Ashton Bikes

No more time to celebrate Sam’s big win in London. It’s back to business this weekend with the whole Team out at different venues.
Sam Pilgrim is jetting off to Austria for the ‘ 2008 King or Dirt’ competition. After last weeks success Sam can travel with great confidance of another great result. look out for results on monday to see how he did.
Ben Savage has a big weekend ahead of him at the European Biketrial Championships in Belgium. Ben is also riding with supreme confidance at the moment and are fingers are crossed for some good fortune at this event. Simple bad luck have hampered Ben’s international events thus far in 2008 and we really feel he deserves a result that matches his home turf form. Good luck Ben.
Martyn Ashton is out on the Road with The Animal Relentless Bike Tour; this weekend the show winds it way to Ashford in Kent so if you get a chance pop over and support the guys as they put on some great shows.
Rowan Johns is working on video number 2 for the site. Great Footage was captured at Qashquai in London by friend of the Team Blake Samson. So Rowan doesn’t get to ride this week, just work on footage. Rowan if your reading this please stop and get on with editing that video.

Breaking News . . . . .
Sam Pilgrim has won the final round of the Nissan Urban Qashquai Challange in front of a huge home crowd in London . . .. We’re now off to celebrate which could be messy, will update on our return. .
Congratulations Sam, top job team mate!!!
Update:
We have recovered and the reality of Sam’s win is sinking in. The kid has class and has proven he’s at the top of the tree when it comes to Dirt Jump on MTB. The maturity and consistency Sam demonstarted over the event was amazing. Check out the link to see Sam on the victory run.

Sam’s Final Run

Take a look at these pics of Sam ripping and celebrating at London Qashquai.
Pictures courtesy of Mike Sanderson

Sam Pilgrim will today (Friday 23rd) be training on the course for the Final of the 2008 Qashquai Urban Challenge. The 17 year old Team Ashton Diamondback rider has a real chance of upsetting the form books after confirming his International level at the previous qualification round in Milan where he clinched 3rd place on the podium. As soon as we hear news about Sam’s thoughts on the course and how he is doing we will let you know right here.
Our best wishes go to Sam for this important event. Qashquai London is sure to be an awesome event and we wish all the riders a safe weekend.

‘The Animal Relentless Bike Tour’ got under way this weekend. The opening event was the popular Liverpool Hub festival. Team Ashton Diamondback manager Martyn Ashton is again the resident Trials rider on the Tour and he was riding as good as ever whilst debuting his 2008 Diamondback bikes.
Quote from Martyn.
“I was a bit nervous as it’s our first event; I wanted things to go smoothly. All the new relentless branding looked really cool so it was just down to us to perform and put on a good show for the crowds at Hub festival. They are always really up for it in Liverpool and they didn’t let us down, they enjoyed the shows and we had a great atmosphere happening all weekend. It was the dream start to the tour.
It was also my first ride out on the 2008 Diamondback team bikes and I was super impressed with how they performed. We have changed geometry on both my bikes I use in the show and I noticed a positive difference immediately. The changes have got me really excited about the coming season”

As in Round one Ben Savage took the top step in both days of the second round of the UK National Biketrial Championships, he now has a commanding lead in the title race. Round 2 took place in the exciting venue of Blackpool. The see front has a rock sea defence that all the riding sections are built around and Ben took the course apart. “I rode really well both days” said Ben “I went for everything and even the big moves were in my reach today, I’m really happy with the result and my bike, the Team has given me such great support, it is nice to be able to give them these results.”

Bad luck hampers chances of glory for Team Competition Trials rider Ben Savage at the recent World Biketrial Masters event in China. After sorting a travel Visa at the last minute Ben flew out with aspirations of placing in the top ten of this invite only international. Things looked great for the current British Champ as he made it threw all qualifying rounds with ease. Luck deserted Ben however when one of the obstacles broke causing him to fall, badly gashing his leg. The obstacle was fixed for folowing competitors but Ben was not allowed a re-run?? This turn of events knocked Ben out of contention for the win and even some awesome riding from the UK No1 couldn’t get him back . Still an amazing ride to finnish 6th place overall though; great job Ben!
Quote:
“I was really pleased and excited about how i was riding but it was impossible to get back after the obstacle broke on me. I’m gutted that i was not allowed a re-run as that seemed the fair option, all the spectators agreed unfortunately the man in charge didn’t? Good news is my form is great for the rest of the season so i’m happy with the 6th place here.”

Check out these pics of Ben in China on his Team Ashton Dimaondback set up.

Sam Pilgrim took thrid place in the opening qualifying round of the Qashqui Urban challenge and is now entered into the two main events in Madrid and London. Sam has hit International scene pretty hard since joining our Team. We are looking forward to seeing what else he can achieve over the nextfew months.

Team Ashton Dimonback rider Ben Savage stormed to first place in the opening round of the British Biketrial Championship this weekend (27/4/08). Ben was fresh from his win the previous week at the UK National series and his confidance is flying at the moment. Ben now takes a trip to China for the World Biketrial masters Cup next week. Good luck Ben.

21/4/2008
Team Ashton Diamondback clean up on first weekend of competition!
The Team really come through on this opening weekend of the season. Ben Savage took first place on both days of the UK National Championships in Surrey. Whilst in Vienna Sam Pilgrim had an amazing ride to bag himself $2000 and first place at the Vienna Dirt King finals.