First round of Downhill ready to roll

Some of the State’s top mountain bikers will converge on Mt Clarence this weekend for the opening round of the WA Downhill State Series.

The Albany Mountain Bike Club will host the first round of the series, with 120 competitors arriving from all over WA.

The event kicks off on Saturday, with practice from 1130am- 4pm before racing is held from 11am-3pm on Sunday.

AMTBC president Chris Idle said the club was looking forward to hosting the event.

“It’s always good fun, there is a really good atmosphere at the downhill rounds,” he said

“We’re finding even in the last 12 months, even for the club rounds, we’re getting more public turn up just to watch.

“It makes a really nice atmosphere when there is a big crowd around and 100-odd riders, particularly the top guys in the State.

“It’s pretty amazing to watch and it’s pretty scary what they can do.”

Ben Halsall and Natalie Pearson are the local riders who are expected to challenge in the elite category, while nine-year-old Declan Poett is tipped to perform well in the junior rankings.

Idle said the new mountain bike track on Mt Clarence had helped increase the popularity of the sport in Albany and he hoped an extension of that trail could lead to a national event at Mt Clarence one day.

“It would be nice to think that in a couple of years, if the trail is extended well, we could get a national-level round here,” he said.