last little bit of bumpy trail before the finish because I had no indication before that. I'm in the hunt for a top 10 in the overall, so I'm racing at Squaw Valley on the 10th. -Rich Race Report by Charles Price Sunday morning, show up and register for the race. Fee shock! 40 bucks to enter and 5 to park. After getting over that I got some warmup riding in. Saw Rich H. warming up. Didn't see him again until after the race was over. He said he felt pretty good and got a top 10 finish. Weather there was great kinda cool in the morning and then approached 79 around noon. My first lap was demorilizing, a lead group went off so quickly I didn't even notice it until I saw there were only a few riders in front of me, I know I didn't pass anybody to move up so fast. Oh well push on, made Hurl Hill in the middle chainring , that was the highlite of that lap. Second lap seemed like it was going to be better, but after I climb the hill after the wooden bridge I started to ping, ok drink more and back off pace, Climb Hurl in granny gear, was able to pick off a couple of riders who hammered out in the first lap. Third lapjust needed to finish without going into a full cramp. Cross the wooden bridge, sucked on the Camel Bak tube-nothing, out of water, the sych game came into play, again granny gear up Hurl and tried to recover at the top by spinning more, ok, starting to feel better again, just hang in there for about 3/4 of a mile and I'm done. Good thing there wasn't anybody in my sites, I don't think I could of chased them down. Oh well, I finished, was able to squeeze a 10th place out of it. The Southern boys came up and kicked butt. They annouced that the top 4 guys would be moving up to Expert class, thank god! Charles