Fort William’s famous fans — still the best on the circuit

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=320%2C416 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=480%2C624 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=640%2C832 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 375px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=190%2C247, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=380%2C494 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=570%2C741 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=760%2C988 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 425px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=215%2C279, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=430%2C559 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=645%2C838 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=860%2C1118 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 768px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=295%2C383, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=590%2C767 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=885%2C1150 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=1180%2C1534 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 992px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=136%2C176, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=272%2C353 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=408%2C530 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=544%2C707 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(min-width: 993px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=155%2C201, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=310%2C403 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=465%2C604 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C806 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <img class="wp-image-308857 size-portrait_thumbnail image-handler__image image-handler__image--aspect no-wrap js-gallery-grid-src-image" src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=295%2C383" width="295" height="383" data-crop-width="" data-crop-height="" alt="To be honest, if I could have got a piggyback from someone I'd not have said no" title="img_0271-1528209790893-g2j3gcbo94bi-084e4d3" style="width: auto; height: 100%;"> To be honest, if I could have got a piggyback from someone I’d not have said no Tom Marvin / Immediate Media

There’s something about the Scottish Fort William round that sets it out from other world cup races. The course might be a touch old, the midges as brutal as ever, and the weather changeable at best, but time and time again it is the fans that make the race so special.

Fort William World Cup DH tech The weird and wonderful of the 2018 Dirty Kanza During Sunday’s practice, I took a stroll down the hill to grab some pictures of those out and about, making the most of the sun and the world-class racing Fort William has to offer.

Buckaroo! <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0102-1528209790873-1qiygr77tpwb0-301f6b5.jpg?quality=90&lb=3504,1971&background=white" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0102-1528209790873-1qiygr77tpwb0-301f6b5.jpg?quality=90&lb=1880,1057&background=white 1880w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0102-1528209790873-1qiygr77tpwb0-301f6b5.jpg?quality=90&lb=1456,819&background=white 1456w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0102-1528209790873-1qiygr77tpwb0-301f6b5.jpg?quality=90&lb=1112,625&background=white 1112w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0102-1528209790873-1qiygr77tpwb0-301f6b5.jpg?quality=90&lb=940,528&background=white 940w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0102-1528209790873-1qiygr77tpwb0-301f6b5.jpg?quality=90&lb=728,409&background=white 728w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0102-1528209790873-1qiygr77tpwb0-301f6b5.jpg?quality=90&lb=556,312&background=white 556w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0102-1528209790873-1qiygr77tpwb0-301f6b5.jpg?quality=90&lb=355,199&background=white 355w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0102-1528209790873-1qiygr77tpwb0-301f6b5.jpg?quality=90&lb=340,191&background=white 340w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0102-1528209790873-1qiygr77tpwb0-301f6b5.jpg?quality=90&lb=320,180&background=white 320w, " sizes="(min-width: 992px) 940px, (min-width: 768px) 728px, (min-width: 576px) 556px, calc(100vw - 20px)" width="3504" height="1971" class="wp-image-308887 alignnone size-full img-container__image" alt="With the sun bearing down, having one too many wasn't exactly an issue for some… Fortunately, mates wouldn't be mates if they didn't use you for a game of Buckaroo!" title="img_0102-1528209790873-1qiygr77tpwb0-301f6b5" data-source-name="Tom Marvin / Immediate Media"> With the sun bearing down, having one too many wasn’t exactly an issue for some… Fortunately, mates wouldn’t be mates if they didn’t use you for a game of Buckaroo! Tom Marvin / Immediate Media I’m not sure whether it was the sun, the booze or a combo of both, but this guy seemed pretty oblivious to the towering structure his buddies were building on his very stable head.

It appears beer cups and cardboard pizza plates are the ideal building blocks for a nap time construction.

Noise makers <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0206-1528209790915-1h5pqkjvtortr-d1c478f.jpg?quality=90&lb=2816,1584&background=white" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0206-1528209790915-1h5pqkjvtortr-d1c478f.jpg?quality=90&lb=1880,1057&background=white 1880w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0206-1528209790915-1h5pqkjvtortr-d1c478f.jpg?quality=90&lb=1456,819&background=white 1456w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0206-1528209790915-1h5pqkjvtortr-d1c478f.jpg?quality=90&lb=1112,625&background=white 1112w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0206-1528209790915-1h5pqkjvtortr-d1c478f.jpg?quality=90&lb=940,528&background=white 940w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0206-1528209790915-1h5pqkjvtortr-d1c478f.jpg?quality=90&lb=728,409&background=white 728w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0206-1528209790915-1h5pqkjvtortr-d1c478f.jpg?quality=90&lb=556,312&background=white 556w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0206-1528209790915-1h5pqkjvtortr-d1c478f.jpg?quality=90&lb=355,199&background=white 355w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0206-1528209790915-1h5pqkjvtortr-d1c478f.jpg?quality=90&lb=340,191&background=white 340w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0206-1528209790915-1h5pqkjvtortr-d1c478f.jpg?quality=90&lb=320,180&background=white 320w, " sizes="(min-width: 992px) 940px, (min-width: 768px) 728px, (min-width: 576px) 556px, calc(100vw - 20px)" width="2816" height="1584" class="wp-image-308925 alignnone size-full img-container__image" alt="Lovely little three-piece band playing some tunes out on the hill — well, it's either that or making as much of a racket as possible!" title="img_0206-1528209790915-1h5pqkjvtortr-d1c478f" data-source-name="Tom Marvin / Immediate Media"> Lovely little three-piece band playing some tunes out on the hill — well, it’s either that or making as much of a racket as possible! Tom Marvin / Immediate Media I’ve always wondered whether fans making as much noise as possible aids or distracts riders as they fling body and machine down steep, rocky chutes and over jumps as long as a bus.

But, this being downhill, there was plenty of noise being created, which certainly adds to Fort William’s legendary atmosphere, so I don’t think you’ll see many complaining.

Festival feeling <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0286-1528209790887-e4eswuw926pq-9aed1dd.jpg?quality=90&lb=3293,1852&background=white" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0286-1528209790887-e4eswuw926pq-9aed1dd.jpg?quality=90&lb=1880,1057&background=white 1880w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0286-1528209790887-e4eswuw926pq-9aed1dd.jpg?quality=90&lb=1456,818&background=white 1456w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0286-1528209790887-e4eswuw926pq-9aed1dd.jpg?quality=90&lb=1112,625&background=white 1112w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0286-1528209790887-e4eswuw926pq-9aed1dd.jpg?quality=90&lb=940,528&background=white 940w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0286-1528209790887-e4eswuw926pq-9aed1dd.jpg?quality=90&lb=728,409&background=white 728w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0286-1528209790887-e4eswuw926pq-9aed1dd.jpg?quality=90&lb=556,312&background=white 556w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0286-1528209790887-e4eswuw926pq-9aed1dd.jpg?quality=90&lb=355,199&background=white 355w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0286-1528209790887-e4eswuw926pq-9aed1dd.jpg?quality=90&lb=340,191&background=white 340w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/img_0286-1528209790887-e4eswuw926pq-9aed1dd.jpg?quality=90&lb=320,179&background=white 320w, " sizes="(min-width: 992px) 940px, (min-width: 768px) 728px, (min-width: 576px) 556px, calc(100vw - 20px)" width="3293" height="1852" class="wp-image-308898 alignnone size-full img-container__image" alt="Protection from the rain wasn't needed until after the racing was done and dusted, but the sun's strength meant that many took advantage of their umbrellas" title="img_0286-1528209790887-e4eswuw926pq-9aed1dd" data-source-name="Tom Marvin / Immediate Media"> Protection from the rain wasn’t needed until after the racing was done and dusted, but the sun’s strength meant that many took advantage of their umbrellas Tom Marvin / Immediate Media The main event was obviously the racing, and with thousands packing in to the finishing arena the atmosphere was incredible. With such good weather throughout the weekend it was awesome to see so many people of all ages out enjoying the sun, and the racing.

Check out our gallery above for more fan picks.