Under 23 racer Norris collects three wins in a row

Australian National Under 23 Champion Lachlan Norris is on a roll. While the fires were roaring in part of rural Victoria, Norris, who won his national title in late January, was roaring around his home course on the way to a win in the State Series race four in Castlemaine, just one week after his Under 23 win at the Mt. Buller National Series.

Norris declined to attribute his recent success, three wins in a row, to more training. "Well, honestly, I have been really busy with my studies at Melbourne Uni and have just been squeezing in rides on my new road and mountain bikes whenever I can. My Discovertasmania.com teammates and I will be traveling down to Tasmania in a week for a training camp."

Norris credited his parents for much of his success. "I have been fortunate enough to have fantastic and very supportive parents, some great coaches and I have recently picked up the help of some mentors in the 'off the bike' area of my career. This year I am stoked to be on the doscovertasmania.com team, and I am extremely grateful to the assistance and the support I get from the coaching staff."

He has noticed the effect of reduced funding of the national mountain bike team from the government, a post-Olympic year problem for many athletes. "It is going to make it difficult to train long and hard most days of the week and race in all the World Cup events, National/State Series events ... when there has is no living allowance or salary for the riders."

Yet, he remained optimistic about his future and has his eye on other sources of funding. "Hopefully, I will be able to secure some personal sponsorships so I can finish my studies and train as hard as I can to take on the world during the World Cup this year."