Sponsors Update March 2011

It has been an unusual start to the season so far after returning

from the Worlds and going back into a base training phase.

I have seen several of my competitors flying early in the season,

but have stuck to the plan to peak later in the season for the

Sydney round of the World Championships series, which is also

the final race in the Australian Championship Series.

I had a good comeback to racing in February with a 2nd place

finish in the Xosize series enduro race at Elwood. It was a real

ding dong battle with former World Champion Peter Treppo

who just gained a little too much on the second swim for me to

reel him in on the bike and run.

Next up was the first race of the Australian Championship

Series at Geelong, I knew I was a little underdone but hoped for

a podium finish to set me up for the rest of the series.

Unfortunately I got a little off course in the swim as we swam

into the rising sun, but a strong bike and run had me closing on that podium finish before pulling up

just a little short in 4th.

The Victorian Sprint Championships were next and after a week spent tweaky my position on the

awesome Specialized Shiv I recorded the fastest bike split and an overall finish of 3rd.

It seems strange not to have had more wins by this time of the season, but the plan is in place and

every training session and race I am getting quicker. It is also gratifying to know I would have won

the age group below in these races! Plus the only athletes to beat me are former Pro’s or World

Champions so it’s not that bad.

With 2 and 4 weeks to go to my goal races at Mooloolaba

and Sydney I am in good shape and improving rapidly,

now to make that next step in the races.

Thanks to Championship Systems for supplying the best

suit I have ever worn (pictured above and across)

To Top Gear Cycles for their work on my position on the

Shiv, oh what a machine!

Finally to Ryders Eyewear for their awesome new 2011

models including the Nitro, surely Mooloolaba will bring us

the sun we have been missing in Melbourne to properly

test them!

Ciao Michael Pratt