We sat down with Marcus Fairbanks and had got some Inside Info about his plans for the upcoming race season, expect to hear a lot more of this name.
Name: Marcus Fairbanks
Age: 19
Hometown: Ballarat, Victoria.
Marcus how long have you been riding downhill: I have been riding for about 6 years and racing for 5 of those.
Did you come from a BMX or motocross background or has it just been mountain bikes: Not really,A�I have always kind of been a mountain biker, we’ve had a motorbike as kids but I have always liked to ride my bike.
Give us a run down on your 2010/11 National Series: I didn’t have the best season, I finished 12th in the overall but I had some injuries and some mechanicals. I just kept crashing, it didn’t go too good but I had some good results, so I am looking to do well this season.
At a club level how did you go with the racing: Pretty well, I won the King of Ballarat Series this year and the Vic DH Series I was third, after five rounds, then crashed, hurt myself and missed a round, I finished sixth overall.
With the Vic DH Series, it’s fair to say, it’s probably the best race series in Australia, why do you think that is: There are more riders but it is definitely run a lot smoother I find, everything’s on time, on average the tracks are better and whileA�the competition’s not as good (as Nationals), a lot of interstate riders come across so that makes it even better.
For the upcoming National Season you areA�on the Clint White Racing Team, how did that come about:A�I saw an add on Facebook for it so I emailedA�Clint and he wrote backA�stating heA�would be interested and it went from there.
The team is racing the Vic DH series, National Series, National Champs and the Oceania Champs, has the team set any goals or do you have your own:I would like top 5 if I could get it but mainly be consistent and have clean runs at each race. I know if I have a clean run than it will be pretty quick, that is pretty much my goal at the moment.
There is a range of different style tracks in these race series, what type of track suits you best and are you looking at a particular one thinking you have a good chance to do well there: Generally the faster tracks which are a bit more gravity fed and have less pedalling. I also think rough, technical tracks suit me so a pretty good mix.
So you are a flat pedal rider: Yep.
Do you have a specific training plan for the races or are you just going out and riding: I haven’t really been training at all yet because I have been really sick with tonsillitis but that’s kind of clearing up now so I will be going to the gym.
Do mainly ride on your downhill bike or do you go off and cross countryA�ride or dirt jump: Usually I ride my downhill bike and a little bit of moto but I haven’t really been on it that much recently, I ride it maybe once a week or every few weeks.
So you can see or feel the benefit of riding motobikes: Definitely, you ride the moto than you get on your downhill bike and it feels way smoother and corners better.
Do you gain more fitness and strength from doing it: Yeah if you do it for aA�long time, I just go out and do it for fun!
You have been on the new Zerode bikes for a few weeks now, what are your impressions of it: It’s really sick, it’s way different to my old bike but it’s heaps faster, it rollsA�way quicker and over the rough stuff the faster you go the smoother it is!
Have you had toA�change your riding style to adapt to it: I haven’t had toA�change my style I think it’s pretty much the same.A�A�
So there you have it, an insight into one of the riders that will be a force for the upcoming racing season.
Good work Marcus and Pete