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Entries in Bicycle (27)

Saturday
Mar302013

2013 Pro GRT 2 Fontana 

The second round of the 2013 Pro GRT took place this past weekend in Fontana California. The course here is known for having a quarter mile flat sprint to the finish line at the bottom. This caused some concern amongst the "hardcore" downhill enthusiasts. The KHS Factory racing boys had been dominating the winter series aboard 650B AM bikes.

Come practice it looked like most of the Pro field ended up going with a Downhill bike. The trail had two sketchy sections in it giving riders trouble one up high called the Dragons Spine and then one lower down just before the wall called the Shoot.

Aaron Gwin on day one practice run number two trying to figure out the 2 or 3 lines in the Shoot near the bottom of the course.

Aaron Gwin day two practice further down the Shoot it starts to get steep here the silt covering the rocks made the trail more slippery than BB's on granite.

Aaron Gwin takes the high road over the rocks along the wall on Day 2 after this the long pedal begins.

Aaron Gwin on race day way up high just after the Dragon's Spine. There was literally 7 corners the entire trail.

Aaron Gwin's race run he looked smooth through here and Mitch beat him by just over a second.

The course fed riders out of the start and then right after that there was a small rock booter that set riders up for a high speed section before the Dragon's Spine. Riders of all caliber spent a bunch of time scouting the best line over The Spine. Some were trying to ride the right side where it was solid rock and had good traction while others went left for a smoother dirt, dust and rock combo. Going left made the exit a tad bit easier since the right line had a wood feature dropping riders off the rock thus keeping them in the air longer.

Alex Willie in the last rock section before the wall on day 2.

Alex Willie race run in the shoot.

After leaving the spiner there was a fade away left hander over a large rock that allowed riders to gain substantial speed. Then riiders came to the only real corner on the course it was a deep bermed left hander cut into the hill. This sent riders across another large rock feature and then another high speed section that set riders up to go through a rock split. After that the riders came to a large boulder and hopped up onto it then off the back side.

Amber Price was one of the Pro women that raced and by race time she was comfortable with this section.

Art Babcock of One Ghost on his way to a 7th place finish.

Charlie Harrison up high during day 2 practice.

Trek Southridge Racing's own Cole Picchiottino dropping the Shoot. Cole is part of a Father/Son team that is killing the So Cal race scene.

This set riders up going into some large loose rocks weaving across the hill just before The Shoot. This seperated the men from the boys and certainly gace favor to the large bike for sure. Gwin did a run on a 26" EVO of some variety on day 1. He settled on the full blown DH sled either because Specialized asked him to or he felt better aboard it. The trail lost a fair bit of elevation here and had rocks scattered throughout it. What made it tricky was the silt covering the rocks made is super slippery. Brake control was paramount and all the riders where skidding and sliding across the boulders here.

David Seaquist of One Ghost is trying to dial in the Dragon's Spine early race day morning.Jason Schroeder of ODI/Specialized on his race run down The Shoot and was looking smooth.Joe Picchiottino is a Vet Pro slayer winning by double digits he came in 15th place during finals and was twice the age of most of the people he was racing! (WOW ANIMAL)

Kevin Aiello up high one turn out of the gate rolling over a small rock hump some people pumped others whipped and some like Kevin here just stayed low and airborne.

Kevin Aiello used a full blown DH sled with the 650B wheel option while Logan ran a 650B wheeled AM bike all weekend. Here Kevin drops The Shoot in his race run.

Logan Binggeli on day 1 of practice this gives a good idea to how steep and tight The Shoot was.

Logan Binggeli on day 1 practice up high looking at the left hander coming up.Logan Binggeli during day 2 practice down low along the wall he also opted for the rock hop.Logan Binggeli leaving The Dragons Spine during race day practice.This gives a longer perspective of The Dragons Spine here Logan runs it for the third time in a row.

This spit riders out onto the fire road and here is the place the AM bikes had a strong advantage over the DH bikes. This is essentially a quarter mile sprint through the backside of a neighborhood. There are just 2 small rock sections here and once past the second its and all out drag race to cross the finishline!

Logan Binggeli on his way to 3rd in the finals. Luca Shaw looked smooth all weekend in the rough stuff. Here he is negotiating The Shoot.Matt Condrashoff in the turn after the Dragons Spine. Matt Moore race run the JR X (Cat 1 whatever) field was stacked

Matthew Parker on day 2 practice down low near the wall.

Matthew Parker on race day practice along The Dragon's Spine.Mike Day of BMX fame represting for GT and Red Bull up high on the hill.

Mikey Haderer day 2 practice just out of the gate.

Mikey Haderer day 2 practice just out of the gate.

Mitch Ropelato race winner on the 29er ended up beating Gwin by over a second.

Evil pan.

Undead Fontucky......Vance Bennett of San Luis Obispo during day 2 practice.

2013 Fontana Pro GRT Results

 


Pro Men  
Finish Time
  Mitch Ropelato Specialized Monster Energy
792A
0:02:02.72
  Aaron Gwin Specialized Red Bull
2A
0:02:04.03
  Logan Binggeli KHS
1A
0:02:04.48
  Kevin Aiello KHS Bicycles
5A
0:02:07.58
  Kyle Sangers PerformX DH Team
4A
0:02:08.62
  Mike Sylvestri ARMA Energy Evil
3A
0:02:10.46
  Art Babcock One Ghost Industries
6A
0:02:11.07
  Waylon Smith Trek Southridge Racing
7A
0:02:12.37
  Kyle Hogan Nema Aim Ride School
778A
0:02:12.77
  Cody Johnson  
819A
0:02:13.27
  Evan Turpen  
741A
0:02:13.45
  Kiran MacKinnon SPS
678A
0:02:13.59
  Barry Nobles Airborne Bikes
720A
0:02:14.64
  Nate Furbee Transition/FoxRacingSHox/E*13
700A
0:02:14.90
  Joe Picchiottino Trek Southridge Racing
816A
0:02:15.09
  Gavin Vaughan VonCooper/NemaNukeproof
9A
0:02:16.79
  Jake Payne Turner Park Horse
707A
0:02:17.04
  Corey Hatch Turner Dark Horse Racing
195A
0:02:17.11
  Ryan Paquette Fly Racing
41A
0:02:17.17
  Dylan Conte Voncooper/Nema
681A
0:02:17.37
  Chris Higgerson  
735A
0:02:17.42
  Cody Kelley Specailized USA Gravity
706A
0:02:18.48
  Bobby Langin Jr. Focus Apparel
726A
0:02:18.91
  Chappy Fiene  
771A
0:02:18.92
  Scott Countryman  
754A
0:02:19.31
  Tim Krentz Bike Emporium
769A
0:02:19.60
  Bo MacArthur Auburn Bike Company/Santa Cruz Bikes
677A
0:02:20.00
  Troy D'Elia  
38A
0:02:21.16
  Trevor Trinkino Smith Optics
695A
0:02:21.64
  Mike Day GT
660A
0:02:21.65
  Lucas Cowan Intense/TroyLeeDesignsFacotryTeam
755A
0:02:21.72
  Ray Syron Evil Factory USA
680A
0:02:22.19
  David Seaquist Gravity Pirates
171A
0:02:22.20
  Anthony Marino  
789A
0:02:23.61
  Daniel Brisbon Arts Cyclery/SloToTheBone
779A
0:02:24.85
  Maxi Dickerhoff  
656A
0:02:25.00
  Kellen Lutz Bike Source
670A
0:02:25.05
  Andrew Slowey Oliver Racing Specialized Bikes TLD
745A
0:02:25.20
  Scott Gladin Absolute Bikes
781A
0:02:25.77
  Riley Mueller  
751A
0:02:26.73
  Conrad Cullerey  
724A
0:02:27.06
  Felip Walker Scotts Valley Cycle Sport
679A
0:02:28.00
  Matt Condrashoff  
727A
0:02:28.05
  Tanner Stephens  
732A
0:02:28.74
  Andrew Van Zuyen Intense Cycles/Troy Lee Designs
798A
0:02:30.46
  Dan Godans Fly Racing
716A
0:02:31.11
  Josh Nevelson  
39A
0:02:32.10
  Micah Van Horn Broomfield
672A
0:02:37.23
  Geoffrey Ayr Highland Mtn. Mavic
714A
0:02:57.17
  David K.  
13A
0:03:42.27
  Ben Furbee Transition/e*13
702A
0:03:50.13
  Vance Bennett Arts Cyclery
763A
0:04:12.83
  Timmy Mangini OneGhost/Oneal/Leatt
651A
0:12:00.99
  Mikey Haderer Zerode/Shimano/Bell/Novatec/Scwalbe
728A
DNF
  Ryan Gagnon  
770A
DNF
  Ryan Hockett  
749A
DNF
  Ryan Stayskal  
659A
DNF
  Michael Daniels  
320A
DNF

 

 

Pro Women  
Finish Time
  Robyn Embrey Shine Riders Co.
7B
0:03:01.74
  Jackie Swider Shredly/TeamBacoa
772B
0:03:06.87
  Amber Price Bike Source Gravity Racing
9B
0:03:16.62
  Stephanie Teltscha SR Suntour-Carver
657B
0:03:31.44
  Eva Wilson Oliver Racing
743B
0:04:05.42

 

Expert 18 Under Men

 
Finish Time
  Charlie Harrison ODI/Specialized
12D
0:02:07.68
  Jason Schroeder ODI/Specialized
817D
0:02:08.06
  Walker Shaw  
704D
0:02:08.75
  Luca Shaw  
705D
0:02:08.76
  Cole Picchiottino Trek Southridge Racing
1D
0:02:12.69
  Luca Cometti Nema/Nukeproof
2D
0:02:13.21
  Dylan Unger Intense/TroyLeeFactoryTeam
818D
0:02:15.05
  Matthew Parker Trek Southridge Racing
6D
0:02:21.15
  Kristian Kaekul Incycle
208D
0:02:21.45
  Brandon Coughlin  
72D
0:02:21.71
  Galen Carter  
3D
0:02:22.92
  Chase Nelson  
5D
0:02:23.32
  Alex Willie  
256D
0:02:25.73
  Todd Renwick Ride Giant Ride Northstar
652D
0:02:26.41
  Jack Illes  
764D
0:02:27.06
  Matt Branney MotoE/Yeti/Bontriger/Shimano/BetterRide
4D
0:02:28.66
  Adrian Valdez  
699D
0:02:29.21
  Troy Sladeck  
323D
0:02:30.06
  Kyle Kennedy  
9D
0:02:30.36
  Hudson Tognetti Trail Head Cyclery
717D
0:02:30.85
  Niko Kilik KGE
689D
0:02:30.92
  Matt Moore Wheels In Motion
650D
0:02:31.98
  Michael Cofield  
786D
0:02:32.10
  Tyler Krenek Supercross/FlyRacing/Profile
8D
0:02:32.53
  Garrett Balthasar One Ghost Industries
10D
0:02:33.63
  Andras Simon Simon's Auto Body
313D
0:02:36.10
  Wyatt Freier Yeti/MotoE
665D
0:02:38.34
  Tanner Hart Lake Town Bike/ Maxxis
712D
0:02:39.73
  Jack Dean  
654D
0:02:39.79
  Bruce Klein Incycle
150D
0:02:40.96
  Jason Bohl One Ghost Industries
725D
0:02:44.05
  Ben Nelson  
698D
DNF
  Jonathan Simek  
455D
DNF