“We did some timed testing with a few different bikes in Whistler and straight out of the box the Polygon was a couple of seconds faster than the other bikes we rode. We had a few good options to pick from, but for me it was simple – we put the clock on and this one was fastest. So that’s the one I chose. In the last couple of weeks I’ve been riding the bike a lot and its getting better and better. It seems like I have always been racing single pivot bikes, this is the first virtual pivot linkage bike I guess. It’s a different feel, but so far I’m liking it. Now I feel like I’m only limited by the strength I have and not by the bike. It’s not close to a final race setup yet, I do have my fork set–up the same as last year, but there’s a lot of tuning to do on the shock still. So far it’s amazing. I felt comfortable and confident right from the first few days.” He says.

So a new bike and fresh enthusiasm from Mick, with a solid off–season behind him, he is looking forward to 2013: “This year, World Champs in Pietermaritzburg is definitely on my mind. I blew my knee out at Christmas 2011 and I could do nothing for two months, then I had surgery and 3 weeks later I got third at the Pietermaritzburg World Cup, so even when I’m not in good condition I seem to be fast there. It’s going to be busy with Mont St Anne and Crankworks before Worlds, and the mental side of things will be important, maybe some experience could help me a little there.”

2012 started well for Tracey with a win at Pietermaritzburg, and a secomd place at Windham. She was running fourth overall coming into round 6 at Val d’Isere, but she crashed and broke her femur, missing the rest of the year. Since then she has been working hard on her recovery and return to racing for 2013.

This is Holly’s first trip with her new team, and talk about jumping in at the deep end. Flying most of the way round the planet to a crazy place with strange food, to spend a hectic week with a bunch of people you have never met before. After her amazing result in Leogang last year, there is no real pressure on Holly this year. It’s all about learning how to survive a full season of World Cup travelling and racing and still be able to come up with your best riding when it counts. The rest of the team are happy to have her along, especially Tracey – “It’s good to have another girl now, with Holly on the team. She’s very girly! She takes a very long time in the shower! But then sometimes she’s very mature for her age and its easy to forget she’s just 17. But I think we can help each other a lot.”

At the end of our seven–day Indonesia odyssey, we had spent countless hours together in crazy traffic, shared unidentifiable food and been collectively puzzled by the exotic culture. Heading our separate ways at the airport, there was a family feel to the whole thing – not just a bunch of riders with the same race–kit. Next stop for the team was their first race at the Australian Nationals in Canberra “I haven’t decided if I will race the Nationals next week, because I don’t like losing! But I’ll probably race anyway. Even if it’s just to get the first one out of the way!” said Tracey.

Mick had been looking forward to the race, but had taken a few knocks during our week of riding and testing in Indonesia. “I’ve been training hard and looking forward to the National Champs next weekend. It’s a long off–season this year and it’s nice to have Nationals and Sea Otter to aim for. But I did hurt my shoulder a bit yesterday, I’m not sure how bad it is yet but it would be a shame to miss the Nationals.”

To be honest I felt a bit guilty about his shoulder too – after asking for a few extra tries at an awkward photo set–up. But it turns out things came together quite nicely, Tracey and Mick both won and are now the 2013 Australian National Champions, a pretty good boost for the rest of the year, and a relief for this photographer!