WORLD No 3 Troy Brosnan (South Australia) dominated the opening round of the 2017 DHI National Series at Awaba Mountain Bike Park on Sunday, winning the elite men’s section by five seconds.
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Brosnan sped down the challenging 2-kilometre track at Cooranbong in 3 mins 30.91 seconds.
Jake Newell was next best in a time of 3 mins 36 sec, with Jackson Frew third in 3 mins 36.92 sec.
While Brosnan was the main attraction on the final day of competition, there were several other results that got spectators excited on the world-class track.
Dannielle Beecroft (NSW) didn’t hold back in her race run in the elite women’s section.
Beecroft, who won only one round of the series in her comeback year from injury in 2016, was last to head down the course but recorded a winning time of 4 min 19.78 sec, more than seven seconds ahead of Tegan Molloy (NSW) and local veteran Sarah Booth (NSW).
“Yesterday, I was too cautious hanging on the breaks too much and thinking about crashing, but today I let it go and it paid off," Beecroft said on Sunday.
“I certainly didn't think I'd be getting that time for sure."
While time wasn't on Brosnan's mind, it became the talking point of the strong supporter base at the finishing bowl as the South Australian rider clocked a 3 mins 30.19 sec.
“I really didn't think I could go faster but I was pretty stoked with that,” he said.
Jake Newell, of Hunter Mountain Bike Association (HMBA), who had a local cheer squad, hardly had time to get into the hot-seat after his run of 3 mins 36 sec before Brosnan crossed more than six seconds quicker to take the top of the podium ahead of Newell and Jackson Frew (ACT) who was competing in his first elite race.
“I was expecting the rocks to be a bit drier so was a little bit wild in there but was rolling down and having fun and there were a lot of people on the track and everyone cheering on,” Brosnan said.
Reigning national series holder Graeme Mudd (NSW) was forced out through illness on Sunday morning.
The crowd still had plenty of locals to cheer for when HMBA member Patrick Butler, of Brunkerville, lit it up in the junior men, as he laid down the second fastest run overall with a 3 mins 34.16 sec. Butler took the series lead ahead of Joshua Clark (VIC) and Harry Parsons (NSW).
