The Mountain Biking Downhill Champion will be crowned this Sunday at Hog Bay Park as organisers have decided to hold both runs of the event on the same day.

In previous years the event has been staged over two separate race days. However, it was decided that this was unfair to those who couldn't make it on one of the days as the times from both runs are added together to determin the lowest combined time.

Favourite status has to lie with last year's winner and course record holder, Peter Matcham, who has won three of the six titles contested since the inception of the sport.

While his cross country season has shown a lack of fitness, that won't matter in a race that's all downhill and lasts about a minute.

Matcham will have to watch out for some other downhill specialists, however, and just one slip up can mean the difference between first and tenth spots.

Dave Padega, Garth Thomson, Neil de St Croix and Alan Reid could all give Matcham a run for his money and junior daredevils Tim Fox and Ricky Sousa Jr could also have the potential to pull off a big surprise. Kyle Smith, last year's runner up in the Downhill competition, might choose to come out of "retirement" for a day to knock Matcham off his throne.

Sunday's two races are also important to the Series standings as both are awarded points like a regular cross country race and it is expected that there will be some substantial swings in the standings.

Racers have to be at Hog Bay Park at 8 a.m. for registration as the first run begins at 8.30 am.