Racing

Race Preview: Australian Gravity Enduro Series Round #5 Canberra

14.08.2014
by

Round 5 of the Australian Gravity Enduro Series will be held in Canberra on 24 August. More than 200 mountain bike racers from all over the country are expected to compete in the popular new racing style of neutral up-hills and timed cross-country and downhill race runs at Stromlo Forest Park. Dan McMunn from Victoria currently leads the six-race series in the elite men’s category and Canberra’s Rosemary Barnes heads up the women’s elite division.

Racers from all over the country are expected to compete in the popular new racing style.
Racers from all over the country are expected to compete in the popular new racing style.
 

Over 400 individual riders have competed in the Australian Gravity Enduro Series since March this year, when  Rocky Trail Entertainment hosted the first event near Gosford on the Central Coast in NSW. Together with Victoria’s Alpine Gravity they initiated a national series that has also been hosted by supporting clubs in South Australia and Western Australia to showcase the most popular gravity enduro trails in Australia.

Simon Buzacott.
Simon Buzacott.
 

Dan McMunn from Spring Gully (VIC) won both the NSW and the VIC round at Bright in the elite men’s category and after round three in Fox Creek (SA) and round for at Mt Gunjin (WA) is set to defend his series lead against runner-up Simon Buzacott from South Australia. Buzaccott showed a strong performance so far in the series and most recently placed third behind Ryan Norton and Sam Hill at Mt Gunjin’s Western Australia round.

Over 400 individual riders have competed since March this year.
Over 400 individual riders have competed since March this year.
 

Home-track advantage for female series leader Barnes
With three third places and a win at Mt Gunjin (WA) Canberra’s Rosemary Barnes leads the female elite division overall after four rounds. A 400-point lead over Vanessa Thompson from Yanderra (NSW) provides her with a comfortable cushion ahead of the fifth series round on her home track at Stromlo Forest Park. Hosts Rocky Trail Entertainment have put together two race tracks and combined race times will count.

 

The Australian Gravity Enduro Series is open for all mountain bike riders and offers various age categories as well as junior discounts. The courses have a mix requiring some fitness, technical bike skills, and a sense of adventure, providing an equal chance for all types of racers including cross country riders, weekend trail riders, and downhillers. The overall series winners will be determined in Cairns in October this year. The series organisers have just confirmed the World Cup tracks at Smithfield MTB Park to be the venue of the final series round with the Cairns MTB Club as the event’s hosts.

For more series information and to sign up for the ACT Round visit Rocky Trail Entertainment.

Text: Rocky Trail Entertainment Photos: OuterImage.com.au

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