Early on Saturday, the field of more than 1700 lined the streets of Apollo Bay for the start of one of the toughest events on the calendar. With the strongest field ever assembled for a 100km MTB event in Australia, the race for top honours was on from the gun.

After the 1^st hour spent climbing the steep tracks, the field had already split - five times Aussie XC champ Sid Taberlay and Matt Fleming (Clarence Street Cycles) were off the front. Perennial ROCKSTAR Craig Gordon and Lachlan Norris (Drapac Porsche) were close behind.

By the 50km mark positions at the front had changed, Taberlay had a puncture and the 3 remaining riders had been joined by local rider Adrian Jackson. Reaching the final feed zone at 87km, the leaders had begun to test each other. Jackson came through with a 2 minute gap on Norris, with Craig Gordon another minute behind. 

After 4hours 45 mins Jackson crossed the line to take the win with Norris and Gordon taking 2^nd and 3^rd soon after. 

New ROCKSTAR team rider Shaun Lewis finished a solid 7^th after an early crash damaged his bike (and his chances of a podium). 

The “big man” in the field ROCKSTAR Troy Glennan (198cm tall) continues to impress, finishing 11^th overall after completing over 3000 metres of climbing throughout the day.

“The team went exceptionally well today considering they have never ridden these trails. It was great to see other strong teams out there; however it was even more pleasing that the ROCKSTAR team proved to be the strongest”. Team Manager Dwight Woodforth.The team will now focus on the National Marathon Champs to be held at Avoca in April.

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On a warm, sunny Sunday in the Southern Highlands of NSW, a field of 1600 mountain bikers lined up for the start of the 2009 Highland Fling. An event that’s popularity had seen it sold out in 5 hours. 

An impressive field of Elite riders (including past and present world champions) exploded from the line as the gun went off at 8 am.  

It didn’t take long for the action to start. Clarence Street Cyclery rider (and occasional ROCKSTAR RACING team member) Matt Fleming broke a chain 1km into the race and worked hard to get back on to the field. ROCKSTAR Hamish Elliot was the next to suffer with 2 punctures in the first 10km. 

At the front of the field a war of attrition was unfolding. As the Elites hit the 50km mark, the furious pace was taking its toll. At the climbs at 70 km, it was ROCKSTAR Hamish Elliot who had caught the field and then attacked! As he reached the summit of the major climb, his job was done and he passed the lead over to fellow ROCKSTAR Craig Gordon.  

As the front runners hit the final feed zone at 80km, Craig turned up the heat and was never beaten, winning the 110km event in 4hrs and 16 minutes.  

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With the best support seen at a 24 hour race in this country; a couple of Toyota RAV4's stickered up and an awesome team, we made a statement from the moment we arrived.  

We were here to WIN. If not, we were gonna fight for it – big time! 

The trip to Stromlo Forest was one that I won’t forget, with cameras rolling the whole way down the highway on Friday. When we got there, Toyota rally driver Neal Bates, (what a legend!) was kind enough to take us for a spin in one of his rally cars. Actually to say a spin is a lie, it was something that I am still struggling to describe. I am in total awe of what that man could with a car! A bit like what the boys and I like to do in the singletrack – except Neil had an extra 400 horsepower! 

After this little diversion, we were back to Stromlo in the Toyota RAV4's to hit up a lap of the course, hoping for grippy conditions as there had been some rain. It wasn’t to be, with only patchy puddles littering the course. As always, the CORC crew threw in some new trails and a few of the usual suspects. No great surprises then, so we packed up and head back to our accommodation for dinner. Feeling confident. 

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