Race the Mountain Bike enduro series that rocks!
(last updated: Wed, 15 April, 5PM)
The SHIMANO MTB Grand Prix Series is in its seventh year in 2015. Under the patronage of SHIMANO Cycling Australia and with its host of major sponsors and supporters it has grown to one of the major cross-country endurance racing series in Australia. It will be the third time that this event will be hosted by James Estate and the race organisers from Rocky Trail Entertainment.
Round two of six races will take you to Awaba MTB Park near Newcastle!
Compete for four or seven hours solo or ride the awesome course in teams – the choice is yours! Experience a fantastic endurance race and that signature Rocky Trail event atmosphere. Great for spectators to see the mountain bike racing action up close – entry is free for them.
The Shimano Mountain Bike GP is also hosting the official JetBlack NSW/ACT Bike Shop Trophy – customers and bike shop staff can ride for a designated bike shop and go into an additional ranking over the entire series. With kids races and music, the event centre will be pumping.
>> Check out this video from by the Cell Bikes crew from last year’s event at Awaba:
Share your race experience with us – use the official event hashtags:
#rockytrailracer #shimanomtbgp
>> New age groups and general classification in 2015
We want to reward as many riders as possible with prizes across the series. We will be looking after and welcoming our elite racers as we have in previous years and our focus in 2015 is to deliver a series that is less of a winners-only-focused competition, but a positive and inclusive experience for all participants.
What you race for:
- GC podium places will receive a certificate and a prize
- Age category podium places will receive a certificate of achievement
Series rewards:
- Series GC podium places will receive a special trophy and certificate
- Series Category podium places will receive a special trophy and certificate
Find out more about it on our website.
>> Click here to register!
- Online registration closes on Friday, 13 March by midday.
- Age determination day is December 31 of the current racing year, meaning how old you are at the end of the year determines which category you can race.
- If you are racing in a team where riders fall in different age groups the following rules apply:
- If all team riders are over 19 years old then the youngest defines the age group.
- If one team rider is under 19 then the average age will define the age group.
- Each rider needs to agree to our General Race Rules
- Each rider needs to sign our Race Waiver; parents or guardians needs to sign on behalf of riders younger than 18 years (bring signed copy or sign on the day) – download here (PDF).
- Every entrant to a race needs an MTBA racing licence or purchase a $20 day licence with Rocky Trail (available online through sign-up process).
>> Important note – SHIMANO MTB GP Series points
Our new timing system allows us to calculate series points at the click of a button, thanks to our genius partner from RaceResult.com and Martin’s inner nerd.
What we are asking is that you keep your Team Name exactly the same throughout the entire series – it’s the field that collates laps and race times during the race and important for the series points calculation as well. Solo riders who didn’t specify a team (sponsor) name will notice, that we used their First+Last Name for that purpose.
Check your points and also the JetBlack Bike Shop Trophy after Round 1.
>> Results and Rider List
We will be able to have live timing at Awaba MTB Park, so stay tuned via our website results portal. We should have a preliminary rider list online by Thursday evening.
>> What’s included in your race entry
- Free rider photos by OuterImage.com.au
- I am a #rockytrailracer wrist band if you haven’t received one before
- Ticket for your chance to pick a sponsor prize from the Rocky Trail bazaar OR to go into the draw for a major prize
- Entry for spectators and camping is free.
Rocky Trail Entertainment also offers free kids activities on race-day with games, colouring-in competitions and a junior race on a separate kids-specific track (about 100-150m long).
>> Full event schedule
>> How to get there
Location: Mount Faulk Road, off Freemans Drive in Cooranbong – It is a public MTB track and you can ride it in the lead up to the race.
Coming from Sydney:
Head up the F3 freeway towards Newcastle (Highway 1).
After about 100 km take the exit toward Freemans Dr.
Turn right at Freemans Dr and drive for 4.6 km.
Turn right at Mount Faulk Rd and continue for 2.4 km.
From there you can see the MTB Park signs.
Accommodation
Camping on-site? Not a problem at all. Food & drinks will be available on race day. We’ll organise basic amenities for the night before (toilets), but please bring your own drinking water. For other accommodation options, check the Lake Macquarie region. The suburbs Toronto, Dora Creek, Morissett and Cooranbong are very close.
Parking
Plenty off-road parking available.
>> About the race track
Here is a map of the 2015 race track.
>> Today’s Plan race analysis
Who would like to get connected with a Today’s Plan heart rate monitor and phone at the next Shimano MTB GP so we can see your live data at the event centre? We did it at the AMB100 and it was pretty cool to watch. There are 8 units available for the race.
>> Food
Food and drinks will be available all day including deliciously invigorating coffee, hot and cold drinks, yummy snacks and hearty pasta meals. We will also ask near-by cheese and olive-oil makers to let us have a good taste of their fares throughout the day. For people camping overnight on Saturday, we recommend bringing breakfast.
Water – please bring your own water.
Further information:
- Free kids race will be happening around midday and there will be a Kids Club to entertain the munchkins between 10am and 2pm
- Pink First Aid will be looking after us
- Cell Bikes will have their Awaba 2.0 demo fleet for you to test.
- Flow Bikes will offer tech support. While you are there check out their Mondraker range of bikes that they bring into the country.
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