Another Urban DH victory for Ben Moore

A few months ago Factory Jackson’s resident upside down face Adam, spoke with up-and-coming British pro rider Ben Moore to get the low down on his new sponsorship and season’s plans. We decided now was a good time to catch up with Ben as he comes of the back of winning the Red Bull Dark Knights urban DH race in Singapore…

Ben Moore stood top of the podium for the Red Bull Dark Knights Urban DH at Singapore National Stadium, Singapore on June 5th, 2016/ Photo | Geh Chee Minh/Red Bull Content Pool

Adam: So, how have the last few months been going, what have you been up to, how’s training been?

Ben Moore: The last few months have been great, I’ve really started to find my ‘groove’ and settle in. I’ve been riding tonnes, extending my whips and flips and a good few full Dh and Urban DH runs with no rest to work on fatigue. I’ve also been putting in lots of gym time focusing on power output for the sprints.

So all ‘work’ and no play?

Hahaha, I don’t ever consider this ‘work’, I’m living out my dream – the pain is all worthwhile. I’ve also had plenty of down time with friends too, chilling is just as important.

Photo | Red Bull Content Pool

Tell us all about the Red Bull Dark Knights Urban DH competition you just won in Singapore…

Red Bull Dark Knights is basically an Urban DH race with practice and qualifications during the day, and the race at night, with lights! It was crazy, I rocked up in Singapore on the Thursday, got food poisoning the same evening, walked the track on the Friday and won on Saturday. The course starts at the top of the Singapore sports stadium and finishes on the stunning waterfront, taking in various obstacles, steps, massive step downs and gaps, as well as obligatory sprints.

Photo | Red Bull Content Pool

The weather is pretty….. Well, wet in Singapore, isn’t it?

Yeah, it really does rain all year, and this time of the year is it’s wettest months. It stood true to form and rained heavily at times, all whilst remaining a ridiculously humid 30 odd degrees. It added to the challenge that’s for sure, trying to stay rubber side down on concrete, with slick tyres at 35 psi and coming from indoors to outdoors with inch deep puddles in places. All part of the Urban DH game though I guess!
And you won – so the training must be paying off?

Yeah it must be, the competition was fierce, with hundreds of entrants with national champs and other international racers taking part. I was so stoked to see I’d qualified first in the first heat, however it was by a very small margin, so I knew the race was on. I gave it literally everything in the final race run, where the  hundreds of entrants had been whittled down to the remaining top 10 times. It was a ‘win or die’ type mental state but strangely I felt super calm and knew I’d won. A coach i’ve been working with lately often uses the term ‘winning in the changing room’ – this was the first race where I truly felt I’d mentally won before even starting, second place wasn’t acceptable. I’m learning it’s as much a mental game as it is a physical one.

As ever, Ben Moore has a huge grin plastered accross his face – another deserved victory from the hard grafting Brit. Photo | Red Bull Content Pool

Your sponsors must be stoked?

Yeah they’re all over the moon and pleased for me. They’ve always been really encouraging and supportive, the Orange Crush was the perfect tool for the job and the Flare race kit looks sick. I filmed the practice runs on my awesome little Kaiser Baas camera and watched it back in the evening to memorise the track – so pro these days! I’ve also just started working with Bloc eyewear – it’s great to be using professional kit that not only looks great but does the job it should do and Bloc is a prime example of that – no more wearing a borrowed pair of mismatched goggles borrowed from a mate – thanks Bloc!

So, what’s next on the cards?

The Mega Avalanche in Alp d’Huez is next on the agenda, there’s history there and the beast needs taming – even if that’s actually my inner beast that needs lassoing. Then a week of filming and training in Morzine, all working towards my season finale at the Taxco Urban DH, in Mexico.

Finally, we hear you may have quit Tinder lately, does this mean there’s a lady on the scene?

Hahahaha – as I said last time, gentlemen don’t kiss and tell…

But yeah, she’s great and genuinely helps me have the mental edge I need. Pah, tinder what?

It’s always great to see up and coming British mountain bikers doing well and chasing their dreams and as such, we’re hugely excited to watch Ben’s career unfold. One thing is for sure, you’ll certainly struggle to find one more humble than Ben – good luck buddy!

You can follow Ben’s progress and shenanigans on his website and socially:
www.benmooreracing.co.uk | Facebook | Instagram

Comments

comments

TAGS