Jill Kitner And Bryan Atkinson Join The 2012 Norco World Team

Vancouver, BC – January 4, 2012 – Norco Bicycles Welcomes Jill Kintner and Bryn Atkinson to Norco World Team

Norco Bicycles has partnered with Jill Kintner and Bryn Atkinson, as title sponsor, to re-launch the Norco World Team. For 2012 the team will racing the downhill race scene aboard the newly designed AURUM downhill bike. Bryn and Jill are dedicated to reaching podium positions at every race they attend and representing Norco on the world stage.

Jill Kintner is one of the most successful female cyclists to compete on two wheels. With a collection of titles in BMX, 4x, slalom and downhill that spans from an Olympic medal, to world titles in 4x, and multiple national championships in all 4 disciplines she is a dominant figure on the race circuit. She finished 9th place overall for 2011 in her first year of World Cup downhill, and for 2012 is looking to come back with vengeance and best this result. 

“With a new trainer and new bikes, we are now running a program with a fantastic list of sponsors; it feels like everything is clicking into place! The new Norco bikes have an incredible feel; I especially notice with the shorter rear end a difference in my balance point and turning ability thanks to the Aurum’s GRAVITY TUNE. These bikes are really well designed, and I am honored to be a part of the Norco family.” – Jill

Bryn Atkinson has an inspiring presence on a downhill bike. With a highlight reel that includes numerous top 10 World Cup results, 2 US Open championships, a Pro GRT series championship, and many feature video segments, he has the speed, style, and ability to get the job done.

After a great start to 2011 with an 11th place finish at the first round of the World Cup, Bryn broke his femur and elbow, and was forced to sit out the remainder of the season. This injury fueled his motivation to get better on the bike, and come back stronger in 2012.

Healed up and “ready to rip”, Bryn is back in top form for 2012 – “I’m super excited to start fresh with a company like Norco. Their 2012 line of bikes ride smooth and are really capable, I can’t wait to get em’ world cup dirty!”

The team will be hitting premier events such as: all UCI World Cups, Sea Otter Classic, Kokanee Crankworx, select USGP events, etc. Jill and Bryn will also compete in their respective National Championships.

“Norco Bicycles is excited to have both Jill and Bryn join the Norco family. Their experience and expertise will be a great asset to the continued development of the bikes and the engineered technology platforms we are so proud of. Everyone at Norco would like to wish Jill and Bryn the best of luck in the coming season and welcome them to their new home here at Norco.” – Pete Stace-Smith, Norco PR Marketing Manager

Partners of the Norco World Team:

• Norco Bicycles- Frames – Aurum, Sight, Rampage, Custom Slalom
• Crank Brothers- Wheels, pedals, Seat Posts
• Fox Racing Shox- Suspension
• Shimano- Drive train
• Renthal- Bars, Stems, Grips
• Maxxis- Tires and tubes
• Lezyne- Pumps, Tools, Mini tools, Inflation systems, Bottle cages, saddle bags, Led Lights
• 5.10- Footwear
• e*13- Chain guides
• Dakine- Riding apparel
• Oakley- Eyewear
• Fi:z’ik- Seats
• Cane Creek- Head sets
• Alpinestars- protection
• Tld- Helmets.

2012 Zerode G-1 Updates

Zerode Factory Racing has the latest frames built up. There have been a few changes done to the frames. Looks like they may go about it the Santa Cruz way and do slight alterations at each production run instead of doing them based on a year model. Time will tell what we know to have changed is listed below.

1. Anodized with 3 color options: Black, Blue, Silver
2. Weight savings of about 1.5 LBS

2012 Transition Bikes ProGram

"We're taking a different approach this year. We've got our PROgram which are riders who have a very specific plan for the year. We also have athletes that don't fit within these constraints like Casey Groves and Nick Simcik who are media machines and have some very cool things in store. Then there's our list of riders who we support through our network of Dealers. It's about as diverse a list as you can get. Everyone has their place and has room to do what they love to do and achieve their individual goals. We really wanted to put our efforts into the development of riders, and try to look at things a little differently than we have in the past. It's going to be an exciting year!" Says Sternberg.

Brian Lopes Signs With Magura

Multi Talented athlete Brian Lopes has partnered with Magura to meet his braking needs for 2012 and beyond. After hearing about the new MT Series brakes from Magura, Lopes contacted Magura last summer because he was looking for a disc brake that would meet his strong expectations and high standards and also hold up to the abuse that he dishes out on a daily basis. "Magura brakes have been on my radar for a while and after finally riding them I was definitely stoked at the weight and performance benefits they offered. Besides the fact that I have had no fade issues at all and they're stealthy quiet, they also have the best modulation I’ve ever experienced," says Lopes.

Lopes is riding the recently launched super light MT8, the first disc brake in the industry with a full carbon master cylinder, and the freeride optimized MT6 on which he has already ridden his Magura equipped Ibis to to some major wins including the Crankworx Whistler Enduro DH , Crankworx Colorado Rainmaker DH,  Crankworx Colorado Dual Slalom and the Llinars Spain DH where he set the new course record.

According to Jeff Enlow, General Manager of Magura USA,  “Everyone at Magura is super excited to be working with Brian for the upcoming season. Having an athlete like Brian Lopes racing on Magura really validates the design of the new MT Series brakes and gives us valuable testing and feedback from the field."

Lopes, who competed as a pro in the BMX circuit for seven years before channeling all his efforts into mountain biking in 1993, has had an unprecedented twenty year career as a professional cyclist. His impressive accomplishments over this time include over 19 titles, among them, nine National Championship titles, six UCI World Cup Championships, and four World Championships making him the winningest UCI World Cup athlete of all time. Lopes earned his “Flyin Brian” nickname early in his career as a BMX’er that evoked a super smooth style and aggressive air over the jumps which set him apart from the competition. Lopes is not only a legend in the BMX and MTB Gravity worlds, but has also evolved as an incredibly diversified athlete of other cycling disciplines shown by his recent victory at the California State Cyclocross Championships for the 2nd consecutive year!

His accomplishments off the track are just as prestigious, as he was nominated in 2001 for an ESPY "Action sport Athlete of the Year", won two NEA (World Extreme Sports Award) for "Mountain Biker of the Year" in 2000 & 2001, published the best selling Mountain Bike how-to book of all time and is even featured in SONY PlayStation’s "Downhill Domination"! To put the icing on the cake, in 2008 he was inducted into the Mountain Bike and BMX Hall of Fame.

www.magura.com
www.maguradirect.com 
www.brianlopes.com

MTB GP Pro Permanent Number Selection

In case you haven’t heard, the US Grand Prix of Mountain Biking will be issuing permanent numbers to any interested PRO DOWNHILL rider!!  The top riders from last year’s Pro GRT have selected their number, now it’s your turn to choose!  Sorry, this will be PRO DH riders only!

You may choose any available number to keep permanently (see rules & regulations) in which you may brand yourselves.  The number comes at a $50 fee per person, per year (which all funds go toward the overall pro purse &/or privateer award). 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at your convenience!