April

According to Matt, the TORQ boss man “It’s been one heck of a year so far for both TORQ and the team. We’ve been up to our eyes in product production and have been struggling to make stuff fast enough to get out the door to all our customers. This along with research/development of new products and keeping up to date with all our consultancy work has left us a tad short of time. Those are a lot of the reasons as to why we haven’t had enough time to update the website! While we’ve been busy on the work front, the team, well, there seems to be a mini invasion of orange and black slowly (actually not that slowly!) creeping across the country!”

It all started back in early April, when team captain and TORQ staffer Anth Roland threw down the gauntlet and picked up an early win in the Early Dawes grass roots XC race near Catton Park. Despite the snowy conditions Anth literally threw himself round the course to take the first win of the XC season for TORQ/Kona.

Next up and it’s the first of the NPS XC races, situated in Thetford, with plenty of the team in action including new riders from Ireland Ryan Sherlock and Mel Spath. Ryan didn’t have too much luck in the Elite men’s race puncturing after 3 laps of the 6 lap race, however Mel went on to pick up an excellent 2nd spot behind currently reigning National Champ Jenny Copnall. Viv Hazelton did her bit in the Grand Vets race also picking up a fine 2nd.

Day 2 of the weekend at it was time for the enduro riders to saddle up and get pedalling. Mel once again picked up a fantastic 2nd spot in the women’s 100km just a breath taking 47 secs down on winner Mel Alexander. While Emma Bradley picked up 7th not enjoying either days of her racing and a little disappointed with her performance. Ryan Sherlock had a much better day in the men’s 100km, with a cracking 3rd spot making up for all the disappointment of the previous day. Viv went one better too with a fine win in the vet’s women’s 100km. Well done to all the other TORQ riders out there giving it a go including TORQ boss, Matt Hart.

April certainly was a busy month with another event squeezed in the following weekend. This time it was the G2 Revolver, a 12 hour enduro starting an 8pm in Sherwood Pines, virtually all done in the dark.

The TORQ bus was present adding some orange and black glamour to the proceedings as well as providing copious amounts of hot tea and of course TORQ gels, bars and drinks. Team Torq conquered all again, well almost all, with men’s pairs, Anth Roland and Charles Newton-Mason riding a massive 20 laps to take the win. TORQ team of 4, comprising of Amanda & James D’Arcy, plus Matt Hart and Rob Barker took their place on the podium too, picking up a top 3rd spot with 21 laps under their belts.

Finally for April, Lydia Gould, with fellow team mate Emma Bradley sprung into action at Enduro 6, and quickly showed the rest of the field the way home in the women’s fun category, after 6 gruelling hours in the saddle Lydia took the win with Emma a close second.

Meanwhile as Team TORQ were doing their bit in the UK, further a field, TORQ sponsored rider Kate Potter was starting her attack on the World Cup circuit around Europe as part as the Aussie National Squad. Fresh back from a season of racing down under, our intrepid adopted Brit got stuck in and did her best, but it didn’t always go to plan. If you’d like to read more about Kate’s exploits in April please visit her blog: Kate Potter

Photos & words courtesy of Joolze Dymond

TORQ would like to extend a big thank you to all the sponsors of TORQ/Kona (2008). Without you, we wouldn’t be able to get a team together:

TORQ Performance Nutrition
KONA Bikes
USE Exposure Lights
CATLIKE Helmets
SCHWALBE Tyres
ERGON Grips
RITCHEY Cycle Components
CYCLEOPS Turbo Trainers
PURPLE EXTREME Lubricant