The MTBA National Series isn’t that far off, and with one of the early rounds unconfirmed, it’s exciting to hear that a venue has now been announced after the You Yangs dropped off the list a month ago.
Mount Taylor in East Gippsland, Victoria, will co-host the round with Mountain Bike Australia from the 27-29th November in conjunction with East Gippsland Shire Council and the ever popular Victorian Downhill Series.
MTBA President Russ Baker welcomed Mount Taylor as a new location on the MTBA Season Calendar,
“Racing three disciplines at Mount Taylor over the weekend will make this a major event in the series and furthers MTBA’s aim of taking our National Series around Australia. The East Gippsland Shire has a good record for high-quality events and I am very happy that we have been able secure this event with regional support.”
“The area is no stranger to top level mountain biking and Mt Taylor is only 20 Km from Bruthen, where Australia’s top Cross Country rider, Dan McConnell, grew up. The region also provides some great tourism and recreational opportunities for the riders, including Lakes Entrance and the open beaches facing Bass Strait,” comments Baker.
MTBA CEO Shane Coppin stated;
“MTBA are excited about the keen support and enthusiasm that the East Gippsland Shire Council has shown in assisting with bringing the MTBA National Series to Mt. Taylor. It will be terrific for the local community, thanks to Sports Marketing Australia for helping facilitate this new partnership. It’s an excellent result to see our sport and National Series being embraced in new areas of Australia and I look forward to a successful event.”
East Gippsland Shire Mayor, Cr Peter Neal, said Council was delighted to host the event in partnership with Mountain Bike Australia.
“Our MTB parks have had significant investment in recent years and we are delighted to share this with the cream of Australia’s riders,” Cr Neal said.
“It’s a credit to the work Council and other stakeholders like DELWP have put in over recent years to develop parks and attract events, that we can now host a stage of the MTB National Series.
This event will have direct significant economic, health and fitness impacts and is a great opportunity to showcase the MTB tracks we have in our region.”
“It aligns with the other marketing activity showcasing the regional strengths as the location of outdoor pursuits,” Cr Neal concluded.
Adam Downes, Gippsland Mountain Bike Club President said,
“The club is thrilled to work with MTBA to bring this calibre of riders to East Gippsland. It great to repay those in our club who work so diligently in keeping tracks like Mt.Taylor open.”
Full details of the MTBA National Series are on the MTBA website.