VDHS Yackandandah - Round 5 // 2010 - 2011 Season

Weather was looking good the weekend of the 16th - 17th of April, for the 5th round of the Victorian Downhill Series, held at the infamous Yackandandah, a course filled with nasty rock gardens and long sections which would decide the weak and strong... This track is known for claiming riders, with broken bones every time its raced, it is definitely a battle to get down to the bottom without injury!

A dry Yackandandah was a surprise to some and a sign of hope for others, this track is ridiculously hard in the wet.


Early practice, everyone was looking quick and the battle to take out elite men was on, Connor Fearon (SA) was out to prove he was the fastest in more than just one state, leading the series by only 78 points, in front of downhill legend, Joel Panozzo, with Joel's brother, Liam in a cool third.


Eyes were set on Fearon for a fast time and to qualify first, but world rider Rhys Atkinson had something different so say, qualifying in first with a 03:27:04, Fearon a mere 2 seconds back, and Liam Panozzo in with a 3:33, the final was sure to be interesting.


Qualifying was also very interesting in the U19 category with super pinned Dean Lucas coming through the 'maribor' rock garden and wanting to get more intimate with the ground.


Results for the U19

Trent PIRIBAUER - 3:30.7
Thomas CRIMMINS - 3:32.0
Dean LUCAS - 3:35.0

Keen eyes were now on for the elite men to come down, and with Atkinson qualifying first, everyone was ready to see what Fearon could pull out of his bag of tricks. Marcus Fairbanks came down with a respectable 3:32.0 to get him into 5th, Jesse Beare flew down the track to snap up 4th a second infront of Fairbanks, but being beaten into the top 3 by shredder Liam Panozzo with a 3:27.3, the fastest qualifying time, with two riders still to come down. Connor was on course and as always looking quick, but unfortunately came un-done in a early rock garden in the track, pedal slipping off and causing him to lose those precious seconds, resulting in a 3:25.1, and a second place, behind an insanely quick Atkinson, bettering his qualifying time by 4 seconds to finish up with a 3:23.6


Results for Elite Men

Rhys ATKINSON - 3:23.6
Connor FEARON - 3:25.1
Liam PANOZZO - 3:27.3
Jesse BEARE - 3:31.2
Marcus FAIRBANKS - 3:32.0

Full Results at www.vicdhseries.com