Bright – Australian National Champs Day 1/2

Back in beautiful Bright for the Australian MTB National Champs.

Thursday saw sunny sky’s and warm weather for Track walk. With the weather turning the complete opposite for day 1 of practice on Friday. Rain fell for all morning and early afternoon leaving the track wet and slippery especially on the roots in the forrest.

The view from the top of Bright can’t be beaten.

Specialized Mechanic Lachlan McKillop prepping tyre's for the week. — Specialized Mechanic Lachlan McKillop prepping tyre’s for the week.

The specialized tent has all the activities sorted

Finishing off the day with a swim at this place can't be beaten. — Finishing off the day with a swim at this place can’t be beaten.

Day 2 was the complete opposite to Thursday. With Rain forecast all morning.

The riders set off into fog at the top of the hill.

Jordan Prochyra after punching some runs in the rain.

With not much going on track kaneophoto took photos from the comfort of the tents.

Dropping into the darkness of the forrest.

Angus Maddern pushing the limits a little too far.

Josh Clark Slaming into berms, just baller.

Wet roots causing trouble for the riders.

Rem Dog back from his summer in NZ and looking fast.

March 19, 2016

Pick Of The Pics – Bright National Championships

Bright National Champs threw up one great weekend of racing, let’s finish our coverage of the weekend with a Pick Of The Pics. Our dedicated and hardworking photo g’s were scrambling up and down the mountain all weekend fighting dust, starvation and the background scenery to bring you the goods, enjoy!

Troy Brosnan was rocking a different kit every day #factory.

Epic scenery in Bright, with a mix of native vegetation and pine forests, Mic Hannah rolling on by.

B-Lake! Blake Nielsen negotiating one of the chutes on the track!

One foot madness for David 'Mayhem' McMillan. — One foot madness for David ‘Mayhem’ McMillan.

Riders charged straight down the fireroad into this tight right-hander with a lot of speed.

Tegan Molloy got the job done and took home the national title.

Not only was the view great but the conditions were too!

Andrew Crimmins is looking good for the upcoming world cup season.

On the hunt! There was talk of the new 650B coming to Bright but that wasn't the case. — On the hunt! There was talk of the new 650B coming to Bright but that wasn’t the case.

A new bike for Jack Moir but it didn't slow him down. — A new bike for Jack Moir but it didn’t slow him down.

A good time for Rhys, Jackson and David from one of the strongest teams on the grid.

By the end of the weekend ruts were a foot deep down some parts of the track.

A good result at Bright would have capped a very successful come back for Josh Button, the result wasn't quite what he was hoping for . It doesn't take anything away from what he has achieved, we can't wait to see him at Cairns. — A good result at Bright would have capped a very successful come back for Josh Button, the result wasn’t quite what he was hoping for . It doesn’t take anything away from what he has achieved, we can’t wait to see him at Cairns.

Not all the action was focused on the track!

This may seem like an unusual image but let us explain! The rider in the dust had come through the chutes and binned it. On the way as they rolled down the hill they clipped Jason Steven's gear bag sending it tumbling it down the hill. As the rider stop they managed to grab the bag and stop it from rolling any further, hence the joyous arm raise from Jason! — This may seem like an unusual image but let us explain! The rider in the dust had come through the chutes and binned it. On the way as they rolled down the hill they clipped Jason Steven’s gear bag sending it tumbling it down the hill. As the rider stop they managed to grab the bag and stop it from rolling any further, hence the joyous arm raise from Jason!

Rhys Atkinson has been all across over the past few months building trails for us all to enjoy, cheers Rhys!

He's another rider we are looking forward to seeing racing in Cairns. — He’s another rider we are looking forward to seeing racing in Cairns.

Different lines for riders as they negotiated there way down the hill.

Sic Mic, having changed a few major components over the off season it doesn't seem to have slowed him down though. — Sic Mic, having changed a few major components over the off season it doesn’t seem to have slowed him down though.

Jared Rando was on the bike and showing everyone why he is one of Australia's downhill legends. — Jared Rando was on the bike and showing everyone why he is one of Australia’s downhill legends.

Coming into one of the high speed, wide open areas of the track!

Connor Fearon is gathering momentum for his overseas campaign.

That wraps up the coverage of Bright and the Australian national championships.

Images: Jason Stevens Photography, JB Photo Media & house images.

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March 16, 2014

Australian National Championships – Bright – Day 3 Seeding

Last minute practice for everyone before seeding to get lines dialled.

Day 3 here in Bright meant seeding! A short practice session immediately before seeding let riders check their lines before the first timed run of the weekend. Practice saw a few crashes, as well as some punctures but nothing major. Technical issues have stopped us from

Seeding started off with the junior females, Tegan Molloy seeded first despite a crash! Moving onto junior men and Max Warshawsky finished ahead of local rider Aiden Varley and Andrew Crimmins was third after two crashes. Elite women were next on the hill and Tracey Hannah took the number one spot by over 30 seconds! Silja Standler was second ahead of Emma McNaughton. Interesting times in elite men with Troy Brosnan not even getting a run after his bike fell of the transport trailer…. His team worked hard to get his bike ready for racing. In the end Mic Hannah was numero uno, Connnor Fearon second and the resurgent Josh Button third.

Technical issues have stopped us from showing you everything we wanted to but tune back soon.

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March 9, 2014

Australian National Championships – Bright – Day 2

Day 2 of practice and riders were really getting up to speed, Blake Nielsen charging.

Another day of practice here in Bright, instead of a full day free for all today was separated into open practice early and then group A and B practice later on. No major incidents to report, a few riders said hello to the ground and some lost the air pressure in their wheels but it is a fairly technical track so this is to be expected.

Troy Brosnan sorting lines out, part of the game today was watching out for other slower riders on the track.

Some riders were struggling to see the wood from the trees today!

It is hard to convey just how steep the track is in parts, you just have to ride it (or try and walk down it!).

The biggest team on the circuit, we are sure of it, Giant Australia were looking good all day.

Braaapppp Andrew Crimmins coming into the steep chute section!

Connor Fearon was jumping sections higher than anyone else, most weren't even getting air. — Connor Fearon was jumping sections higher than anyone else, most weren’t even getting air.

Riders had to deal with coming from bright wide open sections straight into dark forested areas at high speed.

Goggle choice was a key decision today, not just aesthetically!

Wide open, flat corners are a plenty here this weekend!

Dust was hanging around in the forest sections, just in case you needed more of a challenge!

Only a few riders were gapping down into this chute.

Steep corners are Champery-ish in an Australian kind of way.

Saturday will see riders seed late in the day, this will be the first real indication of who is on it and who still needs to do some work.

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March 8, 2014

Australian National Championships – Bright – Day 1

Well at least the view is great if nothing else but fortunately everything else is pretty good, riders are loving the track!

Day 1 and this meant an early start for the track walk followed by all day practice. If you don’t know Bright is one of the best tracks on the circuit with riders loving the steep hill which means the track is a ‘real’ track, rocky, steep, loose, these are all words that can describe it. Check out these images from day 1:

There's a fair chance this family could take the win in the mens and womens! — There’s a fair chance this family could take the win in the mens and womens!

No time to stop and smell the flowers, David McMillan was flying, practice winner? Quite possibly... — No time to stop and smell the flowers, David McMillan was flying, practice winner? Quite possibly…

Riders don't get too many opportunities but the view was great! — Riders don’t get too many opportunities but the view was great!

Fast and looking comfortable after day 1, Tracey Hannah is hot favorite for the win.

Luke Ellison looking fast, taking a high line here coming into this chute, a tight corner at the bottom was catching a lot of riders out.

Connor Fearon smashed out a few runs, we often lost him in the dust or he snuck up on us,we will get you Mr Worldwide!

Close! David McMillan getting close to the bunting, pin it to win it!

Up to speed and smashing out runs, we lost how many times we saw Mic Hannah today!

Check back after tomorrow’s practice for more action!

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March 6, 2014

Inside Info: Connor Fearon’s Kona

downhill247com cf1 — The most talked about bike at the Australian National Championships was Connor Fearon’s new Kona.

Rumours had been flying for some time before the race and most people were expectingA�Kona to bring out their new toy. Under Connor Fearon Kona debuted their new bike right here in Australia, with Connor flying the flag for the company this year at World Cups the new Operator is going to help Connor to progress. Now we would love to do a full blown interview with Kona and Connor but unfortunately their instructions are to remain tight lips until April, Connor has opened up with some valuable information regarding the bike including that and we quote; “the head angle will be between 60 and 70 degrees” and that it weighs the same amount as a few bags of potatoes” (non cooked still in the bag in case you are wondering!) It was good to see Connor taking a fun approach when being asked about the bike at the race!

downhill247com cf2 — “No comment” was the official response regarding questions about the bike but Connor and co did have a bit of fun with it all.

There are a few things we do know though;

– The frame will have 200mm ofA�travel and is made up of a carbon front triangle with aluminium rear stays.

– The head angle between “60 -70 degrees” is likely to be 64!

– A few nice little detailsA�that a lot ofA�bikes are nowA�featuring include the integrated bump stops and internal cable routing (with the option of being able to run them externally).

– Interestingly the bike will have a 104mm press fit bottom bracket as well as the standard ISCG05 chain guide mounts and a 12x157mm rear axle spacing.
A�

downhill247com cf4 — The bike almost didn’t get a race debut after Connor snapped the only derailleur hanger in the Southern Hemisphere! A quick trip to a CNC shop fixed all that fortunately.

downhill247com cf3 — Integrated bump stops and internal cable guides are nice touches.

downhill247com cf5 — Rock Shox came to the party with a custom sticker kit for the front rear and shocks, will the next step for Connor be the Black Box program?!

downhill247com cf drifto gibbo user submitted — Connor has gotten use to the bike very quickly, as this user submitted photo from Gibbo show us!

Connor heads off to Sea Otter in just over a month it will be interesting to see what else gets revealed there.

Images: Jason Stevens

March 3, 2013