SHAHRIN AMIR TAKES THE CROSS COUNTRY CROWN

PUTRAJAYA - It was Shahrin’s sheer determination which led to his win in the inaugural Putrajaya Challenge 2011 with an impressive time of 1hr29m50s making him the champion in the men’s elite category of the Cross Country event held today at the Putrajaya Challenge Park.

He edged out 4 minutes ahead of second-placed Mohd Rafiuddin Zakaria (01hr33m41s) while Muhammad Raihaan Abd Aziz (01hrs33m58s) claimed third place respectively, both from Brunei Darussalam.

The 27 year old national mountain biker, already had his strategy planned out, he broke free right from the start and kept his pace right to the end. “I was ready to distance myself in the very start and when I reach the technical sections I was very careful because the route is very steep and dangerous.” He said.

‘Today’s race is very challenging, the trail are very technical and considered the best in Asia, competition here is fierce but I was very careful with the other riders.’ added Shahrin.

Shahrin hopes that after his performance he will be chosen to represent Malaysia to compete in bigger events. “My target for sure is to compete in the Sea Games in Indonesia if given a chance, two years ago I was chosen but there were some technical issues to be sorted and right now I will do my best.”

He also commended the organisation for choosing such a great track, “The trail here (Putrajaya Challenge Park) is really great, it’s the best as the training ground for mountain bike.”

The prize-giving ceremony was attended by MR Muhammad Fauzi Ahmad, Region Event and Sponsorship Manager of F&N Beverages Marketing Sdn Bhd who presented the prizes for all the category winners of the cross country event.

Putrajaya Challenge Event Director, En Mohd Nezzam Abd Malek is very happy with the turnout this year. “The number of entries for both downhill and cross country events was very encouraging, over 300 participants is a great start, and I do hope that next year we will have more international riders competing.”

“I would like to thank the sponsors who supported our event and also Putrajaya Municipal Council for preparing such a great location where the organisation and facilities provided is world-class, I hope that mountain bike enthusiasts and fans could come and experience firsthand the challenging route that have been specially created.” He added.

Putrajaya Challenge 2011 is jointly organized by the Putrajaya Cycling Association and Bat’s Creative Sdn Bhd, all the Downhill and Cross Country events are conducted in accordance with the International Cycling Union (UCI) regulations. Sponsors of the event are Fish Castle, Milo, PowerBar, 100 Plus, Gardenia, Shimano, Rodalink, Haslam Food and Beverage, and Wheelsport Management.

AUSTRALIAN DANIEL SPRAGUE IS THE PUTRAJAYA CHALLENGE DOWNHILL CHAMPION

30 April 2011, Putrajaya – After a long hard day or racing, Australian Daniel Sprague of Sonik Racer clocked in the fastest time of 01m 07.420s, making him the winner of the downhill Elite men Category beating Singaporean Tan Hong Chun who was in Second place (01m08.270s) and Adam Ahmed of Malaysia in third place (01m:08.500s).

The 2010 Australian Elite Masters Division BMX Champion was ecstatic when interviewed after the prize-giving ceremony, “I was great to win here, everything came together, the run was pretty smooth and I was quite fast in the sections that I wanted to be so in the end there was a lot of quick guys today and I was just happy to be able to be the fastest.”

With already two wins this year including the recent Red Bull Dark Knights 2011 race in Singapore, Daniel is enjoying his winning streak and hoping that it will continue. “I’ve done a few events, I pick the races that I wanna do, this year I’ve done 3 races, I did the Red Bull Dark knights 2011 race in Singapore and I won that one and had done one in Western Australia - BMX Championships and I had a win there so it’s really good and now I’m backed up with the Putrajaya Challenge, So everything is going really well I’ve won three out of three and I’ve got a couple of races in a couple of weeks in Western Australia, I hope I will do well there. I hope to be back in Malaysia in July and some races in the end of the year back in Australia, I’m hoping that I can keep this going.’

“My winning streak’s been going really well, it’s about time that’s I’ve put together a winning streak again, I’m happy to keep it going if I can.” He added.

Besides that, the inaugural Downhill Champion of Putrajaya Challenge was really impressed with the organisation of the event, “It was an excellent event, really well organized, really good track, they’re trying to get UCI status with this track so it’s a fantastic job that they did.“

With more than 157 riders, including a large number of overseas competitors from around the region competing in seven different categories today. In the finals, there was no stopping the 35-year-old Perth native as he completely out-run his class on the competition with the fastest time and clinching the first ever Putrajaya Challenge Downhill Elite Men title.

The prize-giving was presented by Datuk Naim Mohamad, the deputy president of the Malaysia National Cycling Federation (MNCF) and Mr Maniam Manikkam, vice president of the Malaysia National Cycling Federation (MNCF). The prizes were given out to the top 3 winners of the Downhill events consisting of categories which are Men's Elite, Men's Expert, Women's Sport (10-29 years), Men's Junior (under 18 years), Men's Master A (30-39 years), Men's Master B (40 years old above) and Men's Hard Tail.

On Sunday we will see the Cross Country (XC) events taking place involving the category of Men's Elite, Women's Elite, Men's Open (15-20 years), Junior Veteran (30-39 years) and Veteran (40 years and over).

Putrajaya Challenge 2011 is jointly organized by the Putrajaya Cycling Association and Bat’s Creative Sdn Bhd, all the Downhill and Cross Country events are conducted in accordance with the International Cycling Union (UCI) regulations.

PARTICPANTS FROM NINE COUNTRIES TO COMPETE IN THE INAUGURAL PUTRAJAYA CHALLENGE 2011

29 April 2011, Putrajaya - Participants from nine countries including Malaysia have confirmed their entries in the inaugural Putrajaya Challenge 2011 mountain bike race which will be held over two days from April 30 to May 1.

Among the countries which have confirmed their entries includes Malaysia as the host, United States (USA), Canada, Thailand, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Brunei and Indonesia. Putrajaya Challenge 2011 is a mountain bike race which is increasingly gaining popularity in this country and throughout Southeast Asia, it will be held in Putrajaya Challenge Park, Precinct 5 starting at eight in the morning.

It is also the second of six rounds in the 'MTB Downhill Super Series', which is listed in the annual calendar of Malaysia Downhill Association (MDHA). Putrajaya Challenge which runs for two days will have two events of Downhill and Cross Country covering13 categories.

On the first day, there will be Downhill events consists of categories which are Men's Elite, Men's Expert, Women's Sport (10-29 years), Men's Junior (under 18 years), Men's Master A (30-39 years), Men's Master B (40 years old above) and Men's Hard Tail.

While on the second day, the Cross Country events will take place involving the category of Men's Elite, Women's Elite, Men's Open (15-20 years), Junior Veteran (30-39 years) and Veteran (40 years and over).

Apart from international riders, two renowned national riders, Suhardi Hassan and Anuar Manan, will also provide competition in the Men's Elite category in the Cross Country event which will be held on the second day. The winners in each category will receive prizes including cash and trophies. Not only that, there’s also a Lucky Draw for participants and spectators.

In additions to that, spectators can also visit the sponsors’ promotion and exhibition booths to ensure that the annual event attracts many people especially the youth. The event jointly organized by the Putrajaya Cycling Association and Bat’s Creative Sdn Bhd will be conducted in accordance with the International Cycling Union (UCI) regulations.

Together as the sponsor of Putrajaya Challenge 2011 are Fish Castle, Milo, PowerBar, 100 Plus, Gardenia, Shimano, Rodalink, Haslam Food and Beverage, and Wheelsport Management.

In the meantime, the organizers wishes to see this event held annually, progressing further and hope that Putrajaya Challenge can be included in the UCI Mountain Bike Calendar in the near future.

"We hope that one day; this event will be included in the UCI Mountain Bike calendar and also attract more participation from foreign countries."We are confident that with these events, will attract young people to participate in this mountain bike races, adding more riders of the best in their categories to represent the country in the near future," said organizers.