Wright brothers flying State and national flags

Burekup brothers Aiden and Connor Wright have both been selected to represent WA at the 2019 Mountain Bike Australia National Championships in Bright, Victoria, early next month.

“It feels like we have accomplished something big,” Aiden, 12, said.

“I really want to try and get on the podium and represent WA.”

Not only will the boys represent WA, but the whole of Australia when they compete at the 2019 Oceania Mountain Bike Championships at the same venue the following week.

Both regularly finishing second and third during the 2018 State series, they identified each other as their biggest rival but said it was the secret to their training.

“It’s great for training, because your closest rival is always there training with you,” Aiden said.

Connor, 10, said there was an extra level of competitiveness between the pair he really enjoyed and he loved the fact he was racing his brother.

The boys said they often trained five days a week, comprised of four days on the bike and one day of running and both fully intend to go professional with their riding.

“My favourite rider is Nino Schurter,” Connor said.

The Oceania Championships will give the brothers their first taste of professional racing as they will be riding wheel to wheel against the best riders from not only Australia, but New Zealand, Fiji, Guam, Vanuatu, Tahiti and New Caledonia.

Their rapid progress through the ranks did not go unnoticed with both boys recently signed to the Rock n Roll Racing Team, one of WA’s most decorated junior development teams.

“We are so very proud of them,” father Shane Wright said.

“Given the amount of hard work they have put in it’s nice that they are gaining some recognition.”

“I don’t have to force them to train, they’re always asking if we’re going riding and they go anyway if I don’t feel like going.”

The 2019 Mountain Bike Australia National Championships will be held between April 4 and April 7 in Bright, Victoria, immediately followed by the Oceania Mountain Bike Championships which will be held from April 8-10.