2012 US Grand Prix Of MTB Dates

Escondido, California (February 22, 2012) – The ‘US Grand Prix of Mountain Biking’ is pleased to announce its race calendar for the 2012 season.  As the top national-level mountain bike calendar in the country, the MTB GP was created to consistently provide world-class athletes, as well as aspiring amateurs, with a competitive and fan-friendly atmosphere.

Dylan Dean, MTB GP Director, “I’m thrilled to be working with such great venues this year!  Having the ability to build up the new national series from scratch has been a long & hard road, but it’s great to see the final product come together.  With world class teams, racers, & industry supporting me, there is no limit to the potential!
The MTB GP kicks off in Port Angeles, Washington on April 28-29 with a stop at the NW Cup.  The second round of the series heads to the east coast the weekend before two North American World Cup rounds, with a stop at Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont on June 16-17.  Following the World Cups, the MTB GP’s third round will take place at the Highland Bike Park in Northfield, New Hampshire on July 7-8.  The final round of the MTB GP will conclude back on the west coast the weekend before Crankworx on August 4-5 at Stevens Pass Resort in Skykomish, Washington.

Scott Tucker, NDub Productions, “We at the NW Cup are excited to take part in the inaugural US Grand Prix of MTB.  Gravity racing in the US is clearly on the road from obscurity on the world level, and a legit national points series is key in continuing on that path.  Dylan Dean has worked tirelessly to make this happen and I'm sure 2012 is just the tip of the iceberg.  See you at the races!”

2012 US GP OF MTB

X-Fusion Signs Multi-Time World Champ Anne-Caroline Chausson X-Fusion is pleased to announce the signing of 19-time World Champion Anne-Caroline Chausson. Chausson has been the most dominant female mountain biker in history, with an overwhelming 55 World Cup victories. Her talents are also not limited to 26-inch wheels. In 2008, she became the first female athlete to win an Olympic Gold Medal in BMX at Beijing Olympics. “Between Brian Lopes and now Anne-Caro, we have two of the most experienced, most dominant riders in the history of the sport,” says X-Fusion Marketing Manager John Hauer. “It’s no secret the X-Fusion brand is on the upswing, and we think the collaboration of both rider’s experience will help keep our development momentum rolling. On the racing front, we see that Enduro racing is rapidly growing in popularity and having two athletes that could climb a top a podium on any day is definitely assuring”

X-Fusion Signs Multi-Time World Champ Anne-Caroline Chausson

2012 VP Components Dirt Club Enduro Announced

SANTA BARBARA, CA., (February 17, 2012) – The VP Components Dirt Club Enduro will be an awesome and exciting test of speed, skill and endurance for mountain bike enthusiasts of all levels.  This two day event promises to be an exhilarating and rewarding adventure for all.

The VP Components Dirt Club Enduro format will be based loosely on WRC Auto Rally and European MTB Enduros.  Our event will feature predominantly downhill timed special stages linked together by non-timed liaison stages.  Each rider will complete the courses on the same bike without shuttles or lifts, riding along through check-points to the start of each timed special stage.

This is an event that is all about having fun and riding your bike fast.  The top athlete in each category will be the fastest and most skillful bike handler for sure.  There will be a mix of pure Downhill type tracks, Super D tracks, and XC descents.  And because the riders will have to ride the liaison to the start of each timed stage, there will also be a strong fitness element to this race.  There will be cash payout in the Open/Expert Men and Women categories and high value prizes at least 10 deep in every category.

The DIRT CLUB near Los Olivos, CA is a private location for mountain biking enthusiasts to enjoy their sport in a safe location completely removed from other trail users, this is a 100% conflict free riding area. With downhill trails, super d trails, a dual slalom course, a 12 mile cross country course, an ever expanding pump track, a new DJ line, and miles of dirt double track ranching roads, countless opportunities are provided for riders of all abilities to explore and have fun.  This venue has hosted various MTB races the past 12 years, including the Santa Ynez Valley Classic leg of the US TRIPLE CROWN SERIES. 

2012 VP Components Enduro At The Dirt Club

2012 Pro GRT Race Dates

Colorado Springs, Colo. (February 9, 2012) —USA Cycling announced today the 2012 USA Cycling Professional Mountain Bike Gravity Tour (Pro GRT). In its fourth year, the series has expanded to six races and continues to raise the level of competitive gravity racing across the United States. As the country’s premier gravity calendar, the Pro GRT aims to provide a consistent stage of international-caliber events for elite gravity racers to showcase their downhill skills.
The nation’s top gravity racers will be looking to dethrone 2011 champions Cody Warren (Alpine, Calif./DRD X-Fusion Intense) and Jill Kintner (Ferndale, Wash./Transition Racing) as the downhill-only series visits five states from April to August.

The calendar will begin with a visit to Port Angeles, Wash., for the fourth consecutive year as the NW Cup will once again kick things off, this year April 26-29. The Mountain Creek Bike Park will play host to the calendar’s newest event, the Eastern States Cup in Mountain Creek, New Jersey, on May 20. The series will then head just up the road to Roxbury, N.Y., for Plattekill Mountain’s stop on the Eastern States Cup, May 27.

2012 Pro GRT Race Dates

Marzocchi Supports The MS/Mondraker Team

Marzocchi is proud to announce their support of the MS Mondraker team for the 2012 season. The team’s DH athletes have been able to climb to the top of the world ranking list and are no strangers to the podiums of UCI World Cups and UCI World Championships. Team MS Mondraker will be riding our DH flagship, the 888 RC3 EVO TITANIUM and Roco RC World Cup rear suspension.

The team delivered a particularly impressive performance at the World Championships in Champery (SUI) last year. Emmeline Ragot climbed to the top of the podium at the most important event in the mountain bike world and now bears the title of World Champion. Damien Spagnolo only barely missed first place and is currently vice World Champion. At other races, the MS Mondraker team was definitely a force to be reckoned with as well: Brook MacDonald took three podium spots in the UCI World Cup circuit and Markus Pekoll is the crowned king of the iXS European DH cup.

2012 MS/Mondraker To Use Marzocchi Suspension

2012 Santa Cruz Syndicate Romolo Testing With Shimano And Fox

SYNDICATE TEST SESSION WELCOMING 
FOX AND SHIMANO!!

Early season testing started for the Santa Cruz Syndicate with mechanics, engineers and riders arriving in the town of Imperia, Italy, for three days of extensive testing aboard the latest Santa Cruz full carbon V-10s. The bikes were decked out with the Syndicate’s newest sponsor products from Fox and Shimano. The Syndicate’s choice to join forces with Shimano and Fox proved to be a great decision as the test session was incredibly successful.
“Testing was amazing, the most productive test session I have ever been to. Besides good riding and eating killer Italian food, our Syndicate family expanded with Fox and Shimano. I feel this was a great start to the year and I’m looking forward to more positive things to come in 2012,” said Greg Minnaar.
The testing took place on the long downhill racetrack in San Romolo with shuttle assistance from Roberto Vernassa from Argentina Bike. The five-man Fox crew was ready to gather information from suspension testing using their state of the art data acquisition equipment. Spirits were high as everyone got started off on the dark chilly mornings while the mechanics built a bonfire at the bottom of the track to stave off a bit of chill. Riders were warm and tingly inside with big grins after the first run. 
“We were getting everyone up to speed on the new full carbon frame, Fox suspension, and Shimano components. With the frame being much lighter than the previous version we had to dial the suspension in because of less un-sprung weight. I’ve also been riding the new XTR brakes for some time now and can’t get over how impressive they are, particularly with modulation. Feedback from all the racers was what I was expecting, a new milestone in performance.” Says Rob Roskopp.


2012 Santa Cruz Syndicate Romolo Testing

2012 Hutchinson United Ride Team Announced

Starting out as a conversation in the Morewood Bikes factory some years ago, the United Ride team was created and has come a long way since then. A diverse race team with riders hailing from France, South Africa and now Australia. For the 2012 season United Ride gains some great sponsors and continues to grow the team as we are proud to announce Hutchinson as our title sponsor and the signing of Mick and Tracey Hannah.
Mick Hannah is one of the most respected riders on the circuit known for his solid work ethic, toughness and training:
Mick Hannah
“I’m really excited to be joining with United Ride. We have very similar goals for the next 2 years and I feel like with the support of Morewood and Hutchinson and the great atmosphere within the team we can achieve all that we set out to do. I am also very excited about the opportunity to travel and race with Tracey. She is really focused right now and I think that together, along with the rest of the team, we will have a great season! Thanks very much to everyone that’s getting behind us! It’s going to be a great year!”

2012 Hutchinson/United Team