Moab, Utah -- The 2008 mountain bike endurance season reaches its climax October 11-12 with the final of the Suzuki 24 Hour National Point Series, the Galactic Championships, held at the legendary venue of Moab, Utah. Race organizer Laird Knight found this title fitting partly because of the frequent UFO sightings at Behind the Rocks near Moab; the massive turnout for the event; the fact that the event is longer established and the field stronger than any other 24-hour mountain bike race this year - including those that call themselves world championships; and because it has drawn the strongest riders on the 24 Hour circuit.

"Suzuki is very excited to sponsor the Galactic Championships as a part of the 2008 Suzuki 24 Hour National Point Series," said Gene Brown, vice president of marketing and PR for American Suzuki. "An event designed for thrill-seekers, the mountain bike race provides an excellent platform for Suzuki to communicate its 'Way of Life' brand spirit."

Among the dirt warriors assembling to do battle in the Solo Men's category are two-time Olympian and '03 Moab champion, Tinker Juarez (Cannodale-MonaVie), of Downey, California., defending champion Chris Eatough (Trek VW), Ellicott City, Maryland, and an on-form Josh Tostado (Giant), Breckenridge, Colorado.

Eatough and Tostado made history recently with their grueling performance at the 24 Hours of Nine Mile. Tostado led the race for 18 laps, only to be passed and defeated by an out-of-this-world performance from Eatough who hit the front two laps from the end and won by a mere 16 minutes. This is one of the closest known finishes in a solo men's 24 hour race.

"I was at Nine Mile timing the 24 Hours of Nine Mile with Granny Gear's RealTime™ Scoring system. It was an amazing race. I recognized Tostado's potential several years ago but at Nine Mile he announced his arrival by giving Eatough the best run-for-the-money that Eatough has ever had," said Moab race director, Laird Knight.

Chris Eatough is under no illusions about the task ahead, saying: "Nine Mile was a tough race, and Tostado pushed me hard the whole way. There are going to be lots of strong riders and good competitors at Moab. Tinker, for one, has been having a very successful year."

Tostado will arrive in Moab quite possibly still seeing stars after Nine Mile, but very hungry for revenge. Last year at Moab he never hit full warp speed, and quit the race early. This year he will be looking to earn the title of the galaxy's fastest 24-hour mountain biker. Serious bragging rights indeed.

Returning champion Chris Eatough comes to Moab expecting a very tough battle.

Tinker said, "I'm hoping for a good race weekend. With Eatough and Tostado coming out it should be a good battle."

This will be the first time all three are competing against each other at the same time and without a doubt it will be the race of the year.

One dark-horse rider who could well mix it up with these front-runners is 24 hour newcomer, Eric Sullivan of Gunnison, Colorado. Known as a successful adventure racer, ski endurance athlete and erstwhile bar-room pugilist, "Sullie" is looking for a supernova ride that will form him as a new star in the sport.

Vegan Rob Lichtenwalner is setting his gyroscopes on the Suzuki 24 Hour National Point Series Championship, which would make it two years in a row for this salad eating, tofu and hummus gobbling, bunny-hopping machine.

In the women's field, Pua Suwiki (Ellsworth) will beam in from Mililami, Hawaii with the sole intention of claiming the Solo Women's galactic title. After beating several cross country pros to win the American Mountain Classic, and finishing fifth overall in the National Mountain Bike Series, Sawicki looks a worthy challenger for the defending champion, Jari Kirkland, of Crested Butte, Colorado, whose result last year was good enough to take second place in the Solo Men's race behind only Chris Eatough.

Kirkland, 32, has distinguished herself as an adventurer racer in recent years, and in her college years was an All-American swimmer.

This is the first time the two have gone head-to-head in a 24-hour race, and this contest, between the top two names in this branch of the sport, is eagerly awaited.

For the women's Suzuki 24 Hour National Point Series win, look for Liz Baumgardt-Kays who travels halfway across the country from Loves Park, Illinois, in an attempt to clinch a first 24-hour series victory. With series leader Namrita O'Dea unlikely to attend following the sudden withdrawal of her sponsor, Baumgardt-Kays is virtually certain to win the series.

Although unlikely, it is still possible that Eddie and Namrita O'Dea, early leaders in the Suzuki series, will compete. Recently they were informed that their current sponsors are unable to transport them to Moab. Any sponsors wishing to step into the breach stand a good chance of emerging with the series double-shot: both men's and women's solo series contenders.

Among the international entrants are: Let's Roc, a veteran team from London, England, Dan Brennan who is making the voyage all the way from Singapore. Yuki Saito from Japan, Roan Exelby from South Africa, and Leighton Poidevin and Jason Sandquist from Canada.

Who knows what astral travels these riders will experience as they push through a sleep-deprived blur of sand, singletrack and mesas in the terrestrial quest to reach the finish line first? Historically Moab has named the king and queen of the endurance mountain biking world, but now it's gone a large step beyond into the farthest reaches of the galaxy, throughout which it is known that riding with a light heart makes you go faster. Although the Suzuki 24 Hours of Moab will be a knock-down-drag-out kind of race, no one leaves this event with hard feelings.

For 14 years Granny Gear Productions has been making Moab into more than just a race. 4,000 mountain biker racers, support crew and fans will populate a mountain bike tent city that springs up in the desert grazelands that host the event. 400 teams will compete on the epic 15-mile track that winds through the foreboding and beautiful high-desert terrain.

Whether a solo racing machine pushing his/her body to the outer limits, a bike-jousting mechanic attending just for fun, or a parent showing their kids a truly memorable weekend full of cycling excitement, 24 Hours of Moab will deliver for many people in many ways.

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