Two more Australian champions will be crowned in Adelaide, South Australia this weekend with the 2016 Gravity Enduro National Championships converging on Eagle MTB Park, Mt Lofty.
Over a hundred riders will test themselves over the five race stages, which will see them take on a variety of trails, and celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the opening of the park. Race director Andrew Byrne from hosts Inside Line Gravity MTB Club, says the course has pulled up in excellent condition after the past few weeks of wild weather in Adelaide.
“A 35km loop that links 5 trails of amazing diversity, the gravel, sand and rock of eagle, the black loam and crystal clear creek crossing of Cleland and the insane off camber, tight tech madness of Waterfull Gully, the course will really challenge all riders.”
“We have cleaned up some sections which have been long forgotten to really make it an equal playing field.”
Plenty of locals are expected to turn out for the championship, which will be held in Adelaide for the next two years. Chris Panozzo will compete in a bid to defend his Australian title on Sunday and Troy Brosnan is one local who will saddle up for the event. The world number four men’s downhiller has been off the bike for nearly a month since his podium finish at Val di Sole, and admits enduro racing is certainly not on his professional radar, but he’s still looking forward to hitting his home trails for a national champs.
“Haven’t been doing any training, haven’t even touched my bike since I came home after world champs. But it will be kind of fun couple of days of riding and racing.”
Brosnan competed in two rounds of the Enduro World Series earlier in the year, and admits while Australia has a long way to go to reach the heights of the overseas events, it is building.
“I think it’s good for the younger Australian guys and even just the guys who want to go overseas and race in the EWS, it’s good to have the national champs where you can get points towards it.” “I guess it’s just a little taste of what’s over there and this weekend will be pretty decent and great tracks to race.”
The national championship has been recognised as a qualifying event for riders to earn ranking points in a bid to compete on the Enduro World Series stage.
Registrations open on Saturday morning with the course open for practice all day.
Racing will get underway from 9am on Sunday.
For more information head to the Official Event Website.