24 Solo racer Craig Gordon (Image credit: Tracy Posner)
At its January committee meeting, the CORC Committee, in consultation with MTBA, decided to move the Australian Solo 24 Hour Championships to Easter weekend. This change takes effect for the 2007 championships, which will be held April 7-8, 2007, at the Innabaanya Guide adjacent to Majura Pines in the ACT.
The change will give solo riders a clearer track on which to ride, without interference (or possible assistance) from numerous team riders. It will also allow a shorter lap distance, so that a solo rider heading out again close inside the 24 hour mark will not be faced with another 90 minutes on the course. This will facilitate better management of the riders, media, and presentations.
Perhaps, most importantly, the change allows the race to be a feeder for the 24 Hours of Adrenalin World Solo 24 hour championships, which occur in September or October of each year. Under the current schedule, the two races are too close on the calendar to allow a realistic attempt at both races, or in the case of 2006, they were on the same weekend. Per the new schedule, riders who qualify at the Australian 24 Solo Champs will have a minimum of five months to prepare for the worlds. Riders like Craig Gordon, last year's winner of the 24 Hours of Adrenaline World Solo championships, will now have the option to race both nationals and worlds.
