World Champion, Jason English, wins the 8Hr Shimano MTB Grand Prix
The SHIMANO MTB Grand Prix event on Saturday attracted 400 mountain bike riders to the Awaba Mountain Bike Park, just south of Newcastle.
Despite threatening rain, riders were treated to near perfect conditions on the home track of local club HMBA (Hunter MTB Association). "It was a perfect day. I had two bikes there just in case," said English. "The course was fantastic."
The 24 hour World Champion, Jason English from Port Macquarie, was still in good form despite becoming a dad for the first time only one week prior.
The Merida JetBlack rider completed 12 laps of the 11.2 km circuit to win the 8 hour race though challenged strongly by Rockstar Racing pair of Troy Glennan and Dwight Woodforth early on in the race. Glennan and Woodforth kept English in sight for the first six hours until English forged ahead to become the outright winner.
"Troy (Glennan) really hurt me," admitted English who also suffered without his wife, Jen, as support on the sidelines. Jen was busy with their newborn boy, Archie James.
Second in the solo 8 hour race was defending overall series champion, Marty Strozik from Lake Macquarie. Strozik found his home track at Awaba to his liking. "It was grippy".
Just enough rain can make the track an absolute joy but just a few minutes more can turn it into a slippery sticky or boggy swamp. Of course it depends on the soil and relative drainage of the trail, with sandy tracks drying quickly but throwing in the downside of extra wear and tear on your drivetrain, clay trails become sticky and energy sapping. The clay can also clog your forks and frame as it builds up on tyres.
For competing riders, English was the stand out favourite. "As soon as I saw Jason (English) at the start line I knew we were all racing for second place," admitted Strozik. "I tried to hang on when he passed me after five hours but only managed for 20 metres or so.
"I went into it to go out and ride as hard as I can and for as long as I can. I'm happy with that."
Third place in the 8 hour solo ride was another Port Macquarie rider, Greg Porter.
Sarah Neumann from Sydney won the solo women's 8 hour event with a respectable 9 laps.
Spectators and support crews are always accommodated in fine style at Rocky Trail events with good food and coffee available at the event centre. There are also first aid people and mechanical support staff on hand to rectify any breaks or breakdowns.
In the masters 8 hour Hugh Stodart completed 11 laps while his female counterpart, Wendy Stevenson completed 9 laps.
Eventual winners in the pairs and second overall were Ashfield Cycles riders Olivier Vallee and Mark Griffin finishing on equal laps with second place in their category going to Glennan and Woodforth.
The pointy end of the field ride to win, and sponsor prizes are not to be sneezed at with expensive kit including bikes and forks up for grabs, but for the also ran's the focus is somewhat different. The camaraderie at MTB events across the country, and achieving personal challenges like riding solo for eight hours or completing ten laps this time, provide reward enough for the majority, and the podium is not even contemplated, much less striven for. Some just revel in the thrill of speed, their own personal battle with the clock, or the intensity of physical exertion that mountain biking demands. For others simply escaping the chaos of city riots and stock market turmoil to spend some time soaking in the joy of creation is an end unto itself.