Scottish Cycling will again be hosting the final of its Mini Downhill (DH) Series at the UCI Fort William Downhill MTB World Cup this weekend (3-4th June.)
The 90 riders who qualified for the final, will get the chance to compete on a course designed by World Champion Downhill Mountain Bike racer Tracy Moseley.
Tracy Moseley won the world Championships in 2010 in Mont Saint Anne and is a rider who relishes racing on challenging courses. She’s an inspiration to younger riders and has been present at Fort William World Cups for many years.
Tracy now supports younger riders getting into Downhill and other cycling disciplines with the TMo race team, which has brought through riders such as the reigning Under 23 World Champion Evie Richards.
The Scottish Cycling Mini Downhill course, which runs alongside the one that the World Cup riders will be competing on, will include some new features for 2017.
The series, which comprised of five events throughout Scotland, had over 500 competitors all fighting for qualifying places, helped by the booming Borders MTB Series and the addition of a new Scottish Cycling North Mini DH series. New qualifying rounds were added, including Dunkeld, and the standard of course design has been raised throughout the country.
For 2017, a new Wildcard qualification place was added to give opportunity to more riders to qualify for the finals. These places have been determined by the organizing clubs and have been presented to the riders who have shown particular skills, determination or improvements at events.
Mike Jardine, World Cup organiser said:
“We are delighted that Scottish Cycling is hosting the final of their Mini Downhill Series at the Fort William UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup again this year. It is great to have the next generation of Downhill Mountain Bikers race just metres from some of the best racers in the world.”
At the Fort William World Cup the world’s best riders come to Britain’s only international level competition track to race in front of huge crowds of cheering fans, and therefore it only seems fitting to host the final of the Mini Downhill Series at the event.
Downhill mountain bike is a fast and exciting sport pitting rider and machine against the clock. Each rider rides a set course comprising of jumps, drops, roots, rocks, twists and turns. They aim to complete the course in the fastest time possible.
Mini Downhill (Mini DH) is just like the real thing but smaller. Shorter courses, smaller bikes and younger riders but it has all of the passion, excitement and drama of racing!
The Mini Downhill Series provides a pathway for aspiring young downhill riders to get their first taste of downhill racing;
Craig Burn, Scottish Cycling Chief Executive said:
“Major events like the Fort William UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup are crucial to the development of cycle sport in Scotland. These events throw the sport in the limelight as thousands of people travel to watch the best riders in the world compete. It is great that we can host the final of our Mini Downhill Series alongside this fantastic event, inspiring the next generation. Good luck to all the qualifying riders!”
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