This weekend sees the final round of the British Mountain Bike Series takes place at the spiritual home of UK cross-country racing – Newnham Park, Plymouth.

A new course has been sculpted by local trail builders Jay and Maddie Horton, and will provide a fitting test to decide the overall series champions.

As a UCI category two race, this will provide the last opportunity, this season, for British-based riders to pick up ranking points and help them on their journey to London 2012.

British champions Annie Last and Liam Killeen are both entered, but with men’s series leader Oli Beckingsale out injured the elite title should come down to a fight between Scottish champion Dave Henderson, compatriot GT team-mate Gareth Montgomerie and English duo Dave Collins and Seb Batchelor.

The elite women’s event is also wide open, with the winner being either Irish, German, English or Welsh as Cait Elliot, Mel Spath, Maddie Horton and Mel Alexander battle it out.

Last round attendance is mandatory for series podiums so the age and ability categories have a multitude of winning options.

In the junior men’s field, Matt Sumpton is leading the series but suffered an injury at the World Championships and may not recover in time, and, with Grant Ferguson not entered, the winner should come from deeper in the pack. The junior women’s title looks like a winner-takes-all shootout between Beth Crumpton and Katy Winton.

The battle for elite qualification ensures the expert races at the last round are always hotly contested. Lee Westwood looks to have the male title secured but four riders could win the female category, with elite level status for 2012 the prize.

Youth, juvenile and masters racing will complete a packed cross-country schedule, while in addition to the XC action, there will also be a floodlit cyclo-cross race in the evening.

What’s more, to celebrate seven years of putting on the British Mountain Bike Series, the organisers are planning an end-of-season party with a live band to say farewell after a long season. Spectating is free and camping is available on site.

Visit www.britishxc.com for more information or head to www.xcracer.com to enter.