After a bumper 2018/19 season the Dubbo Mountain Bike Club is eager to take another step forward this time out.
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The new summer Super Series season starts in the coming weeks and plenty of track variety, races for those young and old, and a social and supportive atmosphere has it placed to be the biggest yet.
"We had an awesome season last year and had numbers we've never had before at races and in memberships," Dubbo Mountain Bike Club (MTB) president Jason Billsborough said.
We've always had quality across seniors and it's good to see that come through juniors.
- Jason Billsborough
There was regularly more than 30 riders competing across all divisions last season, with a high of 49 contesting one event.
The success of a juniors program, both the Dirt Masters under 12s and the under 18s, was one of the highlights and hopes are high it can deliver again.
"We never knew how it was going to go but we were inundated with under 12s at times," Billsborough said.
"We were lacking in the under 18s a little but that's starting to even out now.
"Some of the under 12s are stepping up into that juniors category and we've gained a few riders from the [Dubbo] Cycle Club who want to break things up a bit."
There's real quality among those young riders too.
At just five years old, Billsborough's son Euan is one of the most exciting prospects in the group while Imogen and Makayla Fuller have starred at state titles previously and Bailey Binks is already making a real name for himself.
"He [Binks] has been offered a place in a training academy in Jindabyne in November," Billsborough said.
"It's a national academy and he had to apply and we backed him. There was only a limited number of places and he's one of those.
"To see him grow and develop has been great.
"We've always had quality across seniors and it's good to see that come through juniors."
While developing elite talent is one goal, success is not all Billsborough is eager to promote.
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"It's not all just head off at once and then watch the fastest ride off," he said.
"It's a handicap system so you head off at an allotted time and essentially you're racing yourself.
"And everyone is hospitable and it's social as well."
Proof of that is in the junior program where a number of senior riders take to the course as well to help them through while also lending a hand should there be any falls.
The tracks themselves are also set to entertain with a number of changes made to ensure plenty of variety for all those who take part.
"Different looks and variations to the existing tracks changes the nature of those courses," Billsborough said.
Any juniors joining this season are asked to ideally have a bike free from training wheels and be one with gears to navigate the terrain.
The Dubbo MTB's first long race is Saturday, October 12 at Geurie while the first short Wednesday night race is on the 16th at Dundullimall.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
