Top cyclist MacInnis Looby leaves the Island today bound for England where he will step up his campaign to qualify for July's Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

And while the tall, powerful rider is in another country, he is under no illusions that he will also be in `another world' in cycling terms, having entered one of the three top races staged in Britain - the Archer International Grand Prix.

Racing over a hilly, 118 mile course in Middlesex in the south of England on Sunday morning, Looby will line up with 100 other riders, including all of the top British racers as well as teams from Denmark, Holland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and Australia.

No stranger to international competition, Looby fully appreciates the task ahead, but says he is not intimidated by the quality of the field.

"I am looking forward to racing those guys over there," he said. "I hadn't really planned to do such a high profile race so early, I wanted to work my way in. But if I can qualify this early it will help. I am hoping to get in a lot of quality racing in England."

Having dominated the local mountain bike race season this year, and following on the heels of two impressive results on the road in the past three weeks which saw him ride to solo victories, the 32-year-old Bermudian is happy with his fitness and dismisses the effects of a crash sustained in last week's race at Southside.

"I am really pleased with my condition right now. I have put in the miles and am feeling very strong. Hopefully it will be enough for the level of racing over there (England). I am not worried about the crash last week, I have some road rash but it's all part of racing."

Looby has represented Bermuda previously at the Small Countries World Championship in Cuba, the CAC Games in Uruguay, the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia and last year was part of the team in China at the `B' World Championships.

He believes Bermuda cycling is now at a new level.

"We had Elliot (Hubbard), who was at a different level, but now we have three or four riders who on any given day can ride well enough to be a factor," he said. "I'm not saying we will win a medal at Commonwealth but we are all riding at a similar level so that we can work as a team."

Acknowledging Kris Hedges as the top rider for Bermuda at this time, Looby was quick to add that there was a close relationship between the riders on the team, with everyone prepared to work together.

"If we get to Commonwealth, I am more than happy to be a lieutenant for Kris. I know my strengths and if I can help him into a position to be there at the end, then I will do all I can to make it happen," he said.

Putting the team above his own ambitions, he added: "Some people might ask why I don't just ride for myself, but we are all riding for Bermuda. If we did win a medal, we all know it would be the team, not one rider."

As focused as he is on this weekend's event, and as much as he realises the importance of it to his cycling ambitions, there will be a more important thing on his mind.

Being in Bermuda to work and deal with family matters has meant being away from his wife, Marcia, and daughter Imani since January.

Looby adds: "It has been really hard being away from home. Marcia is very understanding of my cycling goals but it hasn't been easy. Imani is two on the April 19 and I need to be with them then."