A big, high quality turn out of riders descended on Mount Beauty, literally, for the Victorian All Mountain Series over the weekend!
The Victorian town of Mount Beauty is some what of a Mecca for mountain bikers of all disciplines in Australia with a myriad of trails that will blow your mind. Over the weekend we headed there to take in the latest of the Victorian All Mountain Series, a series that has rapidly grown in a very short period of time.
The track was a bit different from the past few rounds, out of pine forests and back into Aussie bush, the race was held on established trails, so they were fully bedded in, by the end of the weekend their was some track wear starting to creep in. There were a few tight corners but overall it lived up to theA�reputation the area has, which is quite high with notorious tracks such as Big Hill to thank for this. People came out in force for the event with over 14o entrants for the race, organisers reacted by running more transport which meant you never had to wait too long for shuttles.
You can find all types of setups at an Enduro style race, whatever works for you!
Racing ran smoothly and in the end Daniel MacMunn kept up his winning ways taking out round 3 with Rhys Atkinson, at his first enduro race, placed second. Rhys said it is a completely different type of fitness, well a second place shows he must have some of it whatever it is!
Does enduro require the perfect balance of fitness and technical skills?!
Another important event happened over the weekend at the race, it was the raffle and auction held for Sam Brownlie, the rider who crashed at Mount Buller earlier in the year. In the end over $4000 was raised for Sam, a massive effort by everyone involved but one that shows how cool and willing to help out the greater mountain bike community is. The next race and the final for the series will be heldA�in Beechworth early March.
Matt Taylor is a name you will be hearing more of in the future. Photo: Matt Bird Media
Australia has an enviable history of producing some of the fastest downhill riders in the world and they often start at the junior level before working their way up through the senior ranks. Right now Matt Taylor is at the junior level, out riding with his mates and having fun but definitely a rider to watch in the future. We had heard people talking about his speed in the South Australian State Series for sometime but it was at the State Champs when we were on the sideline covering the event when the penny dropped. We were having the typical trackside conversation; ‘so who’s looking quick…?’ a few names came up and then we said ‘there’s a guy in an orange helmet who is looking crazy fast!’ and the reply was ‘Oh you mean Matt Taylor’. Sure enough Matt won Under 19’s (when he could still be racing Under 17’s) and did it with a time that would have placed him on the Elite podium.
Matt has a style beyond his years and it is always good to watch! Photo: Matt Bird Media
This confirmed our thoughts from when we saw him out on the track, shortly after he was picked up by the Trak Cycles downhill team, a team which we will be revealing more information on exclusively very soon! But for now have a read on what Matt had to say when we asked him a few questions;
Name: Matt Taylor
Age: 15
Lives: A�Mt Osmond, South Australia near the Waterfall Gully Track!
Matt, how long have you been into downhill and is that the riding you started off doing:
I started racing BMX at 7 years of age and have always loved bikes.A� Then I transitioned into XC and downhill riding.A� I also do a lot of Moto/Enduro riding and have been since I was 9 years of age.A� My absolute passion is downhill, it is what I always look forward to doing.
How long have you been racing for:
I started racing with Inside Line in 2009 so it is about 4 years.
You raced the SA series in Under 19 when you could have raced a lower class, why did you do that:
It was supposed to be my first year in Under 17s but I decided it might be a bit more of a challenge to race under 19s and just wanted to see how I could go.
A background mixed with BMX and motocross sounds very familiar and is never a bad thing for downhilling. Photo: Matt Bird Media
What results have stood out to you and you have been happy with:
I was extremely happy with winning the Under 19s State Champs at Fox Long as my time would have put me on the Elite podium.
What kind of tracks do you like and how would you describe your riding style:
I like most tracks but the technical tracks are my preference.A� I dona��t mind a couple of sprints in there either.A� It is hard for me to describe my style, but mates say I am smooth and controlled.
Matt lives close to the Waterfall Gully downhill track, which is one of the most full on tracks in the state and makes a good training ground. Photo: Matt Bird Media
Your bikes always seem to be super clean at races and when youa��re out riding, is this one of your requirements to have a clean bike before you ride:
Yeah, it is pretty funny, all my mates ask if I could clean their bikes for them.A� I like to have a clean bike before I go out riding.A� Just hoping it makes me look faster.
In terms of your bike do you have any specific set up techniques or requirements, i.e. A�suspension, brake lever position, etc:
I like my rebound quite slow and forks a bit on the stiff side, clipped in, 780mm bars, fairly neutral brake position and like my bike to quiet (and dona��t forgetA� CLEAN !! haha)
You would struggle to find a cleaner bike than Matt’s at any race but in no way is that a bad thing! Photo Matt Bird Media
You were doing runs with Connor Fearon at the first National round, what was that like:
It was great to be riding with someone like Connor, it was amazing to follow him with the speed he has, he was kind enough to help me out with some lines and give me a helping hand. A�Hopefully I can do some runs with him at the next round.
Where would you like to go with your racing/riding in the future:
I would love to do well this year for the Nationals in the Under 17s.A� One day I would love to be able to race World Cups and see how far I can go.
You are riding for the Trak Cycles team this year, what does that set up involve and what races will you be doing:
I had a great opportunity to be a part of the Trak Cycles Team this year which I am very thankful for. A�Through Trak I am extremely pleased with the support from Kona, Renthal, Fox, Maxxis and Finish Line cleaning products.A� I would also like to thank Glen Matulich, Steve Marsh and the Trak Team, but I am particularly thankful to Mello Bouwmeester Trak Cycles Manager, who has assisted in taking my fitness to a new level and his constant support has been fantastic.
I will be doing the 2013 National series and all of the State rounds.
Well that finishes of our Inside Info with Matt for the moment but we will be catching up with him as the year progresses.
Thredbo has the highest lift point above sea level in Australia at 2037m AHD. Photo: Ronnie Grammatica
Thredbo is one of the oldest mountain bike racing destinations in Australia and we thought we would hit you up with some Fun Facts;
1 – Your wheels turn just over 1800 times to cover the whole distance of the track (providing you don’t ET every jump!).
2 – Assuming they hit the jump and cleaned it riders would only need to hit the new jump in the middle of the track 345 times to cover the whole distance of theA�track.
3 – The average rider would burn over 500 calories on race weekend from just riding their bike alone!
4 – Mount Kosciuszko is the highest mountain in AustraliaA�at 2,228m above sea level and is named after a Polish freedom fighter.
5 -A�The airA�pressure in your tyreA�at the top of the track wouldA�read 1 psiA�higher on a guageA�than if you were reading itA�at the beach.
The Elite Men’s podium at Thredbo required around 300 runs to determine the final outcome! Photo: Ronnie Grammatica
Just like round one Thredbo is a classic stop on the downhill racing calendar in Australia. Here Caroline Buchannan hits the top of the course.
Fast and dry conditions set the stage for the second round of the 2013 Subaru Gravity Cup series at Thredbo, similar to what we experienced last round at Mt Buller. The weather was good, just a little windy, and the atmosphere was great, with a good number of spectators turning up to cheer the riders on.
The Thredbo crew did a good job getting the track ready for the race with the course nice and smooth all the way down to the bottom. It was good to see that they also made a few changes on the track to make it faster.
Ask many a rider an they will stay this course isA�the hardest in the series. By the time the riders get to the bottom of the track their energy is spent and they dig deep to muster up enough energy to pedal to the finish line, trying to get the win.
Sam Hill gave us a glimpse of what he had in store for the weekend in the seeding on Saturday by securing the fastest time, a clear 5.65 seconds over Connor Fearon and 7.16 seconds in front of Jack Moir. The weekend ended with Sam in 1st with a time of 5’21”95, Jack in 2nd and Connor in 3rd. It was well earned first podium finish for he Yeti OZ team rider, Jack, just a couple of days after his 19th birthday.Jack Moir getting super wild! Second on your birthday is a nice little present to yourself…Third place for the second race in a row, consistent if nothing else!Three times BMX world champion Caroline Buchanan won in the elite female category with 6’13”78, the Canadian rider Clare Buchar claimed second place, and the 2004 XC Olympian Lisa Mathison took third.
Round 2 hasn’t changed the overall rankings, with Sam Hill and Caroline Buchanan continuing to lead in the Gravity Cup rankings for their respective categories.
The Thredbo local and a Giant team rider, Thomas Crimmins, took first place in Under 19 on the dusty and tough course at Thredbo with a time of 5’32”69. Here he shows us he isn’t just fast on a downhill bike!Luke Ellison posted a time of 5’34”97 to claim second spot in Under 19, followed by Dean Lucas in third.Over to the final junior women results, Tegan Molloy took first place with Danielle Beecroft caming into second. In third place was Kellie Weinert.With the 201 plate Danielle Beecroft finished second.Andrew Crimmins, with a time of 5’28”14, took the win in the U17. This super quick guy had the third quickest time overall, just 6 seconds behind the legendary Sam Hill. Could this 15 year old local boy from Bredbo be the future of our sport?Chris Kovarik riding the tight wood section just after the big sender.Ben Hill on Zerode riding through the new section that bends around the True Blue rock garden. This section is pretty rough and blown out!Jared Rando – the Giant Australia ambassador and junior coach – riding the Bunny Walk section.Dean Lucas brought it home in third place.Troy Brosnan was happy to be back on his bike, even if it wasn’t to race.David McMillan seeded in 5th but came 8th at the end of the weekend, you know he is capable of that podium spot though.Caution downhill247.com supporters on road! Thanks everyone for the support across the country!
With a short seriesA�we are rapidly drawing to the end!
Article and images credited to: A� RonnieGrammatica.com
Chris Kovarik is always a threat and seeded in seventh, expect him to better this come finals. Photo: Ronnie Grammatica
Riders are experiencing warm conditions for the second round of the Australian National Series, currently beingA�held at Thredbo. After a few wet races there recently this is nothing to complain about though. Seeding results are as follows;
Under 19 Male
1. Thomas Crimmins 5.34.20
2. Dean Lucas 5.37.40 + 3.20
3. Luke Ellison 5.38.26 + 4.06
4. Brent Smith 5.39.26 + 5.06
5. Aiden Varley 5.41.83 + 7.63
Under 19 Female
1. Tegan Molloy 6.18.58
2. Danielle Beecroft 6.28.68 + 8.10
3. Kellie Weinert 6.40.79 + 22.21
Elite Female
1. Caroline Buchannan 6.15.54
2. Claire Buchar 6.17.16 + 1.62
3. Lisa Mathison 6.21.02 + 5.48
4. Genevieve McKew 6.43.68 + 28.14
5. Madelline Taylor 6.51.42 + 35.88
Elite Male
1. Sam Hill 5.22.44
2. Connor Fearon 5.28.09 + 5.65
3. Jack Moir 5.29.60 + 7.16
4. Joey Vejvoda 5.31.43 + 8.99
5. David McMillan 5.33.85 + 11.41
Looking at the results in Elite Men it is interesting to note that four out of five are riders who have just stepped up from the junior ranks!
Tegan Molloy was the fastest Junior Female but we expect a close race in finals. Photo: Ronnie Grammatica
Round 4 of the Tassie downhill series and the sun was shining!
Last weekend the 4th round of the Tasmanian gravity series was held in the small town of Wilmot, about 30 minutes out of Devonport in the statea��s North. The track consisted of many flowy corners, with a couple of technical rock gardens and some big gaps thrown in to mix things up. Saturdaya��s conditions saw a sunny, dry day which allowed riders easy conditions to work out their lines and how to maintain their speed. Also held on Saturday was a super D race, although downhill bike numbers were low at this event, it attracted many cross country and all mountain riders.
Yeah boy! Wide open…Hang on a second…Whoops! Thankfully the weekend was relatively injury free, except for Saturday afternoon, when Sue Booker sustained a broken ankle in the steep rock garden. Get well soon Sue!
By the time Sunday morning had come around the track had worn out a fair bit and become a bit more rutted. During practice many riders picked up speed and got their lines dialed for race runs and were trying to gap the rather large finish line table top.
Ewan Faveretto putting a leg out!Dan Booker won Under 17’s.Brent Capel adds some style, second in Under 19’s for Brent.Second place in Elite went to Aaron Oates.
The Womana��s category was again won by Christina Sergeant, with Jill Brady coming in second. New Track X team rider Dan Booker took first in the under 17a��s, Jarvis wall in second and Connor Greatbatch in third. Ben Hill again took the win, showing impressive speed and style, on his way down the course Brent Capel and Jack Lynch followed in Under 19a��s. The hotly contested Elite category was again one by Kaine Cannon with Aaron Oates in second and Josh Fuller in third.
Ben Hill kept up his good from taking out Under 19’s.
