Wardija will play host to the Malta Mountain Bike Downhill National Point Series season-opener on Saturday afternoon.

The scenic plateau will provide the perfect setting for a fast flowing trail which leads to speeds of up to 50km per hour for the most adventurous and adrenaline-seeking riders.

This year, the course will see the introduction of enhanced features along the trail with jumps, beams and drops.

In order to give this category of mountain biking the focus it deserves, the association set up a sub-committee that is focusing its entire efforts towards the growth of the sport.

The team have been working on developing and introducing a new race format. This year new categories have been launched together with some changes to the rules. A new timing system will allow spectators to obtain live updates along the course.

“Our downhill trail has seen some major upgrades, maintaining its technical nature and also making it safer for riders of all levels, the route has some great spots for spectators and we expect to see some great racing and increased participation this year,” Pierre Zammit Endrich, Malta Mountain Bike Association president, said.

Cyclists are eligible to take part in any of the six available categories – Ladies Open, Elite, Men, Masters (40+), Juniors and HardTail. The latter race is open for riders aged 19 and over. Those competing in this category must be doing so on a HardTail bike.

Series winners will be determined after all four races have been completed. Cyclists will be allowed one discard which will remove the competitor’s worst result on the day.

Saturday’s race at Wardija starts at 2pm.