The mountain bike racing season starts on Sunday at Hog Bay Park with enthusiasm higher than ever.

Reigning open champion, Garth Thomson, will miss the first two races of the season after returning to his native Canada to visit his father who is recovering from major heart surgery.

This leaves the door wide open for former national champion, Neil de ste Croix as well as title hopefuls Dave Padega and Grant Gouge to earn valuable points towards the title.

Despite Thomson’s absence the other open riders are under no illusions as to the scale of the task confronting them.

Said de ste Croix: “Garth is by far the fittest rider out there and has taken his fitness to a new level over the summer taking the national time trial title in the process.”

There will be nine races of which seven count for the Conrad’s National Point Series Championship.

Current indications are that numbers will be higher than last year with an influx of novice and junior riders joining in the series.

In the intermediate division Paulo Maderios has invested in a bike with 29-inch wheels which he hopes will see him take honours.

In the ladies’ division Sheila Ruse has indicated she will be at the start line along with novice Kim Day and Sarah Jordan.

In the junior divisions there will be a close run battle between Tim Fox and Thomas Godfrey for the boys 15/16 title.

Nathan Amaral will once again be racing in the boys 11/12 category providing for an interesting battle with the likes of Mark Godfrey.

Elizabeth Jordan will come under pressure in the ten-and-under girls category with novice Laura Salmon expected to race.

Justin Ferreria dominated in the ten-and-under boys for the last season but novice Lucas Salmon is expected to provide a challenge.

In addition to the regular racing season there will be four races held on Saturdays in December and January for the under-nines to experience mountain bike racing first hand on tailor-made courses.

[bul] The first race of the 2006/7 Conrad’s Mountain Bike series will be held on Sunday starting at 8.30 a.m.

Full details of the upcoming season can be found at www.bermudabicycle.org.