An unforgettable two-wheeled festival experience was delivered on Sunday 11^th April at the six hundred acre private estate at Pippingford Park in East Sussex when 550 competitors gathered to take part in the Muc-Off 8, a unique new eight hour, eight mile enduro mountain bike race.

The sun shone for two days on an international field of competitors including the Norweigen Proteinfabrikken KTM Racing Team, which included the national XC Marathon cross-country champion Tor Halvor Bjornstad; corporate teams from Formula 1’s Force India, Mercedes and Red Bull and other competitors ranging from 19 to 61 years of age all taking part in the eight hour show-down.

With 1576 laps completed and a cummulative 12,608 miles ridden, the event went without a hitch with trained on-site paramedics having to deal with nothing more than one sprained ankle over the duration of the race.

Greg Saw, team manager and rider for Norwegian Proteinfabrikken/ KTM team comments on coming to England to take part and his first impressions of the Muc-Off 8 event; “It’s special for us to be here and riding as a team for team bonding and tactics and this event will help us prepare for the next Nordic 24 hour race.  This is a refreshing and interesting format for an enduro race, and the course has a good mix of uphill, and challenging downhill to keep all the riders on their toes.  The team element of the event means this is not just for elite riders.”

The Norweigen team went on to win the pairs category and also took the title for the fastest eight mile lap of the day at 40 minutes 07 seconds. 

Competitors took up the gauntlet laid down by downhill world champion Steve Peat, who set a time on the downhill section of the course earlier in the year of 2 minutes 2 seconds.  The downhill section was electronically split-timed and the fastest downhill time of 2 minutes and 7 seconds was set on the day by Mule Bar/Hargroves Cycles rider, Stuart Bowers.

‘Ridin 9 to 5,’ the objective of the Muc-Off 8 was for competitors and teams to complete as many laps as possible racing against time and each other within the eight hours with teams dictating their own strategy, using only one rider at a time on the course.   

Muc-Off head man Alex Trimnell comments: “We wanted to create a fun laid-back event which was a challenge for elite riders and first timers alike and I couldn’t wish for a better atmosphere and vibe here today.  We wanted our event to be unique and to design a varied course comprising downhill, cross-country and single track with a different enduro format, and from feedback we have had I think we achieved that.   We also provided riders with free drinks, energy and nutrition through partner Clif Bar, and bike servicing with Cycle Surgery plus a free Muc-Off bike cleaning service throughout the day.”

Alex explains plans for the Muc-Off 8 2011; “Pippingford Park is a beautiful setting and a perfect venue for the Muc-Off 8 and there’s lots of space to grow the event and make it bigger and better next year.  We want to create a bigger core bike cleaning area and more facilities such as a shower block and attract more competitors to enter the team disciplines, as well as attract further British and international pro riders, and more corporate teams.”

Muc-Off 8 Enduro MTB Race 2010 Results:

• Overall
• Downhill Fastest Lap Challenge
• Individual Laps
• Downhill Splits (Down & Up)

Date: 11^th April 2010

Venue: Pippingford Manor, Pippingford Park, Nutley, East Sussex,TN22 3HW map

The event of 2010!

Make no mistake; the Muc Off 8 is not your average enduro race. In 2010 we’re taking UK mountain biking to the next level with this event.

As a competitor, for your £40 you can expect:

• Free Muc Off bike valet service after each and every lap of the course
• An exciting, testing and exhilarating multi lap course
• Nutritional support from the best bars in the business; Clif Bar
• Trained mechanics in the pit lane to keep your bike running smooth and sweetly for the full 8 hours
• Live results feed and incoming rider updates on big screens from microchip timing
• A chip timed downhill section with Prizes for the fastest riders
• Catering outlets that would not be out of place in the Formula 1 paddock
• Top quality and stylish racer’s t-shirts for all riders
• Spot prizes
• Excellent winners prizes in solo, pairs and team categories

Spectators can expect:

• Excellent, informed commentary and music for the race duration
• Top quality catering outlets and shelter in adverse weather
• A multi-lap course with excellent arena for viewing
• Retailers for a bit of retail therapy during the racing
• Celebrity riders and racers
• Atmosphere and excitement that simply isn’t there at all the other events!

Format:

• You can ride solo for 8 hours
• You can ride in a pair
• You can ride as part of a team of 3 or 4

It’s entirely up to you how your team divides the 8 hour race period as long as each rider completes at least 1 lap each during the 8 hours. Within the transition area there will be a incoming bike racking area where the incoming team rider leave their bikes and proceeded to hand over the timing chip on the white line in 'no man's land'. The outgoing team rider then attaches the timing chip to their ankle, collects their bike from the outgoing racking and continues on the bike course. Incoming riders are then free to retrieve their bike and visit the free Muc Off valet area get the mechanics to give it a quick once over.

Time table:

Sat 14:00 - 17:00 Course open for practice and inspection
Sat 14:00 - 17:00 Registration open

Sun: Riding 9 - 5!
Sun 08:40 Riders briefing on the start line
Sun 09:00 Race starts
Sun 17:00 Last lap starts
Sun 18:30 Prize presentation
(Final details will be published on this site approximately 2 weeks before the event. It is the entrant’s own responsibility to check this link and adhere to the instructions. (Details on this page may be subject to change).

Camping:

Camping is available onsite on the Saturday night. Just £10 per person. Payment on Saturday at event registration, cash only. Please indicate on your online entry form if you wish to camp on the Saturday night.

Racing categories and prizes:

Premium prizes awarded for:
Fastest downhill section time
Fastest single lap time
Solo category prizes for:
Overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd male and female and 1st Vet male and female.
Team prizes for :
All categories of teams 1st, 2nd and 3rd and 1st vet teams.
Results are determined by the number of laps accumulated and time taken to complete last lap.

Categories:

Solo Male
Solo Male Vet (over 40)
Solo Female
Solo Female Vet (over 40)
Pairs Male
Pairs Male Vet
Pairs Female
Pairs Female Vet
Pairs Mixed
Pairs Mixed Vet
Team of 3 or 4 Male
Team of 3 or 4 Male Vet
Team of 3 or 4 Female
Team of 3 or 4 Female Vet
Team of 3 or 4 Mixed
Team of 3 or 4 Mixed Vet
If the mean average age of team member is over 40 then team qualifies as 'Vet' team. If all members of the team are qualified veterinary practitioners and can prove it on the day they will also qualified can prove it on the day they will also qualify for the vets prizes.

Organised by bike cleaning gurus Muc-Off and events company VOTwo, the race will take place at Pippingford Park, a 600-acre estate in East Sussex, on Sunday 11 April.

Riders will have to complete as many laps as possible, and there’ll be categories for teams of two, three or four as well as solo riders. An electronically timed downhill section will form part of the course.

As well as top-notch bike care and the prospect of riding private trails, Muc-Off are promising to add some glamour to the event with ‘special celebrity guest appearances’. We wonder who they’ll bring?

Entries for the race are now open.