Local Hero Predicted to take out Motatapu Mountain Bike Title

Motatapu Race Director, Gemma Boyle, is predicting a local to win the prestigious 2012 Motatapu Speight?s Summit Mountain Bike men?s title for the first time in the event?s history.
 

“Winning the Motatapu has proved an elusive title with only three men?s winners in the seven years the event has been run, and four winners in the women?s field”, Gemma Boyle says.

Gemma says local Queenstown legend, Mark Williams (Willy), has finished inside the top ten every year for the last five years.

“Mark has been training hard for the Cape Epic race in South Africa and recent races show he is peaking nicely for Motatapu coming up on March 10th. With his experience on the course we are picking him for a win, especially with the Oceania Mountain Bike championships clashing with the Motatapu this year.”

Mark Williams says while he?d like to race the Oceania Championships, he loves Motatapu and considers the race as the same level of competition as the Oceania race.

“With some of the boys being away at the Oceania, it leaves a few podium spots,” he says, “I should have a good shot at one of those podium positions.”

Mark sees Brent Miller from Christchurch as his main competition and reports that Brent has openly stated he wants a shot at the record. Brent was just over a minute faster than Mark at the 2011 event.

“With the track hard and fast this year with the dry weather we?ve been having, we should have a crack at the record time,” Mark says. “While it will be hard to beat Anton?s time (1:48:43), with a hard track and favourable winds we should be in with a shot,” he says.

Mark will also be riding his weapon of choice, a 29 inch mountain bike, which he says will be faster over the Motatapu course.

As an added incentive, Gemma Boyle reports there is a special prize for anyone who breaks the course record this year.

“The women?s race looks wide open as well,” Gemma says, with her pick being Kate Fluker from Dunedin.

There are also a few women who could challenge Kate with former Coast to Coast Champion, Emily Miazga, lining up for her second Motatapu.

Other events held in conjunction with the Motatapu Speight?s Summit mountain bike on March 10th 2012 include; the R&R Sport Adventure Run, Icebreaker Off-Road Marathon, Arrowtown.com 15km Miners Trail and XTERRA UDC Finance Triathlon.
 

Mark Williams (Willy) racing at the 2011 Motatapu event. Photo credit MM Pro.