Team G Cross Honda Set For Another Strong Season
13 March 2006 | By billy1979
Following the recent signing of a new contract between the Honda Racing Corporation (owners of Team G Cross Honda) and 23 Degrees Sports Management, all looks set for another stellar year of racing for the successful mountain bike downhill team.
Both Greg Minnaar (RSA) who is the reigning World Cup Champion, and Matti Lehikoinen (FIN), World #11, return to the team which will once again focus on the World Cup, as well as selected NORBA events in the USA.
Additionally, 23 Degrees will be sponsoring two junior development riders on the World Cup circuit, Junya Nagata (JPN) and Ruben Garcia (ESP), both of whom are reigning national junior champions, and who will be racing on Honda RN01 bikes supplied by Honda on Team 23 Degrees.
The first Downhill race of the season for all four riders will be World Cup #1 in Vigo, Spain, where expectations are high on surpassing the results from last year where Greg finished 2nd and Matti 7th.
This year Greg will race in different coloured Alpinestars clothing to his team-mate, in recognition of his win of the Overall World Cup in '05. Greg has been busy testing with Honda in the off-season, as well as training in the summer of his home country South Africa.
Greg Minnaar – Team G Cross Honda: "I'm really looking forward to racing the new '06 Honda RN01 because our testing has been excellent. I've had a great off-season and I'm looking forward to defending my title in the World Cup. Also, due to event date clashes I'm unable to do all NORBA races, but with two throw out races being permitted, I'll contest 5 of the 7, and hopefully that's enough to give me a shot at the US title."
Matti Lehikoinen – Team G Cross Honda: "Finishing last season with a 6th in Fort William with my injured shoulder was a strange feeling. Even though it was my best result ever, I was disappointed to have had such an injury holding me back. After my surgeries in the off-season my shoulder and arm are 100% and I'm enjoying being back in downhill training again."
Junya Nagata – Team 23 Degrees: "I'm really excited to be riding a Honda again in 2006, but even more so about being able to race the RN01 on the World Cup circuit. It is my goal to continue improving as an international rider and also to increase the profile of Japanese mountain biking on the international stage. I look forward to my first race in 23 Degrees colours at Vigo in May."
Ruben Garcia – Team 23 Degrees: "It's such an honour for me to have this opportunity. After winning the National Title last year in my first year of top level racing, I was excited to represent Spain at the World Championships. Now I have the chance with my team mate to go to all the World Cups, and chase the new UCI Leader's Yellow jersey for the leading Junior in the World Cup, on one of the best bikes in the world".
Team Director – Martin Whiteley: "We're excited to have retained both Greg and Matti for the coming season and we are confident in Greg's abilities to once again have a strong season, and for Matti to build on his success of last year, now that his injury is behind him. We are also excited about having two development riders in the 23 Degrees colours. The choice of Junya and Ruben was logical for us as we were looking for current Junior National Champions who are junior again in 2006. Junya has already raced on a Honda and is no stranger to the RN01, and Ruben was sponsored by 23 Degrees in 2005 when he won his title".
Team sponsors and suppliers in 2006 include:
Alpinestars Clothing
Showa Suspension
Maxxis Tyres
Formula Brakes
Mavic Wheels
SDG Seats/I-Beam Posts
Motorex Lubricants
SRAM/Truvativ Components
PowerBar Nutrition
Sapim Race Spokes
Easton Bars
Chris King (Headsets 4X)
ODI Grips
