2008 HPV Secondary Contenders & Challengers

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Past Energy Breakthrough participant Nigel Preston takes a look at the contenders for line honours in the
Secondary HPV 24-hour trial in 2008. Sure, we could see a 'smoky' come from the pack, but we think
these will be the schools at the pointy end this year, along with some interstate and international flavour.

The Defending Champs
	Highview Christian Community College 2007: Winners [Delila] The defending champs have the home town advantage and finally broke through in 2007. Will they have a new slippery shape too?
The Challengers
	Bendigo Senior Secondary College 2007: 2nd Overall [Qui Patitur Vincet] Consistently strong since 2000, having crossed the line first in 2000, 01, 02, 05 and 06, with full carbon fibre rigs. Do they have the package quick and reliable enough to do the business in 2008?
	Maryborough Education Centre 2007: 3rd Overall [Run-A-Muk] Local knowledge and consistently quick trikes make this squad hard to ignore. Can they catch Highview & BSSC?
	Padua College 2007 Result: 11th Overall [XLR8] Don’t think XLR8 or Surge, think all new, low and narrow. This crew was sidelined on the Waiting List until recently, but now have the green flag.
The Outsiders
	Berwick SC 2007: 4th Overall | Winners of the 24hr Trial in 2003-04. A team on the rebound who recently featured on Coxy's Big Break. They’ve parked the ‘FireTruck’ as they aim to clean up their on-track image and their new Nagari went ok in Murray Bridge. Can they take the next step?
	Flora Hill SC 2007: 5th Overall, 1st in B Class [Sardine Extreme] They’ve got the super-canopy (inspired by the North-South Superpipe) and the dedication, carbon-fibre technology and riders to put in a strong showing. As Year 9s and 10s, age might be their biggest challenge.
	Kingswood College 2007: 7th Overall They’ve their EVO VII rig at RMIT after finishing 7th last year could push up to a podium. (Read a recent article about Kingswood College)
	Weeroona College 2007: 13th Overall The same aero shape as the AIPP winner Tru-Blu, which cracked 1,000 km in September. Can these younger riders rise to the challenge?
	Woodleigh College A smokey for line honours after a strong showing with Helter Skelter in Murray Bridge
The Interstaters
	Rosny College (TAS) Crossing Bass Strait for another time is Rosny College from Tasmania. They have who have been getting elbow deep into the composite materials all year and will be unveiling a new vehicle for 2008.
	Springwood State High School (QLD) For the second year a highly placed team from the Maryborough Technology Challenge in Queensland is travelling south for spring. Springwood are a reliable and speedy outfit and will be camping and sharing pits with Parade College.
The Internationals
	Team Pecos - New Mexico (USA) On Debut As no doubt you're aware by now, Team Pecos from New Mexico in the USA will be joining the Breakthrough field this year. They're not expecting to be battling for the title, having only seen and ridden their first HPV when Greenspeed's USA outlet delivered them a training vehicle recently. Weeroona College will be supporting the team with pre-race training, billeting and a race vehicle. Special thanks to Weeroona College, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Victoria and Rays Outdoors for their support of the Team Pecos campaign.

Article written by Nigel Preston, Nov 2008. The references to the 2007 positions refer to the number of laps completed, not the combined total of Display Presentation, Design & Construction and Trial points. See the Judging section for more info. Views expressed here are only of the author and not those of the RACV Energy Breakthrough Planning Committee Images courtesy of Nola Tidyman and the RACV Energy Breakthrough.