Following Jill's huge win in the Dual Slalom at the Sea Otter Classic, the Transition Racing program followed up with two huge podium's at the season openening round of the Pro GRT in Port Angeles, Wa.
The GRT series is shaping up to be the premiere domestic race series, with the largest turnout of Factory teams and riders seen in ages. The competition was fierce, and the conditions were perfect. Attending teams included Transition Factory Racing, Commencal, Yeti/Fox, Giant, Santa Cruz Syndicate, Evil Bikes, Dirt/Norco, and a plethera of regional teams.
Bryn and Jill quickly marked their territory with First and Third place qualifying positions on Saturday evening. With many World Cup athletes and champions in both the mens and womens fields such as, the team knew they were fgoing to have to step it up for the finals come Sunday. The Transition TR-450's equipped with FOX Racing Shox suspension, Shimano Saint brakes and drivetrain, KORE bars stems and saddles, Crankbrothers wheels and pedals, Maxxis tires and tubes, ODI grips, e.thirteen chain device, Cane Creek headset, and Cadenceworks titanium hardwarewere functioning flawlessly.
Come Sunday morning, the skies were partly cloudy, the dirt was perfect, and the team was ready. In the end Jill followed up with her third place qualifier with another solid third place in the finals behind Tracey Mosely and Rachel Atherton, and Bryn stormed through the finish to take the Pro men's win ahead of Justin Leov and Luke Strobel.
Bryn says "I'm stoked I could put together 2 solid runs and come out on top! This is a great warm up for the first World Cup round in Maribor in a few weeks. I really had to push it in both the Qualifiers and Finals to make sure I could take it. There were so many fast guys here No one really knew how it would end up. Looking forward to continuing this into Maribor aye!"
Jill says "Anyway, I can't tell you how rad it was in the Pro Women's class to have Top World Cup riders; Rachel Atherton, Tracy Mosley, Mellissa Buhl, ect., in attendance. 16 Women in all, which is a really good turnout. I couldn’t see any of the other girls' run,,, but my run was pretty good, couple stalls, but decent. Can’t expect perfection in Downhill. I had so much fun riding the track it didn't matter. Anyway, Tracy is riding strong on a rough track like this and took the big win with a 2:50, Rachel had a 2:53 with a bruised up hand, and I was pretty close with a 2:56. Not bad… I was really excited to get to race these girls, I respect them a lot. Good to know I'm somewhat in the mix for DH:)."
Results:
Women:
1. Tracy Moseley (Trek World Racing) 2m 50.82secs
2. Rachel Atherton (GBR) 2m 53.07secs
3. Jill Kintner (USA) 2m 56.16secs
4. Melissa Buhl (USA) 3m 03.26secs
5. Jacqueline Harmony (USA) 3m 07.43secs
Men:
1. Bryn Atkinson (USA) 2m 34.39secs
2. Justin Leov (Trek World Racing) 2m 35.20secs
3. Luke Strobel (USA) 2m 36.48secs
4. Andrew Neethling (Trek World Racing) 2m 36.71secs
5. Dan Atherton (GBR) 2m 36.93secs
Transition Racing is supported by FOX Racing Shox, Crankbrothers, Dakine, KORE, Maxxis, Shimano, THE, ODI, 5.10, e.13, Jetlites, Cadenceworks, Jagwire, Cane Creek, Kinetic, Feedback Sports, Contour HD, and Lezyne.
www.transitionbikes.com
