New look MTB National Series

The Australian mountain bike series has been revamped with two new formats introduced to favour riders and spectators alike.

The 2011/12 season will be split into two with cross country riders vying for the 'All Mountain Cup' and downhillers contesting the 'Gravity Cup'.

Spectators across Australia will have the opportunity to witness the nation's best riders, with events to be staged in Perth, Canberra, Thredbo, Mount Buller, Adelaide and Newcastle. Each round will also feature an activity staged in the CBD of each host town to bring spectators closer to the action than ever before.

The new formats are designed to increase growth in both disciplines with riders able to compete in more than one event.

The All Mountain Cup will include a number of additional elements over the course of each two-day event. Riders will compete in a stage-like environment, in which performance results will be tallied to determine the overall event winner.

In addition to the centrepiece Olympic Cross Country event, other formats such as the cross country eliminator (four-cross for cross country), cross country time trial, cross country enduro (25km to 50km), Super D (downhill cross country) and the return of the short course event will be scheduled over the weekend of competition.

In the Gravity Cup, all downhill classes will now have seeding races on the Saturday, followed by finals on the Sunday.

"Mountain Bike Australia has completely re-written the way the national level events are delivered," said Tony Scott, Executive Officer of MTBA.

"The new All Mountain Cup is going to be a spectacle of cross country mountain bike racing that will appeal to all levels of skill and experience and one that will involve both riding prowess and strategy in several different short duration activities.

"For the gravity riders we have expanded the seeding races to include all classes. This means two timed runs for all riders.

"All of these changes are geared towards providing better value to participants by giving them more time on the bike, more often."

Details for the Four Cross (4X) Cup will be announced shortly.

On-line entry will be available from September 1 for all rounds.

2011/12 Australian Mountain Bike Series