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Also watched it last night after a weekend away and self-imposed social media ban.
Thought Brosnan had it, then thought Vergier had it - but Gwin was right back on top of his game.
So strong and confident and such a precise rider. Difficult to get behind him as a fan, but you've got to respect his abilities.
Gwin is certainly one for the sponsors, all American thanking Fox for the last minute tuning mods etc. However you cannot help but admire him for his pace and his nerve.
Also interesting how quickly he's settled into the Tues. Took ages for him to get the Demo right but apparently no teething problems on the Tues. YT will be selling truckloads of them off the back of his success
Gwin is certainly one for the sponsors, all American thanking Fox for the last minute tuning mods etc. However you cannot help but admire him for his pace and his nerve.
He's an American Sportsman (TM). They are brought up on a diet of sport where every spit and snot rocket are 'brought to you by' some corporate entity or other. He's just doing his bit as he's been asked to do. The fact that these plugs just enter the world of banality and are ignored as such doesn't reflect on his ability as a bike rider.
Who would I like to have a pint with? Ratboy.
Who would I like to do a race run for my life? Gwin/Minnaar.
Gwin is the best at the minute - which makes it a real shame Bruni is out. It would have been good to watch Bruni vs Gwin vs Minaar across a variety of tracks.
Does anyone know what happened between WynTV and Rachel Atherton?
Rachel made a big statement about it on FB but I've no idea what she was going on about?
I believe she split up with her boyfriend just before Wyn tried to get them on camera
I believe she split up with her boyfriend just before Wyn tried to get them on camera
If thats true that's pretty tasteless from Wyn, sad for her as she'd shared some pics with him just the week before.
@danny you are spot on. Rat's interview before the start he is laid back and saying "no I probably won't change tyres" (drying track) then goes down up top and finished behind Peaty. Its a dangerous game the "too cool for school" approach in professional sports, someone is paying you a lot of money to win. Being cool ony sells so much.
Its a dangerous game the "too cool for school" approach in professional sports, someone is paying you a lot of money to win. Being cool ony sells so much.
Yep. If you watch the syndicate videos on youtube he also finds falling off in practice doing tail whips funny. Doubt Santa Cruz find it very funny at all.
Ratboy being interviewed by the female interviewer was hilarious, he was trying to work some magic there 😀
Great to see Greg Williamson doing so well, he's local to where I grew up and lives a few fields away.
Greg Williamson is a credit to his nation and a welcome recent addition to my Fantasy League team.
😀
I don't think Santa Cruz would want to change a single thing about Ratboy, he's the biggest personality in the sport and its to his credit that he can still have fun when he's a bit off the pace - rather than getting all stressed about it.
He's more likely to find his speed again if he's relaxed and having fun than if he's deadly serious, eh?
Ratboy being interviewed by the female interviewer was hilarious, he was trying to work some magic there
And much smoother than Chris Gayle 🙂
PS. If you're reading this Josh, get a longer frame like Greg!
😉
Doubt Santa Cruz find it very funny at all.
Bet they do, what matters more social media clicks and video watches or results?
Especially when they have Minaar taking care of the results.
BillOddie - MemberDoubt Santa Cruz find it very funny at all.
Bet they do, what matters more social media clicks and video watches or results?
Especially when they have Minaar taking care of the results.
Have to agree with you there - really if you boil it down they're there to sell the brand and bikes - hell Downhill exists to sell trail bikes.
Peaty, and I hate myself for saying this - wouldn't get a full factory ride based on his top 40 performances if he wasn't the absolute legend he is.
Brandon Fairclough never seems to care that much about winning and I don't think with his current attitude to racing he ever win a WC, even Claudio usually writes of his chances after the first corner, but he gets a lot of publicity, more than guys who beat him every race.
I wouldn't rely on it though if I was Rayboy, with Peaty leaving at the end of the season, proably another team mate coming in and racing with super serious (on race day anyway) Minnarn 'the Syndicate' TV series might be less of a draw and they might be looking for good results to keep their profile up he might be getting a few more of [b]those[/b] emails from Rob Roskopp, Minnar did and immediately took the win at Fort William and a podium at Leogang, Ratboy's still miles off - how long before fans start thinking SC have built a dud this year? They've already moaned about suspention this year - Fox won't like that.
If you watch the syndicate videos on youtube he also finds falling off in practice doing tail whips funny.
I've let this go a few times but -
Tailwhip
[img]
[/img]
Not a tailwhip
[img] 
[/img]
As a clue its impossible to do a tailwhip on a DH bike with triple clamp forks
carry on.
I'm calling Bruni to replace Peaty on the Syndicate.
Just putting it out there. Remember where you heard it 😉
Just putting it out there. Remember where you heard it
About the time he won the world's last Yeah? When peaty announced his retirement?
Can't remember
how long before fans start thinking SC have built a dud this year?
Exactly. If one of the most talented riders in the world can't get down a run without falling off it cant be a very good bike right?
Not a great image to have in peoples head when trying to sell bikes.
I'm probably being a numpty, but where is Neko Mulally this year? Injured?
I'm calling Bruni to replace Peaty on the Syndicate.
Absolutely, it was hinted in an interview with Greg before wasn't it?
Spesh should snap up Vergier to join Brosnan on its factory team.
If one of the most talented riders in the world can't get down a run without falling off it cant be a very good bike right?
I wouldn't buy one myself, but Greg did OK at Fort William.
Neko broke his arm before fort william.
how long before fans start thinking SC have built a dud this year?
Greg is 4th overall and Ratboy is 6th overall in the standings currently. I don't think they have to worry too much.
As a clue its impossible to do a tailwhip on a DH bike with triple clamp forks
Thanks for the education 😀
Maybe when Ratboy figures that out too he'll stop trying it on practice runs 😛
Exactly. If one of the most talented riders in the world can't get down a run without falling off it cant be a very good bike right?
Not a great image to have in peoples head when trying to sell bikes.
You don't half talk pish some times.
Absolutely, it was hinted in an interview with Greg before wasn't it?
Damn, I missed this. I thought I was onto something original. Get him while he's young before he's fully established on another bike. From all the fast youngsters with the 'will they, won't they' results he's by far the most convincing. He's also reet good craic.
"hexhamstu CreativeConcept's article
May 10, 2016
Bruni and Vergier Against the World: Season 2, Episode 2
Loic to replace Steve Peat on SC?"
I claimed it on pinkbike a while ago and got down voted for it!
Twas in one of the Syndicate vids I think, seemed like Greg & Loic have a bit of a bromance and Bruni is being groomed to join the team in future.
Bruni at SC is a good shout, like that!.
and claudio was alluding that the rat had been given marching orders...
but how long is the deal with spec for bruni and vergier? or is their deal with the team and spec supply the team?
You don't half talk pish some times.
I didn't say I believed it - you'd need to be an idiot to buy a bike/brand purely because *insert pro rider here* is using it and doing well on it.
But clearly bike brands believe that people do indeed buy bikes for that reason.
and claudio was alluding that the rat had been given marching orders...
Greg made a comment in an interview about how they had been sent some pretty choice text messages from rob roskopp (I think) about pulling their fingers out and getting some results. It was mainly in jest and I doubt anyone is getting their marching orders.
or is their deal with the team and spec supply the team?
Frames from Spesh I think?
claudio was alluding that the rat had been given marching orders...
What!? Missed that on the replay, are you sure?
and claudio was alluding that the rat had been given marching orders...
Whaaaat? How did I miss this? What did he say?
but how long is the deal with spec for bruni and vergier? or is their deal with the team and spec supply the team?
He's been there a while now. The team hasn't changed just the bikes. I'm guessing he'll get some pretty robust offers at the end of this season.
I might be wrong but I'm sure I read that bruni had signed with his team for 3 years and ratboy had a relatively long term contract as well . The new gt team seem to be having a pretty bad year results wise but due to the characters lots of coverage , blinki not having a great year but got on the podium at ews , I suppose these days it's not just race results that sponsors are after , it's worth reading annaka beertans post about it
and claudio was alluding that the rat had been given marching orders...
no he didn't. Rob and Claudio had a conversation around the subject that Greg had received some "choice" emails from Rob, and perhaps Ratboy would be getting some. It was said as they were watching Josh more or less rolling down after binning it at the top of the course.
It was gossip.
Yep Josh said he had got a target the year he took the overall (and nearly won the Worlds with the mangled foot)
As for Bruni remember when he came down to win the worlds and bump Greg and Josh down a step? They were the cheering for him and right there (and apparently the after party at CG's another SC man was legendary) when he won in Cairns to congratulate him on winning. Would be a great fit for him and the other 2.
Watching the last couple of syndicate vids on YouTube Josh doesn't seem like he's in the right frame of mind. Maybe he's finding it harder without Peaty around all the time.
Just sorting through some footage from the other week, here's one of me following my lad Matt with his friend Moritz in front, a pair of quick 14 yr olds. We're on the freeride track but you can see where it merges with the DH track (usually on the left) a lot of the time. It's my last year of keeping up with them I reckon, we're hitting 40 MPH at times.