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Team G Cross Honda
Double Podium for Team G Cross Honda in France
Both Team G Cross Honda riders, Greg Minnaar (RSA) and Matti Lehikoinen (FIN)
landed on the podium today at the Finals of the French Cup, giving Honda their
first one-two finish in international racing. The French Series is highly
respected due to the quality of young and talented riders that France produces
every year. In fact, the French Cup is where Greg Minnaar was first brought in
1998 when he was a junior, to learn how to race the European circuit.
This week's race was in La Bresse, near Mulhouse, in the north east of France,
Date:
28/08/2005
Major Crash For Minnaar Ends Hopes at World Cup 1
The UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup once again chose the north eastern
Spanish city of Vigo today to kick off the new international race season, and
once again the two and a half minute trail (slightly shorter this year) took
its toll on the world's best downhill racers and provided some unexpected
results. 2005 World Cup Champion Greg Minnaar (RSA) crashed heavily in the
final and was lucky to escape serious injury after a small tree stump caught
his front wheel in a high-speed section of the course. Team mate Matti
Date:
08/05/2006
Double Podium For Honda at World Cup Finals
Team G Cross Riders Greg Minnaar (RSA) and Matti Lehikoinen (FIN) took an
historic double podium result for the Honda team here in Schaldming, Austria,
during the UCI World Cup Finals. The result today also meant that Greg finished
3rd in the overall rankings for the season, and Matti jumped from 9th to 6th in
the overall, to cap off a career best season.
Training on the demanding 4 minute course requires the riders to work hard at
memorising the 60 plus corners that make up a single race run. A mixture of
Date:
13/09/2006
Greg Minnaar Makes It Two For Two At NORBA
Team G-Cross Honda rider Greg Minnaar (RSA) took his 2nd NORBA win in a row
today at Round 4 of the US Series, being held in Deer Valley, Utah. Team mate
Matti Lehikoinen (FIN) also climbed atop the podium with a 4th place, fresh
from his World Cup win in Brazil last week. The Deer Valley course is notorious
for its deep powder dust which makes the course slippery and at times difficult
to see.
During training both team riders struggled to find their lines and rhythm. The
other riders on course sent the dust up in thick clouds making it difficult to
Date:
10/07/2006
Matti Lehikoinen Wins World Cup in Brazil
Matti Lehikoinen of Team G Cross Honda won his first ever World Cup Downhill
race today, and the first for the team this season, in a thrilling race at
Camboriu Beach in Brazil.
Date:
03/07/2006
Minnaar Closes In On World Cup Lead
Greg Minnaar of Team G Cross Honda finished in 2nd place today at Round 4 of
the UCI World Cup Downhill Series at the famous race venue of Mont-Sainte-Anne,
Canada, which was hosting its 15th World Cup race since 1991. Greg qualified
fastest in the semi final and with the points collected today has closed the
gap to series leader Steve Peat (GBR) down from 132 points to just 40 points,
with two races to go. Team mate Matti Lehikoinen also had another strong
weekend finishing 6th, equalling his career best result, and now moves up into
the top 10 overall in the series.
Date:
25/06/2006
Minnaar and Lehikoinen Both On Podium At NORBA #6
Team G-Cross Honda riders Greg Minnaar (RSA) and Matti Lehikoinen (FIN) took
their Honda RN01 bikes to yet another double podium this week at the
penultimate round of the 2006 NORBA Series in the USA. Greg took 2nd place
after qualifying 2nd and Matti moved from a 6th spot in qualifying up to 3rd in
the final.
With the start house at 11,000 feet, altitude was always going to be a factor,
especially since both riders had come from intense training weeks at sea level,
as part of their preparation for the all important World Championships in 3
Date:
07/08/2006
Greg Minnaar Takes Silver At World Champs
Team G-Cross Honda rider Greg Minnaar (RSA) took the silver medal today at the
UCI World Championships in Rotorua, New Zealand, with Sam Hill (AUS) taking the
gold and Greg's team mate Matti Lehikoinen (FIN) taking his first ever World's
top 10, a well deserved 8th place.
The weather played games with the riders all week, at times looking like the
finals would be wet, at other times dry, and this meant tyre choice was
absolutely critical as the clouds rolled in for the finals. During training
both Matti and Greg had found their optimum tyre choice and in the final,
Date:
28/08/2006
Team G Cross Honda Set For Another Strong Season
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
Date:
18/03/2006
