![\"ccs-62657-0-22290300-1409063832.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-22290300-1409063832.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFollowing a strong display in 2013 Hayley Smith is hoping to replicate that performance in 2014 as she plans the defence of her Scottburgh MTB Race presented by Sappi crown when she sets off from the coastal town on Sunday, 31 August. \/\/ Darren Goddard\/ Gameplan Media.<\/span><\/p>\n The Bell Equipment star has kept a keen eye on the 2014 Scottburgh MTB Race for some time however the Margate resident also seeks to use the race as sound preparation for races further down the line and a defence of her crown would be the ideal confidence boost for her ahead of those.<\/p>\n \u201cMy preparation has been going really well,\u201d said Smith. \u201cThere are a number of big races coming up after Scottburgh and I am hoping to use this weekend as a preparation for the Hill2Hill as well as the Berg and Bush while winning in Scottburgh would be exactly the type of thing I need going into those races.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith has been working hard on getting herself ready for the upcoming races but is of the impression that she needs to get onto the Scottburgh course more in order to be fully prepared for the race when it gets underway on Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cI have been in Durban doing a lot of my training recently which means I haven\u2019t been on the Scottburgh track as much as I would have liked but I am back down the coast now so I will look to get in a few training rides in before the race this weekend!<\/p>\n \u201cAt the moment I\u2019ve just been trying to get a few longer rides in and then a little bit of interval training in between those just to get myself up to speed for the next few weeks because they are going to be quite challenging.<\/p>\n Coming out of the drier winter months, Smith believes the heavy downpour KZN\u2019s South Coast received late last week would have done the course the world of good.<\/p>\n \u201cThe tracks are normally pretty dusty around this time of the year but there was some good rain in the area a few days ago which would have settled that dust nicely and would have compacted the track quite a bit too. This will make riding a lot easier this Sunday!<\/p>\n \u201cRegardless of the nature of the surface, I always look forward to coming back here and racing on this course and I\u2019m really looking forward to getting back out there this weekend,\u201d Smith explained.<\/p>\n