May 6, 2007 (Fontana, California) — The pro men and women will race the NMBS #3 Short Track event this afternoon in Fontana, CA. The Short Track follows the first and last couple hundred meters of the cross country course used yesterday. The fast start transitions into a steep climb up a four cross course before sending riders down what course organizers claim to be the “most challenging descent ever on a national short track course”. Lap times are expected to be 2 minutes or less and riders will do 20-25 minutes +2 laps.

The women’s start is at 3:15pm PST followed by the men at 4:00pm. In the womentes race the Luna Chix team will be looking for a podium sweep, but they’ll have new challengers this weekend from experienced Short Track racers such as Sue Haywood and Alison Sydor. The Subaru Gary-Fisher squad (Koerber and Irmiger) as well as Giant rider Kelli Emmet and Canadians Wendy Simms (Kona) and Catharine Pendrel (Norco) will also be looking to dethrone the blue train of team Luna.

On the men’s side you can expect the top-5 men from yesterday’s race (Kabush, Trebon, JHK, Wells, Wicks) to be leading the Short track. Canucks Kris Sneddon (Kona) and Max (Rocky Mountain-Haywood will also be strong podium contenders. Plaxton, who won the NMBS short track #2 event last weekend was derailed in yesterday’s men’s xc event during the first lap by a mechanical but rode strong through the field to finish 8th.