On the road with Mathew Dodd.
March 14, 2012 in Australia, Biking Park, Bikingdirty, Blog, DH, Downhill, General, Gravity, Manufacturers, Men, Mountain Biking, photography, Pro Riders, Race, Race meetings, Review, Story, world
Final a spare moment to kick back and just go for a cruzy ride.
After a few crazy few weeks of travel and racing it has come to a end, The National Gravity series has ended.
Now time to return to work for a bit before heading of again on the next adventure.
Our First stop was Adelaide for the National Champs, held at Eagle MTB park
Mathew Dodd at the Champs
The track was dry,dusty and really loose. The temperatures were soaring above the 40 degree mark and was taking its toll at the tack.
With the track the same as the previous year, just bunted a little tighter it was of to the beach after a few runs to chill out and cool down.
Ben Power at the Champs
Practice runs were coming together nicely and speed was starting to come.
Seeding went well for Ben and Myself with Ben been placed in 13th and Myself in 15th.
With race day here, we knew we had to find the extra seconds needed to climb up the ladder and with knowing that we both did.
Ben finished 11th overall and Myself (Mathew) 13th.
It was a super packed field that we were up against with the likes of Troy Brosnan, Sam Hill, Rhyse Willemse, Chris Kovarik, Bryn Atkinson. Jared Graves, Will Rischbieth and Mitchell Delfs coming out to play and not to mention the other Aussie pinners like Rhys Atkinson and Timothy Eaton and the list continues.
Home for 2 days then it was off to Newcastle for the last round of the Series.
With the car loaded we were off for the 10hr drive to Awaba.
After walking the track we knew it would be one of the best tracks we have ridding in Austrlaia.With the weather changing into showers to a constant rain it ment that the track condtions that looked so inviting just became a little more tricky.
With Myself doing 6 runs and Ben doing only 5 runs all weekend on a track we have never riding before he finished 9th and myself 16th in the finals.
Stoked to finish the series on a positive note.
2011/12 Real Insurance All Mountain Cup standings leader Andrew Blair (NSW) has been the most consistent throughout the season to date, taking the win in the opening round in Perth and finishing third in Mt Buller.
In the women’s event, series leader Jenni King (VIC) has been in scintillating form taking the win in all three rounds, however a fierce battle looms with defending champion Katherine O’Shea (VIC) and rising young star Rebecca Henderson (SA), the 2011 Cycling Australia Elite Female Mountain Biker of the year and under 23 national champion, both of whom are showing solid form of late.
In the women’s field, former junior world champion Hannah will be up against a 2004 Olympian in the cross country event in Lisa Mathison (QLD), who despite only having been riding downhill for a matter of weeks after a four year lay off, has been turning heads around the country in her new discipline.
Opening at 7am daily, the village will feature a monster screen, music and commentary of all the races, plus a range of food and drink stalls, kids’ entertainment including a jumping castle, loads of exhibitor stands and new bikes to check out.
