The Ashley Laurem Interview

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#999933" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="44b006e0ddwnfv.gif"> <div> <B>UK Riding </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>     |     </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="UK Riding "><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" background="44cbec00esnpes.gif"> <div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Articles"><U><B>Back to Articles</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="My Words"><U><B>Back to 'My Words'</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> The Ashley Laurem Interview   <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B> - Interviewed by Joe</B></FONT></div> <div> <I><B>Ashley currently of Repack Racing has made it to the final ten for selection into the MBUK/Scott mountain biking team. Here's what he had to say about it all.</B></I></div> <div> <B>1) >When is the riding at Hamsterly happening?</B></div> <div> Its this saturday, the 18th of January. </div> <div> <B>2) >What category do you race in?</B></div> <div> I will be doing a few early races this year in the youth catergory, untill i'm 17, but i'll be doing the nationals and most races in junior.</div> <div> <B>3) >How do you feel now you are in the final ten for the MBUK/Scott team?</B></div> <div> I didn't think that my results were really good enough to get into the final 10, but i put a few good pictures on the cv (and my mum helped me!) so that probably helped. I am pleased and surpised to have gotten in againsy hundred of other entries and my friend dan who didn't, as he probably had better results than me.</div> <div> <B>4) >What do you think are your chances of getting in the team?</B></div> <div> I'm a bit confused about how may junior riders are going, and how many will actually get in, and i have just heard that someone i know who is very fast is going as well. So i think it all depends on who is there, i'll see on the day.</div> <div> <B>5) >What's your game plan for the day at Hamsterley </B></div> <div> I am going up the friday before ( taking a day off college!) to get some practice in on the track as we don't have that much time to practice. But on the day i'll try and ride smoothly, and fast, and try and show that i am enthusiastic about downhilling. I might take some photos if i have time, but u will definatly see a report about the day.</div> <div> <B>4) >Do you know what you'll get as part of the team? </B></div> <div> A Scott octane DH bike, racing kit like helmet (hopefully a D2!) and jersey etc. and free mbuk mags, mbuk clothing etc.</div> <div> <B>5) >How do you think you would change if at all under sponsorship?</B></div> <div> If i got sponsored, I don't want it to spoil the fun in it by taking it too seriously. Hopefully it would make it easier to compete at the races for example, this year i missed a few races because i didn't have a bike and my parents didn't take it seriously, so wouln't take me to nationals.</div> <div> <B>6) >How do you think it would feel to be signing autographs at the bike show 2003?</B></div> <div> It would be pretty cool if people actually wanted my autograph. i already signed a few autographs at Ft. William for a few crazy kids.</div> <div> <B>7) >What do you think would be the best part of being sponsored?</B></div> <div> being part of a team so that i can develop my riding and hopefully become one of the UKS top junior riders and getting more support at races like a mechanic keeping  my bike working.</div> <div> <B>8) >What will you do if you don't get in?</B></div> <div> I am not desperate to get sponsored as i know that it is about enjoyng the riding, not the free stuff. So i won't be too bothered. i might send off some CV's for our team Repack Racing to a few small companies. But i wouldn't want to move from repack unless it was really worth it.</div> <div> <B>9) >Do you know anyone else who is in the final ten?</B></div> <div> I heard that Ben Stephenson is, i spoke to him at an Aston Hill race, where we were 1st and 2nd. I know Dan Hume, who was on the team last year and is garenteed a place this year.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>10) >What do you think of Matt who made it to the reserve list?</B></div> <div> I think that hes an idiot for forgetting to send off his application. If he did get in i think that it would be a bit unfair on the people who made </div> <div> an effort to make up and send in a CV, (He got his dad to phone up) But it would be cool if we both go onto the team.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Update: He came 3rd in the race, he's just waiting to hear from them. Photos up from Hamsterly soon.</B></div> <div> <B>2nd Update: He got phoned up on the 3rd Feb. Unfortunately he ain't in. Ah well, look out for him in the next MBUK tho! </B></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>