ON YA BIKES: Central West Off Road Bike Club members (from left) Gus Tobin, Kate Heynes, Janet Martin, Christine Willis, Rodney Farrell, Steve Martin, Thomas Carroll and Grant Dowell are counting down to Sunday’s Ginja Ninja 250. Photo: JUDE KEOGH
RIDERS from the Central West are expected to push some of the top endurance competitors in the world at Sunday’s Ginja Ninja 250.
This is the second time the Central West Off Road Bike Club has held the endurance event after a successful inaugural competition in 2012.
Organiser Rod Farrell expects around 200 riders to line up for Sunday’s event, with world champion Jason English a potential starter.
The event has competitors, in solo and pairs categories, complete as many laps of the Kinross State Forest track as possible in 250 minutes.
Last year, former world champion Craig Gordon took out the overall title completing 13 laps in four hours and 31 minutes, but Gordon is not trying to defend his title.
Farrell said if English lines up on Sunday, there will be plenty of competitors looking to keep him in their sights.
“Hopefully Jason will be here so that will give all the locals and everyone who turns up a chance to make all things relative,” Farrell said.
“Paul Schroder from Dubbo, I think he’ll go really well in the solo event. Unfortunately Dan Watson from Bathurst has been sick so he’s had to swap out from the solo to the pairs. Those guys can really stick it to Jason English. They keep them really honest.”
Orange’s Janet Martin took out the women’s solo title last year and she’s back to defend it this weekend.
Fellow Orange rider Kate Heynes will be pushing Martin but Farrell said the ladies may not have it all their own way.
“The Orange women always represent well in endurance mountain biking and this weekend should be no different,” he said.
“There are a few women coming in from out of town which means the women’s solo will be really hotly contested.”
The Ginja Ninja 250 track has had a couple of changes since the 2012 event and is now around 8km long.
Farrell said it should provide a great ride for all competitors.
“I think our tracks have a great name, particularly our race tracks have a good amount of reward for hard work,” Farrell explained.
“Kinross (State Forest) has a number of levels technically, but it’s also quite hilly, so there’s a fair amount of effort involved. Anyone who wants to come out and have a go will have a blast on the downhills and there’s a lot of features out there that are exhilarating.”
Entries , which are open until Friday, can be made online at www.rocketon2wheels.com.
Sign on is from 2pm on Saturday at Kinross State Forest.
Sunday’s race starts at 10am and spectators are welcome.
Anyone who wants to get on their bike before Sunday can participate in the club’s ride at Kinross State Forest on Thursday, starting at 6.30pm.