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Post by austinomeng on Oct 17, 2007 7:59:58 GMT 8
Following an announcement by Honda at the end of the final JCF race series in Japan at the weekend, it can be confirmed that Team G Cross Honda will not be continuing.
23 Degrees Sports Management, the company hired by the Honda Racing Corporation to manage the international mountain bike race activities for the company, confirms today that the program will have no future beyond 2007.
According to the statement released by Honda Racing Corporation:
"First of all, we want to express our gratitude to Team Director Martin Whiteley, riders Greg Minnaar, Matti Lehikoinen, Brendan Fairclough, and Cyrille Kurtz, and the talented technical staff of 23 Degrees for their complete understanding and cooperation to the challenge; realising a completely new and world class race category for Honda.
As a motorcycle manufacturer, we had achieved the approach of this challenge by applying our technology which has been cultivated by our motorcycle development, and getting some feedback to our motorcycle technology is one of the purposes of our entry into the downhill mountain bike racing activity. The original "RN01" technology for example, frame and suspension, was designed utilizing off road motorcycle technology, including a very special centrally mounted gearbox that is able to change shift at any time; these were improved repeatedly, and were completed as we expected and hoped it would when we started this project back in 2000. The correctness of direction, and our approach, has been validated by the fact that we have been the number one international team for the past 2 years, and proven by the race results including acquisition of the NORBA title (2004) and UCI World Cup title (2005).
Again, we wish to express our gratitude to all team members and persons related to this project, and want all members of the team to continue aiming at success in all the challenges that lay before them. We deeply appreciate the cooperation and warm guidance we received as a company from both the race scene and the bicycle industry, allowing us to learn a lot over these years, and of course, we greatly appreciate and respect the warm and sincere appreciation of our efforts by the fans of Team G Cross Honda, which was obvious at every race we attended."
Statement from 23 Degrees Sports Management CEO Martin Whiteley:
"Team G Cross Honda has been a very important part of the international race scene over the past 4 years, and the successes have been well documented. However, I think the greatest success of the project has been the way in which it has asked the participants (riders, fans, media, sponsors) to look at our sport in a different light, and to think outside the box when it comes to race technology and the approach to racing. As a company we are indeed indebted to the Honda Racing Corporation for having the confidence in our abilities to carry out their objectives, but we are also extremely appreciative of the co-sponsors that joined in with our efforts, namely Alpinestars, Maxxis, Showa, Formula, Mavic, Funn, SDG, SRAM, Motorex, Sapim, PowerBar, Chris King and ODI.
I also want to pay a particular tribute to the talented riders and staff who have formed part of the World Team since 2004, namely riders Greg Minnaar, Matti Lehikoinen, Brendan Fairclough and Cyrille Kurtz, as well as mechanics Mike Van Zyl, Mark Maurissen and Adam Bonney, Road Manager Paul Schlitz and Photographer Gary Perkin. Their contributions have been invaluable."
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Post by REDNEB on Oct 17, 2007 9:43:34 GMT 8
hi datu... hehehe....
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Post by Ben Dover on Oct 17, 2007 9:44:30 GMT 8
i get the feeling that those honda RN01 will going to be expensive collectors item.
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Post by anthrax76 on Oct 17, 2007 13:34:49 GMT 8
and i thought the RN01 is going to spearhead wide use of gearboxes after some attempts by other bike companies.
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Post by coilerblue on Oct 17, 2007 18:32:13 GMT 8
goodbye honda rno1 gcross goodbye tons of technology
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Post by psyblade30 on Oct 17, 2007 18:49:49 GMT 8
guys of team honda, you're welcome to join our DH community here, just sponsor yourselves, nyahahaha
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Post by >rocketman> on Oct 17, 2007 21:46:10 GMT 8
world cups and world champs will never be the same without honda.
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Post by psyblade30 on Oct 18, 2007 9:20:32 GMT 8
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROCKETMAN
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Post by >rocketman> on Oct 18, 2007 20:19:03 GMT 8
THANKS gerry roach! will not quit DH promise unless lumpo na.
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Post by coilerblue on Oct 19, 2007 8:17:06 GMT 8
from dirt mag
EXCLUSIVE: THE END OF TEAM G-CROSS HONDA Posted on October 18, 2007 @ 3:16 PM
We have been granted an exclusive online interview with G-Cross Honda Team Director Martin Whiteley. Heβll be giving us the low down on just what happened at Honda and of course what will be happening next. You will find it all here sometime on Friday October 19th.
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Post by psyblade30 on Oct 19, 2007 10:02:22 GMT 8
im going to hire those honda riders for my new business, i need 3 more riders on my pedicabs and postal services, nyahahahaha
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Post by coilerblue on Oct 20, 2007 21:23:09 GMT 8
Dirt: This comes as a bit of a shock to most people, can you tell us about the situation? Basically a lot of people will be asking why?
Martin Whiteley: Itβs a difficult question to answer with a single sound bite. The factors are numerous and with a company as big as Honda, the players are as well. Essentially since the start of the World Team in 2004, Honda has been assessing the potential of a production version of the RN01. This has been done through various means, and often gave rise to rumours of a production bike. In the end the decision was taken, outside of HRC, that the market was just too small to achieve profitability and production ideas were scrapped. They further argued that if production was not to be realised in the short term, then racing should also be terminated. The hardware development was actually finished, and once that was done, the focus was turned towards production. When they realised that the profitability wasnβt there (and thatβs a key factor, if not the deciding factor, in any new product development in business) the project had reached its end. The race results and titles are there, and Honda learned a great deal from the bicycle industry, but they have judged it's time to stop. I personally feel though that this is just the end of a chapter, but not the end of the story. However, for now, there will be no Honda bikes for sale, anywhere. All the team bikes go to Japan and are compacted as per HRC policy on prototypes.
Were you and the riders surprised by the decision or is this something you have known about for some time?
The riders were very surprised. I was told well before the Worlds but needed to keep everyone focused on the task at hand and get through the Worlds and Maribor. Greg was informed after he broke his shoulder. He and I have a reliable relationship where I can share things in confidence with him and know it wonβt go any further. It also helped to have someone to discuss this with. There was a very small chance that it may have changed, that chance was given to me as a 1% possibility, so in reality I knew it was done. As for all the speculation about Matti βgetting out in timeβ or knowing of this in advance, this is patently false. It was always my intention that Matti move onto his own program in 2008. We talked about it at the end of 2006, that the 2007 season would be his launching pad into a new team. I had Brendan on board as his replacement. Brendan was a 23 Degrees rider while Greg and Matti were HRC in effect (though still signed through our company), so we always planned Brendan would replace Matti and we maintain a two rider team. Itβs just coincidental the timing of the respective public announcements look like they were linked, but work was going on behind the scenes for Matti well in advance of any knowledge I had about Hondaβs departure.
Do you know if this was Hondaβs plan from the start?
No, I donβt know that for sure. It was clear to me though that the first two years were really an exercise in engineering, and then later the idea of commercial production started to become more prominent in the emails. But I donβt think there was a set 4 year timetable or anything like that. In fact, it was almost year to year in our case.
The main man, Martin Whiteley
In all the press release, etc., that I have read it all seems very amicable, but there must be a part of you that is pretty annoyed and frustrated about the whole situation. The team, including yourself, the mechanics and the riders have put an awful lot in this.
No bullshit here. The guys we work with at HRC and the R&D department are the greatest. The team working on the RN01 in Japan were devastated when they heard the news from upper management, but they know this can happen. I am extremely loyal to the guys in Japan that got this off the ground and made it happen. Iβm a realist and I know that no program in racing is guaranteed. Itβs a tricky business to be involved in, so youβre always developing a plan B, just in case. Of course we all went βthat sucksβ but at the same time, you canβt be annoyed at a company that gave you a special and unique opportunity. We were privileged to work on this program, and thatβs the feeling I get from all my crew.
What do you think Honda will do with the knowledge that they gained from this project?Honda is a company that is constantly testing, improving and developingβ¦not just products, but their staff as well. The engineers that worked on this project were tested in new ways and so in that way, Iβm sure it was very valuable to the company. Like I said before though, I really donβt think that this is the end of the story, but donβt hold your breath either. The next chapter wonβt be written tomorrow.
Do you feel that Honda may view the project as a failure?
Not at all. From a racing point of view, two major titles, World Championship medals, more than a handful of World Cup race wins, in fact, we finished every single race we started, with every athlete. Even ones with broken shoulders! We had a World Cup podium success rate of more than 84% over the 4 years. Those bikes were the most reliable on the circuit, and Hondaβs ability to seek new technology in new sports, and make a success of it from the word go, well thatβs nowhere near failure in my opinion.
Do you think that Honda got out of the program what they were after?
For the most part yes, but there is always more to be learned, as there is in anything.
I am sure that you wonβt be able to tell us this, but what kind of investment did Honda put in? How much money?
I wouldnβt know. If youβre asking me about the whole RN01 project over 5 years, well it would have to be millions, but I donβt know how many. Our team was often applauded for being the most professional out there, but I can honestly say thatβs a testament to our staff and riders, not cash. Our budget was in no way the biggest out there.
And the riders?. Matti has moved on, but what about Greg and Brendan? How has this affected them and what will they be doing next? Do they have bikes and teams already lined up?
There will be absolutely no problem in that area. Expect announcements in November.
Do they feel let down in any way? In fact do you feel let down by the situation?
I think itβs hardest for Brendan. Walking into the program and getting used to the new bike and all that that entails, and then now being faced with something new for 2008. The thing with Brendan is that heβs not one to whinge and will always find the positive in anything, and our talk last night was excellent. I have complete faith in βDogβ, and he will continue his rise.
Brendan Fairclough
The team brought a level of professionalism to the sport that hasnβt been seen for some time. What do you think we can all learn from this?
I learned a great deal from working with an outfit like HRC. They have the most amazing race programs on the planet and their attention to detail is astounding. So a lot of what I have learned as a service provider to HRC will be reflected in anything else I do from now on. I liked the Formula 1 feel to how we approached rider support. Rider enters the tent and is immediately attended to by personal mechanic, suspension technician, brake technician and Honda engineer; debriefβ¦then the rider relaxes in the lounge while the work gets done. I will aim to replicate that in any future team Iβm involved in. It saves time, increases rider confidence and results in minimal mechanical issues on the race course.
What do you think it will mean for the sport, the fact that Honda have left? There seems to now be a void that needs filling.
Iβve seen some narrowed minded comments on forums where people donβt see the big picture. They just think Honda came in, raped the sport for all they could get out of it, and then left. Absolutely rubbish. They invested huge amounts with no guarantees of a return, helped the careers of many people and it could be argued brought added credibility to our sport. My father often used to say to us, βyouβre judged by the company that you keepβ. Seeing names like Honda and Nissan in our sport is a big deal.
What do you think the team has brought to mountain biking?
Aside from the obvious like a gearbox that won a World Cup race at its first attempt, there are the out of industry benefits. The media that exposed downhill racing to a brand new audience was huge. We did articles for Vanity Fair, GQ, Sports Illustrated, T3, Stuff and similar magazines, lots of mainstream TV, and even had Formula 1 attention in Lisbon. All that exposes all of us to a wider audience and it was possible through Hondaβs power of dreams vision, and the excitement their participation with the RN01 created. I know in my case it has changed the way I will run any future teams, and hopefully other teams also gain from it.
What do you think the lasting impression will be of the Honda team?
Itβs hard to look into the future, but in the same way that Sunn Chipie and Volvo Cannondale are reference points for quality race teams of the past, I would hope that Team G Cross Honda has a similar legacy. I was always astounded at the public interest in our tech area at the races, even 4 years on, and I think that speaks volumes for laying the foundations of an impressionable legacy. It was an amazing ride, for all of us, and I canβt wait for the next team that comes along to have a similar or greater impact.
So there you have it, the full lo-down direct from the main man. From my point of view the Honda team will be sorely missed. From the intrigue that surrounded the bikes to the exotic array of mechanics that were flown in from around the worldβ¦there were just so many good things about the Honda team. I guess it is still exciting to see what happens next to the riders, and in fact I am getting pretty excited at the prospect of seeing Brendan and Greg in new colours and on new bikes. I guess weβll just have to wait and see. Dirtmag.co.uk would like to take this opportunity to thank Martin Whiteley for giving us the scoop.
Mike Rose
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Post by austinomeng on Oct 22, 2007 5:14:27 GMT 8
yep...downhill circuit will never be the same without gcross honda's RN01
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Post by REDNEB on Oct 22, 2007 9:24:21 GMT 8
wanna know what will happen to the rn01?
wait for it in about 2 quarters of 2008 if the rights n design dont get purchased by the major western manufacturers.... its prolly gonna end up in europe hehehe....
at a price of 2M php / unit..... marketing n selling it would be like offering a ford explorer(2.2M php) to an employee earning 20t/mo? its gna take him 3 lifetimes to afford such.
even if they assimilate reducing the cost to 500k php/unit .... most likely mga 4-6 na tao lang makaka-afford nyan d2 sa pinas.....
..... sayang tho with all the advances n breakthroughs the rn01 has achieved, its prolly the best WC platform that has proven the advancement of the sport in terms of engineering....
..... hehehe...saddening tho
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Post by >rocketman> on Oct 23, 2007 17:09:17 GMT 8
As per company policy that is HONDa all prototypes
will all be sent back to Japan headquarters.
AND ALL WILL BE COMPACTED!
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Post by Great Teacher Ulysses on Oct 23, 2007 21:12:48 GMT 8
huhuhu...
honda management that voted for poor profitability of the bikes are tupid.... Y because profit is there always even in small amounts..... gayahin nila chinese...
marketing suggestion 101 for RN01...
1. HONDA car owners can get a special discount if they intend to purchase the RN01 production.
2. Honda car Buyers (city, civic, cr-v, etc) will get a chance to have 10-20-30% off on Honda Bikes...
3. HONDA luxury car buyers get very generous discount for a RN01 unit...
OR
4. Kidnappers of HONDA FAMILY MEMBERS will get the Unit (rn01) for FREE!
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Post by Alphabolt on Oct 23, 2007 21:22:31 GMT 8
Our DH flag is now at half mast for the RN01
sigh
whatta waste ...for MTBikers ...the only ones who gain are the motorbikers
Now I have 2nd thoughts about one of those RN01s was "borrowed" and not returned ...the technology has a chance to seep through HRC's corporate cracks
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Post by puregutz on Oct 24, 2007 18:48:53 GMT 8
Get inside the Honda RN01 at www.mtbcut.tv/ I didnt know they use rear shock lock out in DH races.
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Post by >rocketman> on Oct 25, 2007 7:40:52 GMT 8
Yes Jay, saw the video watch it boys, they opened the paking gearbox!
It turned out that their gearbox are ordinary sprokets and derailleur
that is 7 speed pa.
it's different from the CVT technology you and i have read in Mountain bike action few years back.
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Post by austinomeng on Oct 25, 2007 10:07:12 GMT 8
@ redneb ... sori brad but im not datu... his handle is troylee... we're riding buddies tho.
saw the video at mtbcut, they say the showa fork has a lock out, nice... but do you think greg use it?
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Post by extendead on Oct 25, 2007 11:52:10 GMT 8
honda gear box was just a hype?? still the conventional roller and sprockets works?? wat they did was to put the drive chain in a box to be isolated from the elements and all the rocks that bang bang the roller?? thats genius.... what about you rocketman???
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Post by coilerblue on Nov 21, 2007 7:30:43 GMT 8
Greg Minnaar joins the Santa Cruz Syndicate Team! November 20th, 2007 Talk about heavy hitters. The Santa Cruz Syndicate is excited to welcome Greg Minnaar onto the Syndicate for the next two downhill racing seasons! We expect the addition of Minnaar to raise the bar even higher for the Syndicate and are eager to get the new Santa Cruz V-10 underneath him. Having Steve Peat, Nathan Rennie, and Josh Bryceland work and train together with Minnaar should elevate the playing field to new levels in the downhill arena.
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Post by austinomeng on Nov 21, 2007 9:09:39 GMT 8
Greg Minnaar Signs With Santa Cruz Syndicate
In arguably the most anticipated signing for the 2008 Mountain Bike race season, 26 year old former World Champion and 2 time World Cup Champion Greg Minnaar (RSA) has today announced he has signed with the Santa Cruz Syndicate for the next 2 years.
After four years of racing for Team G Cross Honda, Minnaar has decided to race the Santa Cruz V10 next year, alongside fellow World Cup race legends Steve Peat and Nathan Rennie. Honda announced the end of its G Cross program last month.
Much speculation has been brewing over the past 5 weeks as to where Greg would race next, but for the South African, the decision was logical: -
"The most important factor for me in choosing a team I race for is the level of support, and the ability to race at my best. It's clear that the Syndicate is driven by people who love to race. To have a race winning bike beneath me as well as team mates that will continue to push me, makes me very excited about the upcoming season. We are going to be a pretty tough team to beat!"
Many of Greg's co-sponsors have been awaiting the announcement of his next team ride and will be confirmed in the coming weeks. However, Greg wanted to pay special tribute to his former major sponsor, Honda: -
"Racing for Team G Cross Honda for the past 4 years was an amazing experience. I had more wins and World Cup podiums on that bike than any other, and the support and friendliness of the whole team made for a very sad day when the announcement came down that it was ending. In this game though, you hope that there is always a new and exciting chapter around the corner, and I'm sure that the Syndicate is going to be an awesome experience for me."
Owner of Santa Cruz Bicycles and founder of the Syndicate, Rob Roskopp says about Greg: -
"The Syndicate, and our approach to it, engenders massive passion for racing and we have built the Syndicate chemistry with a cultivation of athletes that embody a similar appreciation of the family we have built. We believe that Greg will fit into the "family" wonderfully, even though he will be leaving an equally wonderful family behind.
Clearly...Greg has immense passion for his craft, which is evident in his demeanour and race results throughout the many years he has been racing. We strive to support each athlete as an individual under the umbrella of the Syndicate, in order that they may express their individuality in a manner that they feel most happy and have their personal integrity expressed through their sport. We are delighted to have Greg on the Syndicate."
Martin Whiteley of 23 Degrees Sports Management welcomes the news: -
"Our primary focus with our clients is to find them a home that really suits their character and allows them further growth in their racing. Greg has expressed to us several times that he would like to eventually race for the Syndicate so when this opportunity arose, it seemed logical. This team will become an amazing force on the circuit, with Greg, Peaty, Nathan and Josh. It's all very reminiscent of the Sunn Team days where they had several riders who could climb aboard the top box any given weekend. We wish Greg well in his new team."
Greg's first event appearance for the Syndicate will be the Sea Otter Classic, next April.
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Post by austinomeng on Nov 21, 2007 9:16:49 GMT 8
seems 3 vs. 1?
peaty, greg, nathan vs. sam buwang
who's gonna be dominating... the vpp or dw...hmmmm...
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ony
Free Rider
Posts: 207
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Post by ony on Nov 21, 2007 9:20:56 GMT 8
SAMUEL pa rin
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Post by XP on Nov 21, 2007 16:21:24 GMT 8
sam buwang for me parin...hehehe di ba boss ritchie
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Post by CARLOfornicator(censored) on Nov 21, 2007 18:08:06 GMT 8
now im never selling my santa cruz!!!!
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Post by REDNEB on Nov 21, 2007 18:27:08 GMT 8
sam hill will dominate no doubt, you can read all the score cards and stats all you want......
Th most important advantage hill has over the 3 are age..... and in this sport age is a big factor.
hehehehe.... then give it like 5 more years and someone is going to replace hill and his batchmates cuz they'd be like 27 or + and some 18 yr old new hotshot will pop-up and swipe all their asses just like that.... its a vicious cycle tho......
hmmmm............. saan napunta si shaun palmer at si mylez rockwell? hmmmmm.......sniff....
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Post by rcgmachineshop on Nov 21, 2007 19:37:37 GMT 8
Just wait for China to get the design of Honda RN01, a replica of it will be released...
It will be named as Jianshe, Lifan or Kenbo....
Just kidding guys.. Hehehehe..
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Post by PT on Nov 21, 2007 20:23:25 GMT 8
syndicate is number 1.
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