Brook MacDonald Takes 9th Place in Leogang, Laurie Greenland Scores another Podium

With the threat of rain hanging over the technical Leogang track in the Austrian Alps, all four Trek World Racing riders put in solid crash fee runs which resulted in all 3 elite men improving their World Cup ranking, and Laurie Greenland back on the podium for the 5th time in a row since Méribel last year.

In the Elite Men’s race, Brook MacDonald and George Brannigan qualified on almost the same time with the latter having the edge in 11th place, Brook in 12th. Come race day and Brook stormed the track and looked to be in great shape, fastest at the second split, but lost 7 tenths in the bottom sector. He was still very happy with his first top 10 of the year.

George was next up and went faster than Brook at the first split, but a small mistake in the second sector needing to put his foot down a few times, cost George valuable time crossing the line 7 tenths behind Brook and eventually finishing 12th. Brook moves up 4 places in the overall, back into a protected position, while George moves up 3 places to 23rd. Greg Williamson had a run he was happy with to finish 25th, moving his overall ranking up from 52nd to 37th overall.

Brook said, “I’m very happy with that. I know where I lost some time in the bottom, casing a section before the rock garden which stalled me, but overall I had a great bike set-up this week and felt great in my run. There was also a really strong headwind for most of the race that seemed to die down for the last 8 guys, so I know there was some time there.”

Laurie Greenland qualified 2nd Saturday, after injuring his knee in training on Friday. The swelling restricted mobility on Saturday and he rode the qualifier fairly conservatively as no points are at stake. Sunday race day saw his knee back to near 100% and Laurie was ready for a great race. Fastest at the first split Laurie unfortunately lost his chain just prior to the long motorway section and dropped a lot of time in the prevailing headwind. To finish 3rd after that is a great result and keeps Laurie in the points chase for the overall, now in 2nd.

The team heads down the road the Schladming for a European iXS Cup at the classic ex-World Cup venue. The next round of the World Cup is in 2 weeks at the new venue of Lenzerheide, Switzerland.

George Brannigan Defends National Title

In a team 1-2 that saw Trek World Racing’s George Brannigan and Brook MacDonald claim the gold and silver at the New Zealand National Downhill Championships today in Rotorua, the team also saw the continuation of the title staying 'in house'. Since Justin Leov won the title in 2012, Trek World Racing riders have taken their Sessions to the winner’s circle 4 years running.

In a superb run today, George was the only rider to break the three minute barrier on the new course at the Skyline Rotorua Mountain Bike Gravity Park, finishing in 2mins 59.85secs. Brook took second with a 3m 03.35secs with both riders well clear of World Number 5 Sam Blenkinsop in third at 3mins 05.82secs.

George said he didn’t let the fact he was defending champion play on his mind.

“To be honest I just treated it like any other national race because in New Zealand everyone is so laid back, and I think that helped because I didn’t feel any pressure,” said Brannigan.

He also enjoyed the chance to retain his jersey on the new course.

“Everyone had to adapt to this new course, but it’s the style of track I like – fast and rough. Coming down I had a couple of moments, but that’s just natural because the track is so loose, so I was like ‘man I hope I stay on’, and I did.”

Brannigan had earlier set the fastest seeding time, with a 3:00.69 run, nearly five seconds better than his closest rival.

“I got three (minutes) flat in seeding and didn’t pedal too hard, so I knew I could break it (the 3 minute barrier) – so I just pedalled hard and it worked out”.

Both George and Brook take some time off from local racing now to focus on the upcoming events at Crankworx Rotorua at the end of next month.

Trek World Racing Confirms Roster for 2015 Season

Next year sees the UCI Elite Team, Trek World Racing, entering its 7th season on the World Cup circuit and will do so with 4 talented riders returning from 2014. World #9, Brook MacDonald clearly demonstrated that he has returned to form after his shoulder surgery by ending the 2014 season with a great 5th place at the World Championships as well as scoring 2 World Cup podiums in Leogang and Windham. 

Brook is joined by compatriot George Brannigan, the current New Zealand National Champion who showed his growing potential in 2014 with a World Cup podium in Leogang, an 8th in Windham and by seeding 7th at the World Championships. Scottish rider Greg Williamson also returns after his best World Cup season to date. Greg scored two 9th places in Fort William and Méribel and for the 2nd year in a row scored a spot on Team GB for the World Championships.

The three elite riders are joined again by junior phenom Laurie Greenland who will next year race the full Junior World Cup circuit after having a great finish to the 2014 season scoring a silver medal at the World Championships, and his first ever World Cup podium in Méribel.

Neko Mulally has requested to leave the team in order to pursue other opportunities.

For 2015 the team will once again focus on the UCI World Cups as well as selected European events, basing themselves out of France. The team is returning to its usual roster of 4 riders and all will be racing the Shimano/Fox equipped Trek Session 9.9 650B which many times recorded the fastest speeds in the World Cup speed-traps throughout the 2014 season. The Session has scored more than 40 podiums since it starting racing World Cups back in 2009.

Next month sees the start of national racing on the New Zealand calendar with the highlight being the National Championships for Brook MacDonald and George Brannigan on February 14 and 15, a title that has been held by Trek World Racing riders for the past 3 years. This time it will be George Brannigan’s turn to defend the Championship.

With Laurie Greenland moving into the 2015 season carrying the ranking of number 1 junior in the World, and three talented elite riders all capable of World Cup podium results, it will be another strong year for the Trek World Racing program. More news on co-sponsors and new video releases will be announced during the remainder of the off-season.

Brook MacDonald Races to the Podium in Windham

In an exciting and closely fought round 6 of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Windham, USA, Trek World Racing’s Brook MacDonald made his 2nd appearance on the 2014 World Cup podium with a 5th place ride on the fast, rocky and short track. His podium ride also marked the 40th World Cup podium for the Trek Session since the team started; the most successful downhill bike in recent history.

Fellow Kiwi George Brannigan also had a great ride improving on his qualifier to move into the top 10, landing a solid 8th place. The result good enough to launch him into 17th overall giving him protected rider status going into the next round in France.

Local hero Neko Mulally was on a flyer of a run, 3rd fastest at the 1st split and destined for the podium, when unfortunately his front wheel washed out in a blown out berm, and he went down. Amazingly he salvaged the run, finishing with enough points in 25th to move up in the overall standings to 9th.

Greg Williamson also moved up 5 places in the overall standings after his steady ride to 22nd place. After qualifying in the top 20 he was a little disappointed by his conservative run, but learned a lot from the experience.

Unfortunately for Laurie Greenland, the UCI doesn’t afford protected status for the top 10 juniors and so a puncture in qualifying left him out of the finals on Sunday.

Brook said: “Always stoked to get on the podium and now I have two of these under my belt for the season, my confidence has lifted greatly. I feel great on the bike and can’t wait to lift my level even further coming into the next two big events”.

Neko said: “You have to really lay it on the line with a track line this and I was so happy with how I was riding the final. The crash came out of nowhere and I was on the ground before I knew it, but thankfully with my 3rd place qualifier I’ve earned enough points to improve my overall. Keen to take my current form to France for the finals”.

George said: “I had a lot of fun on my run, this track is pretty wild and you have to push it to get a result. Really happy to get protected status and to know I’m riding at a great level at this end of the season”.

The team’s next race is World Cup Round 7 in Méribel, France, on August 22 and 23.

Neko Mulally Takes Personal Record Points Haul At 2013 World Cup Round 3

The third round of the UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup took place in Vallnord, Andorra in front of loud and enthusiastic crowd estimated at around 15,000. Sitting in 3rd place overall coming into this round, Brook MacDonald (NZL) had a difficult week battling a serious shoulder injury that hed incurred a week ago in XC training back home in New Zealand, and only managed 6 complete runs of the course. His team mate Neko Mulally however scored his first ever top 10 in qualifying and backed it up with a solid 16th in the final. This gave the young American 80 points and pushed him up to 15th in the overall standings.

George Brannigan who still races in knee braces following surgery late last year, scored a 29th place, moving him up in the rankings as well to be top 40 for the first time this season. Greg Williamson was impeded in his run when a spectators red backpack was dropped onto the course forcing some evasive action. That, and some personal errors, saw him finish a personally disappointing 33rd.

Neko said after his run: Had a great start but just got a little tight towards the end of the run, but basically achieved what I set out to do. Im happy to move up to 15th and be really close to the guys in front. Mont-Sainte-Anne is the track I look forward to the most all year, so I cant wait for Round 4.

Brook said: My main goal this weekend was to minimize the damage and be 100% for one of my favourite tracks, Mont-Sainte-Anne, in 2 weeks. The shoulder was a lot better today and thanks to my coach and Greg Minnaars Physio, I was able to ride. I kept it smooth and stayed out of trouble but just wasnt able to run at full speed. Im still in the Top 10 overall and I will be chasing points in Canada!

The team will stay on in Andorra for the next 2 days and do some valuable testing, trying out some new things that they plan to have on board for Canada. With 2 riders in the top 15 overall, and all 4 in the top 40, the team is looking forward to the 2nd half of the World Cup season.