Inside Info: Ben Hill - Style Merchant -

We thought it was about time we had a chat with Benny Hill and find out some more about one of the most exciting riders to hit the scene of late.

Ben Hill – You know the name and you have no doubt seen him plastered across downhill247.com but no only does he have the style but also the speed, we had a chat with Ben to see what makes him tick and here is what we learnt;

Ben Hill the 16 year old from Alstom, Tasmania has burst onto the scene over the past year with the CWR Team but has been riding for four years after using it for MX cross training and realising he enjoyed it moreA�he attributes a large part of this to dad who was into bikes as a kid.

A MX background no doubt helped shape Ben's style today. — A MX background no doubt helped shape Ben’s style today.

Ben has been racing for about 3 years, his deal with Clint White’s Avid Zerode team came about under differentA�circumstances, I had a broken arm and didn’t have anything to do so I sent Clint an email.A�As it turns out Clint was thinkingA�if the right junior came up then okay, as it turns out Ben was just looking for some tent space and I couldn’t promise him too much,A�so after a few casual emails it was sorted.

A casual deal with CWR has been positive for both parties with Ben recently being selected in the long team for the World Championships' later in the year. — A casual deal with CWR has been positive for both parties with Ben recently being selected in the long team for the World Championships’ later in the year.

We are real fans of what Clint White has done with the team over the past few years, what is the atmosphere like amongst the team chilled and fun. Talking about race atmosphere though any crazy race rituals? Not really I did get a pair of gloves off Troy Brosnan a little while back and I keep them in my bag at every race, that is about it. Steep, rough tracks with jumps and cornersA�are the best kind of race track. If I was describing my style it would be loose but I don’t try to be it just happens!

Steep tracks with lots of corners and big jumps are Ben's favourite. Sometimes that loose style goes to the extreme! — Steep tracks with lots of corners and big jumps are Ben’s favourite. Sometimes that loose style goes to the extreme!

Ben’s home state of Tasmania has plenty of this type of riding, Glenorchy is the favourite, the riding scene has a good vibe, there are not heaps of riders but it is the most fun place to ride.

Ben's favourite track also happens to be in his home state at Glenorchy. — Ben’s favourite track also happens to be in his home state at Glenorchy.

Ben has just been selected for the long team for theA�World Championships’, so he will be off to the team campA�before finding out whether he will be representing Australia in South Africa. Some of his favourite results have been in the Victorian Downhill Series at Mount Taylor andA�Maldon. His whips are some of the best out there and we had to ask Clint the hard question, what is Ben like on wheels? He is pretty tough on wheels, his whips make him go through themA�quicker than most.

If you see Ben out and about, buy him a flavoured milk but make sure it is lime!

Ben would like to thank; Clint White, Zerode and especially his dad!

There you have it Ben Hill ladies and gentleman!

Images: Jason Stevens