Spectacular Crankworx Rotorua Downhill contest (+video)

Holding his nerve was the key to Australian Jack Moir winning one of the premier races at this year's Crankworx Rotorua.

Moir powered to victory in the Downhill pro elite race, presented by IXS, beating fellow Australian Mick Hannah who finished second while Elliot Jackson from the USA was third in the thrilling contest this morning.

Moir said he wanted a faster time but was pleased considering the difficult course that caused problems for many of the riders.

"It's hard to know how fast you can go coming into the season so it's good to see my training has paid off," Moir said. "I made a little mistake in the middle but I think everyone did - it was pretty tricky out there. I think you can always have a better run but I'm pretty pleased with my performance overall.

Australian Jack Moir held his nerve to win the Crankworx Rotorua Downhill pro elite race today. Photo/Ben Fraser

Moir, who came second in the Downhill at Crankworx Whistler, Canada, last year added he found recent wet weather affected the track.

"It was super greasy from all the rain and all the roots were real slick so it's hard to put a full run together and I think a lot of guys crashed outm" he said.

"I was aiming for a podium finish, I got second at the Crankworx in Whistler last year so I wanted to go better than that but I'm always happy with a podium because there are so many good guys out there."

Jackson added: "It was difficult out there - I was a little wild on the track and it was a very tough run. But I love this race and I love this track and I'm very happy with my third place - it's so awesome to start the season off with a good result.This is my favourite event of the year, Rotorua is a great place."

Elliot Jackson from the USA was happy with his third place finish in the Crankworx Rotorua Downhill pro elite race. Photo/Ben Fraser

Rotorua's Keegan Wright, still on a high from winning the Crankworx Rotorua Pump Track Challenge on Thursday night, was in second place at one point but fell back in the field after faster times were clocked by following riders.

"My run was alright - it was a little bit messy. I still managed to have lots of fun and it was good out there. I had the extra boost after the pump track performance but I'm pretty tired now, it's been a big week," he said.

Rotorua's Keegan Wright. Photo/File

In the women's pro elite field Australian Tracey Hannah claimed her first win on Rotorua soil after beating Emily Siegenthaler from Switzerland who finished runner-up and Canada's Casey Brown in third.

Austrailian Tracey Hannah claimed her first win in Rotorua in the women's Crankworx Rotorua Downhill pro elite race. Photo/Supplied

Hannah said she was "over the moon" after her fine performance.

"It feels awesome. It's been so hectic all week - it's been wet then it's been dry so the track is pretty hard and it was difficult out there. I'm so stoked because I've never won in Rotorua - I always wanted to but I just didn't quite get there so I'm over the moon," Hannah said.

"I had a really good run, I had to pull it back a little bit because you can't do 110 per cent out there. I had to do 97 per cent. I had a few close calls but nothing bad. I knew if I got through everything smooth I would be in with a chance so I'm super excited."

It was a challenging course for riders in the Crankworx Rotorua Downhill race. Photo/Ben Fraser

Rotorua's Amanda Monk, 26, the only local in the women's field finished outside the top five but was just happy to complete the course after sustaining a shoulder injury yesterday. competing in her third Crankworx.

"I think I broke my shoulder yesterday so I just wanted to get from top to bottom without falling off and have fun," Monk, competing in her third Crankworx said. "I love riding my bike and the track is outstanding. It was real challenging, it's just so physical - you're just muscling your bike around trying to stay up right but it's worth it."

-More to come

Crankworx Rotorua Downhill, presented by IXS results:

Pro Men
1st - Jack Moir
2nd - Mick Hannah
3rd - Elliot Jackson

Pro Women
1st - Tracey Hannah
2nd - Emily Siegenthaler
3rd - Casey Brown

cited.