Reigning world champion wins despite torrential rain

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Current 24-hour solo world champion Jason English said he is on track to defend his world title this year after winning the JetBlack 24 hour Sydney race over the weekend. The 24-hour solo champion, along with 450 other riders, braved torrential rain at Wiseman's Ferry near Sydney, Australia. English completed 28 grueling laps despite organizers, Rocky Trail Entertainment, being forced to shorten the race to 12 hours.

English admitted to being relieved that the race was shortened after the blistering pace set by the lead riders during the first eight hours. The biggest threat came from another New South Wales rider John Blankenstein from Tathra.

"I thought I only had to worry about Shane (Taylor) from Canberra. Luckily he pulled out but John was breathing down my neck," said English.

Blankenstein showed his form uphill while English says he was able to reclaim time on the downhill. "I think having downhill bars just gave me crazy confidence," said English.

When the race was officially restarted on Saturday morning after being halted at 8:00 pm the night before, there were only four hours remaining. English was still not confident of taking the solo win.

"The big thing was that there was only a three minute gap," he explained. That created some pressure for English, whose sponsor was also the sponsor of the race.

With wet conditions, riders were getting grit in their brake pads forcing them to change pads frequently. For English, however, that was starting to look like a problem. "We were changing the pads about every four laps, so we had to get some more." English said only limited pads of the type he uses are available yet in Australia, so his team started ringing bike shops in search of more for him. "Finally they had to get me some sets from the warehouse," said English.

Even after winning the race, English admitted that this close finish was a wake-up call for him.

"John is trained by Mark Fenner. I really am now seriously thinking about getting a coach," he said.

Blankenstein finished second on equal 28 laps but was 18 minutes down on the winning time. Third place went to David Lodenia from Lawson in New South Wales on 25 laps.

The women's race victory was secured by Sydney based rider, Kim Stokeld with 18 laps. Second was Gill Lugg from Canberra with a total of 16 laps, and Phillippa Rostan from Queanbeyan claimed third with 11 laps.

Despite the deluge, teams were sent off in a mass restart on Sunday morning while solo riders were sent out according to their time gaps.

Overall winners were the hotly fancied team of Andrew Fellows and Sean Bekkers from Queensland's Sunshine Coast region with an impressive 29 laps. Second overall was a six rider men's team from Stanwell in New South Wales on equal laps while English recorded third place overall.

The 24-hour race was New South Wales only qualifying race for solo riders for entry into the 24-hour world solo mountain bike championships which will be held outside of the USA and Canada for the first time when they head to Canberra this October.

Australian riders have claimed the World 24-hour solo title only twice before with Craig Gordon in 2006 and James Williamson in 2008.

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