Red Bull Hardline the Hardest Downhill MTB Race

Red Bull Hardline returned to the Dyfi Forest, Wales, United Kingdom which has most recently become home to the Athertons, a family of seasoned World Cup riders who are now in the process of developing the area into the Dyfi Bike Park. The previous few years Hardline has cemented its self at the top of the crazy scale with racers taking on massive risks just to make it down the hill.

The Hardline course is situated on one of the taller surrounding mountains consisting of massive jumps precarious rock sections and huge drops, designed to take on the world’s best. The weather this year made the course ever changing and one of the most challenging courses of 2017. One does not simply turn up and ride at this event, its invite only with the likes of Mik Hannah, Darren Barrecloth and Laurie Greenlamd.

Due to the popularity of last years event 2017 experienced a sell out in spectator tickets resulting in further tickets to be allocated for the event. Previous winner Bernard Kerr is in attendance as well as the 2015 champion Ruaridh Cunningham who will no doubt battle it out for the top spot.

Crashes at Red Bull Hardline

Eventful practise sessions with crashes left, right and centre quickly ruled a number of riders out including Charlie Hatton who has come off the back of an extremely successful rookie year in the pro’s ranks. When finals time came around the riders list had slimmed with the number of crashes hitting ridiculous levels.

The crashing didn’t stop with the sheer length and technical elements of the course caused even the top qualifiers to crash in their finals runs including Adam Brayton who hit a tree towards the bottom of the course. Course curator Dan Atherton clinched third place with an aggressive run leaving just to the top spots to play for.

Red Bull Hardline 2017 Champion

Despite last year’s honours Bernard Kerr crashed out in his finals run along with the fastest qualifier Brayton which opened the door for Craig Evans your 2017 Hardline Champion to take the win with a number of near misses squeezing him into first place just in front of Bernard Kerr.

It’s worth a shout out to Kaos Seagrave who ended up in 4th place given the ripe old age of 18 and just coming off his final year in junior it’s no small feat.

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Feature image credit: Tristan Tinn