Trek World Racing Make It a 1-2 At The 2012 Mountain Creek Pro GRT

Last weekend and this coming weekend sees back to back rounds of the Pro GRT on the East Coast of the USA, which all three DH riders from Trek World Racing are supporting. Yesterday saw the riders at Mountain Creek, at Vernon, New Jersey, home of the former US Open, and now the new Mountain Creek Bike Park which Aaron Gwin had the honor of officially opening on Saturday.

The event still carries a great prize purse and the fans are always vocal and big in number. Aaron qualified fastest on Saturday with a 2m 13secs, but Neko Mulally was a non-starter after injuring his ankle in a training incident. Perhaps best characterized as a serious sprain, the injury means that Neko was best to opt out of racing until he can put his weight back on the foot, most likely next week. Here's what he said:

"I stuffed my foot into the ground and twisted my ankle pretty bad. My foot slipped off the front of my pedal and planted onto the ground and then my pedal hit the back of my calf and caused my ankle to hyper-extend. I plan to keep the weight off it and the doctor says it should feel better in a few days. The goal is to be 100% ready for Val di Sole (Italy, World Cup #2), and I'm going to be as smart as I can to make sure that happens. It sucks, I didn't even crash, I just slipped a pedal following Justin. I didn't even lose speed but I just couldn't put weight on it when I got it back on the pedal."

The remaining two riders took to the final and in the super-hot conditions, staying well hydrated was key to getting a great run in. Aaron bettered his qualifier by 3 seconds to tak e the win in 2m 10secs, and now leads the series. Justin Leov took second with a 2m 14secs, making it a great 1-2 for the team.

Aaron said: "It was a fun weekend here in Vernon. I rode well today and I felt good. It's all building towards Italy and each time I race I feel better and better."

Justin said: "My run was good, after having a 'near season ender' in seeding yesterday, today was all about just having a solid top to bottom run and I achieved that. I will continue to build next week and should be on key for Italy."

The downhillers go to Plattekill, New York for the next round this weekend. Neko will decide on Friday whether or not he needs to race on the weekend.

More info on the Pro GRT series available here:

http://www.usacycling.org/progrt

Ian Morrison And Steve Smith

World Cup racing takes DGR ripper Stevie Smith far afield. He’s sampled Pisco in Chile, kangaroo in Australia, explored game reserves in South Africa, seen the fjords of New Zealand, and crisscrossed Europe from boot to mullet. While abroad, Stevie constantly hears about all the amazing riding at home, in British Columbia. Early in the 2012 season during Devinci Global Racing team discussions, he mentioned B.C.’s epic terrain and trying to sneak in some sample time. 

Because there is no time like the present to re-experience B.C.—and with a one-month break in the World Cup schedule—it was on. Springtime in Pemberton is the time. Tacky hero dirt is out and ready to be hit before it expires and desert-like conditions sink their teeth in for summer. 

With Whistler Bike Park opening on the Canadian May long weekend, local shredder and Devinci ambassador, Ian Morrison, was looking to sharpen his skills—preparing to wreck dreams in the upcoming Wednesday beer league races. Ian is known as the “scrub master.” He finished 6th in the 2011 Crankworx A-line event, solidifying his reputation as a force. At home he’s a style-driven rider focused on beer league race scene domination… and holding his own at one of Gold's famous GLC after parties. When Ian was asked to do some early-season riding with Stevie, it was time to detonate the bomb. 

Some words from Mikey Goldstein at Goldstein Productions: 

I met Ian Morrison close to 10 years ago working at a golf course together in Whistler. There was never a dull day. Ian found countless ways to turn tedious tasks into fun. He hasn’t changed since. Shooting with Ian and Stevie was hands down the best time I’ve had shooting yet. Stevie may be one of the top racers in the world, but stick him with Ian and just like any young guys in their early 20s, they can't pass up the chance to roll a big rock down a hill. We all knew that Devinci’s Gabe Fox always wants to see the footage as soon as possible… of course we had to mess with him a bit. While shooting, we decided to make our own joke version of a rough cut for Gabe to preview, and got him good. 

$10,000 Up For Grabs AT The 2012 POC Eastern States Cup Pro GRT's

The POC Eastern States Cup is kicking off the DH MTB Race Season with two USA Cycling Pro GRT Series races. The Mountain Creek Spring Classic, May 17-20 and the Plattekill FOX RACING SHOX Gravity Open, May 24-27. The two bike parks have doubled the Pro GRT Pro Purse to $5000 at each race. The Pro GRT is the only national series recognized by USA Cycling. The races are USAC World Team Qualifiers for Pros and Juniors, the competition among the fastest DH racers in the USA will be fierce.

Amateurs will get a chance to race on the same course as many national and international world cup regulars including the 2012 World Cup Champion, American Aaron Gwin. Gwin will be the Master of Ceremonies at the Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Saturday at 9AM at the new Mountain Creek Bike Park. Mountain Creek is celebrating with a Saturday pre race rock concert featuring the “Misfits” and two other nation bands.

The POC Eastern States Cup is proudly offering 5 USAC State Championships and the USAC Eastern Regional Championship. The Series is offering over $35,000 in Cash and another $35,000 in prizes to Amateurs.

“I am excited that the POC Eastern States Cup is able to bring the USA Cycling Pro GRT Downhill Series to two of the premier bike parks in the United States. The POC ESC is committed to bringing the best mountain bike racers and racing to the East Coast. We are working on adding XC and Enduro Series races in 2013. With those additions the future of the POC Eastern States Cup is really exciting. “, says George Ulmer from the POC ESC.

The POC Eastern States Cup will offer double series points at both Pro GRT events, to start off the season with a bang. The series just announced a third Challenge to the racers. The POC ESC Speed Zone Challenge. This new challenge will reward the fastest MPH Amateur with great POC Gear at every race this season. The fastest speed of the season will earn a complete POC kit. Other Challenges are the $1000 POC Team Challenge and the $1000 Loeka Women’s Challenge. The series will produce a Voncooper video for every race, while Oliver Racing will take care of the fourth place prizing.

Both mountain trail crews have been working on their racetracks for weeks. Plattekill renewed one of their classic courses on the steep north face side of the bike park. The Plattekill course has new berms, chutes and the steep loose shale Plattekill is famous for. Mountain Creek is combining the new and the old for a real exciting track. The Mountain Creek course offers a few newly cut woods sections, and a steep wide-open ski trail section with large areas of granite slab rock. It will be one of the longest and fastest courses at Mountain Creek ever. Expect two of the best courses the east has to offer.

Schedules, Pre-Registration and all information can be found on the POC Eastern States Cup website: easternstatescup.com

 

Neko Mulally Wins Inaugural Duryea Downhill

Racing just minutes from home, Trek World Racing's Neko Mulally took another win for season 2012 by taking the victory at the Duryea Downhill, an event held in Neko's hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania, and an event he help put together. Here's what he had to say about the weekend.

"One of my side projects this year has been helping to organize a downhill race in my hometown. The race was very enjoyable for all who participated. The Duryea Downhill is unique because it finishes in Reading's City Park which is in the center of town. There were a lot of spectators and for that reason and it was cool to race on a track that's a little different to the ski slopes we're used to. This race was awesome for me personally because it was so clo se to home and being able to race on my home trails in front of all my friends from school and my family was really special.

The whole weekend was great. Saturday evening I had a BBQ in my yard where a lot of the riders came to hang out and ride my pump track. Ray Waxham from Trek's Race Department was with us all weekend and he is always great to have around. My bike was set up perfectly for the track as the race was held on the mountain where I do all my home testing. The new Shimano Saint components were very popular because most of the guys here hadn't seen them yet. I ran the Bontrager G4 tires again which I believe gave me a big advantage on rolling speed. I won the race by over 7 seconds, and it was awesome to see all my friends and family waiting at the finish line. I am really glad that I was able to help make this race possible and I hope it can become an annual event."

Race results are here: http://duryeadownhill.com/Results.html

2012 Duryea Downhill Race Results

Devinci Pursuing The Trail Of Craftsmanship

Pursuing the trail of craftsmanship | Founded in 1987, Devinci (devinci.com) had a modest start, building bikes by hand. The vision of its president, Félix Gauthier, led this Chicoutimi-based company to become a leading Canadian bike manufacturer. Devinci did not stop there; the company now manufactures about a hundred models of road, mountain and hybrid bikes priced from $459 to $8 399. Its goal is to produce high quality bikes for enthusiastic, serious cyclists. 

Félix Gauthier has stated that innovation is the driving force of his company, which has a research and development team composed of five technicians and engineers. These bike experts use avant-garde methods similar to the automobile and aeronautical industries. The designs, tests and pilot projects and all stages of development are conducted at the factory in Saguenay. The company is so confident in the quality of its products that it offers a lifetime guarantee on all bike frames. 

The frames and all other high quality parts are made in Quebec, but “it’s the market that determines the price, so we have had to rely on Asia for manufacturing bikes priced at less than $800 in order to compete with big players like Trek, Giant and Specialized.”, explains David Régnier-Bourque, the director of marketing. Devinci president Félix Gauthier believes that it is possible to do business in Quebec and to be part of the international market, but it is important to be open to outsourcing production. “There must be a balance between manufacturing in Quebec and abroad in order to provide the best value for money.” 

“Working for Devinci isn’t really a job, it’s a passion. The vast majority of our employees love biking!” observed David Régnier-Bourque. With flexible hours and 60km of beautiful single tack trails within a kilometre of the factory, enthusiastic cyclists can go out for a ride on their lunch breaks. 

Devinci employs between 60 and 100 staff working in the engineering, sales, marketing, accounting, welding, painting and IT departments; there’s something for everyone within the company. 


DEVINCI LEO SL 

The Leo SL 2012 is equipped with the new DCF technology (Dual Core Fusion) that combines elements of speed, stability, and intuition. The frame features an asymmetrical geometry that not only provides improved performance but also enhanced lateral rigidity and vertical compliance for a better power transfer that will leave other cyclists biting the dust. The Leo SL is available in three different sizes: the Leo SL X with Ultegra Di2 ($4,599.99); the Leo SL R with SRAM FORCE ($3,899.99) and the LEO SL K with standard Ultegra ($3,399.99).