Sam has also been off around the globe flying from Whistler, down to Cairns then back up to Finale. He’s racked up some serious air time and will have been distracted with the downhill racing circus – all the while Dailly has been training with one goal in mind.

However, this isn’t a straight fight. Sam doesn’t need to beat Dailly outright to still claim the EWS crown. If Sam finishes fourth or better, there’s nothing Dailly can do to stop him. If he finishes fifth and Dailly wins, then the pair will tie and Sam will have to conceded the title due to Dailly’s better win record.

Here’s some scenarios we think might happen. If:

• Dailly wins – Hill must finish fourth or better
• Dailly comes second – Sam must finish ninth or better
• Dailly comes third – Sam must come 12th or better
• Dailly comes fourth or worse -Sam must finish within ten places of him

Last time out here Sam came tenth and Dailly put in a time good enough for fifth. Does this mean anything? Does it bollocks. You can postulate and stipulate all day but the fact remains that this eight-month battle of downhill purebred and enduro upstart could still go either way.