Florida State Championship series #5 + ST – Vortex trails – Ocala, Fl

Two weeks have gone by since we last raced and it was again at the same location, the Vortex trails however the course was set up differently to the surprise of many. This time the distance was same (seven miles) and the trails used were the same (for the most part) but the order in which they came and the addition of the last punchy rocky sections changed the feel drastically. Plus there was a Saturday short track race which always seems to spice things up a bit.

Saturday the turnout for the short track required the fields to be broken into 5 waves with the first being the cat 1 men and in a close and exciting 5 lap race (a little less than a mile per lap) the winner was series points leader Victor Alber while the women’s winner was Yerany Morejon Gonzalez.

Sunday the action started early with the Shimano youth race and there were some great battles in all the classes but it was especially close in the 9-11 boys group as a pack of five kept it close all the way to the finish. In the yellow wave the men’s winner was local and the defending champ Ryan Woodall taking his first win of the series and it was wife Darla Woodall claiming the fastest overall time in the women’s fields (there were lot’s of grins coming from the Woodall camp on the day).

The Ways leaders jersey is still solidly on the shoulders of Victor Alber (men’s elite) and in the women’s fight for the points lead Yerany Morejon Gonzalez got to put on her first leaders jersey for the series with two solid rides for the weekend. Tim Zimmerman squeaked out a narrow win in the men’s EMTB race and Stephanie Lamer was the women’s winner.

“Bike Parlor / MRI imaging” continues to lead the team championship with an eighteen point gap on second and the Mudder Ducker $50 fast lap prime went to Kelly Jones in the women’s expert class. Next race is 11-10 in Alachua. Many thanks to club OMBA and all of the volunteers and of course to the sponsors and racers!