EVOCITIES MTB series leader Jason English says he doesn't know what to expect from this Sunday's WD-40 Dubbo 300, presented by Cook and Cook Financial Services, but admits that is part of what has drawn him to the series.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Port Macquarie-based rider, a multiple world champion in the 24-hour endurance category, has won two of the four legs contested in the series to date, and while Sunday's five-hour event is well short of his best distance he is again expected to figure at the front of the standings.
He currently holds an 86-point lead over his nearest rival Andrew Lloyd, and a win on Sunday will go a long way towards securing him the inaugural title.
The 2015 Evocities MTB Series, supported by Fairfax Media, is being held across the six of the seven regional Evocities, with one race already held in Western Sydney.
"I've always wanted to go and visit these regional towns and this series of races has given me an opportunity to do that," English said.
"A lot of the Evocities are places that probably wouldn't rate as mountain bike towns, but in saying that some of the best trails I have ridden were at the Orange race.
"The prizemoney in the series is good too, which helps because it's a seven-hour drive from home to Dubbo and I had to fly to Albury a couple of weeks ago so the cost of that is covered by the prize money, and it really acts as great training for other events as well.
"I'm looking at bringing my family along to Dubbo this weekend, so hopefully we'll find a bit of time to have a look around the town and maybe head to the zoo for a bit and take the kids along."
English competed in the Jetblack 12-hour event near Muswellbrook last weekend, and while the transition from a 12-hour race to a five-hour event a week later wouldn't be easy for us mere mortals, he said each event he competes in acts as a warm-up for his next race.
"Most of the races I do are longer events, and that's where I tend to race best, but going from a 12-hour back to a five won't be a drastic change in intensity," he said.
"I was averaging about 20km/hr for the 12 hours on the weekend and I think if I can do that in Dubbo it will mean I'm competitive.
"In saying that though, a lot will depend on the trail and what the Dubbo club has come up with, and also whether I'm on my hard trails bike or on the dual-suspension bike.
"From what I understand it's been designed to be technical and a bit hilly as well. Having not seen it if I can be doing 45 minutes or so to a lap I'll be pretty happy."