North has only competed in two Bathurst events this season, winning both – the grand prix inter-club meet and the handicap.

The Australia Day race consists of a 300-metre swim, 17-kilometre ride and 2.5-kilometre run.

North knows there are a lot of young juniors more than capable of taking out the public holiday race.

“Josh Stapley is a junior who has been competing very well in the senior competition and he and others pushed me in races last year,” he said.

“This race is a shorter one, it suits the juniors, and I am expecting it to be close.

“Racing on Australia Day will be fun and it is always fun to compete against locals.”

North has been preparing for the national qualifying series with the goal of competing in New Zealand in the world championships in September (where the course is a 1.5km swim, 40km ride and 10km run).

His first race was in Canberra in December, where he finished third in his age group and sixth overall.

“Placing in the top three gives you pretty good points, so I was happy with my performance in Canberra,” North said.

“I am fairly confident I can get selected and when I go to Geelong in February I am hoping again for a top five finish in my age group.”

The national series consists of five races; North is only planning on missing one.

“There is a race in Perth this weekend, then one in Geelong on February 12, then Devonport, and it finishes in Sydney.

“Hopefully I will perform well enough to make the worlds, because that is my goal for this year.”

North has competed at the worlds before, in 2009. What he didn’t know at the time was he was carrying swine flu.

He competed and came 20th, but, after a break, found he could not get back into training.

“The national series is a lot longer than the upcoming Bathurst race and I do think a lot of people will come and compete,” North said.

“This is more of a sprint series and it will be good to race and then enjoy the public holiday Australia Day.”