Sue Haywood (Trek-VW) and Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) won their respective time trials on Friday as round two of the Shimano NORBA National Mountain Bike Series got under way outside Fountain Hills, Arizona.

The twisting, 8.2-mile loop at McDowell Mountain Regional Park featured short climbs and steep switchbacks. Haywood stopped the clock at 32:09, just 15 seconds quicker than Willow Koerber (Subaru-Gary Fisher). Luna racers - Katerina Hanusova, Alison Dunlap and Shonny Vanlandingham – snagged the next three spots.

In the men’s race, Kabush collected his second NORBA time-trial victory of the season in 27.47, followed a half-minute later by Adam Craig (Giant) and a further five seconds later by Aussie Trent Lowe (Subaru-Gary Fisher). Lowe’s teammate, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, came in fourth, with Liam Killeen (Specialized) rounding out the top five.

On Thursday, Chris Eatough (Trek-VW) and Melissa Thomas (Tokyo Joe’s) rode to victory in the 81-mile marathon, run on three laps of a 27-mile circuit blending a variety of desert terrain.

Eatough finished in 4:51:11, well ahead of Ian Stanford (Nature Valley) and Jay Henry (Ford-Specialized). Thomas won in even more dominant fashion, crossing in 5:34:20, nearly 13 minutes up on Melissa Thomas (Tokyo Joe’s) and a full 25 minutes ahead of Marla Streb (Luna).

Racing continues Saturday with the short track and concludes Sunday with the cross country.

Shimano NORBA National Mountain Bike Series
McDowell Mountain Park
Fountain Hills, AZ. March 17-20

Time trial
Men
1. Geoff Kabush (Can), Maxxis, 27:47
2. Adam Craig, Giant, at 0:30
3. Trent Lowe (Aus), Subaru-Gary Fisher, at 0:35
4. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Subaru-Gary Fisher, at 0:37
5. Liam Killeen (GB), Specialized, at 0:42

Women
1. Susan Haywood, Trek-VW, 32:09
2. Willow Koerber, Subaru-Gary Fisher, at 0:15
3. Katerina Hanusova (Cze), Luna, at 0:18
4. Alison Dunlap, Luna, at 0:21
5. Shonny Vanlandingham, Luna, at 0:22

Marathon
Men
1. Chris Eatough, Trek-VW, 4:51:11
2. Ian Stanford, Nature Valley, at 7:25
3. Jay Henry, Ford-Specialized, at 12:40
4. Mike Jannell, Tokyo Joe’s, at 13:09
5. Todd Helmuth, Trek, at 15:20

Women
1. Melissa Thomas, Tokyo Joe’s, 5:34:203. Marla Streb, Luna, 25:41
4. Jennifer Bennett, Titus, at 49:41