Marzocchi: 2012 Race Season Recap

Dec 5, 2012
by Marzocchi MTB Suspension  
photo

MARZOCCHI: A Season At The Top:
From the victory at the Marathon World Championship to the first place achieved in the overall UCI Gravity Team ranking, the 2012 season has brought about great honour and satisfaction to the Italian brand. Such success came thanks both to the rider’s skill level and the high quality of the suspension.

2012 World Marathon Champs in France

The most recent success arrived at the beginning of the last October, close to Ornas (France), where the last round of the World Marathon Championship took place. The race, vied in the worst weather and course conditions, was won by the Greek Periklis Ilias, who runs in the Italian team Protek, already a winner, during the season, of a UCI Marathon Series stage, in Laissac. Periklis is equipped with Marzocchi Corsa SL Carbon 29” fork, provided with MWorks setup, characterized by 80 mm excursion. But the Marathon isn’t the only sport which has seen strong results. In fact, thanks to the partnership with the MS Mondraker team, in 2012 Marzocchi came back to victories in Downhill. The Austrian team has gained no less than 4194 points during the season, conquering the top spot of the ranking in the UCI Championship in the Gravity category. The team has reached success covering this path, as Emmeline Ragot’s victory in Fort William in June or Brook MacDonald’s triumph in Val d’Isère at the end of July.

Another day on the job Emmeline had a season on top at every race

 1 at Val d Isere

Many others have to be thanked for their efforts: Michal Prokop got 2nd in the overall 4-cross UCI ranking and won the world cup race in Fort William; the young Thanée Seagrave confirmed herself as one of the growing talents of the UCI Downhill Championship (2nd UCI Junior Downhill Champs at Leogang), while the acrobatic Thomas Genon surprised everybody conquering events with first places at the Red Bull Joyride, during the Crankworx held in August in Whistler (Canada), which, at the end of the season, contributed in gaining him the third overall position in the FMB World Tour ranking. Honorable mention for Andreu Lacondeguy and Sam Pilgrim, who also have good placings in the slopestyle competitions. In the women’s field: the young Anoshina Katerina, part of the Protek team, conquered the first position in the first run of the Under23 Cross Country World Cup, held in South Africa on March 17th. Marzocchi athletes also had a leading role in the national and world cup championships, such as the Italian Superenduro Championship, led by Davide Sottocornola and Andrea Bruno, the US Downhill Champ Jackie Harmony, and the National Gravitalia Championship, where athletes as Oscar Harnstrom and Lorenzo Suding imposed themselves. Other races have to be mentioned, such as the Catalan Downhill Cup, won by the spanish Bernat Guardia, and the Maxiavalanche in Cervina, dominated by Damien Oton. Marzocchi riders who took part to the downhill and cross country competitions used aftermarket products, equal to the ones available to the end user, improved with the MWorks set up.

Thomas taking the win at the 2012 Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx in Whistler.

MWorks
MWorks is a set up developed with the Marzocchi Racing Division, in conjunction with the design and engineering team, made available to our elite level racers in 2012 and, starting in 2013, to the end consumer. When considering the rider’s weight, riding style and course conditions, we are able to tune for an optimum setting that results in the best possible bump absorbtion and wheel tracking to keep you at speed and confident on your bike! MWorks is a culmination of many successful years from a variety of technical staff working together for the same goal – your best experience on the bike. MWorks is an evolving program and approach that will change as we develop new technologies and we all push ourselves further and farther on the trail! The most important thing is that MWorks makes it to you. We have a reputation for our suspension being the most race ready out-of-the-box and this is because what we learn through the MWorks program we make sure becomes production. From improved negative springs in our AER system for a more linear air spring curve to the re‐shimmed V.2 piston, we make sure the consumer benefits from the hard efforts our technical staff and elite racers endure.

About Marzocchi
Few names could boast about a heart beating tradition as Marzocchi does. Founded in 1949, the company has been leading for more than 60 years in the field of projecting and producing forks and shocks. Starting from the fifties, Marzocchi began to be recognized as one of the most important suppliers for those eminent motorcycle brands as Ducati, Mondial and Benelli. The company has never stopped and has always been a step ahead his competitors, being leaded by such worths as passion, curiosity and pride, always aiming to the maximum quality and innovation. Starting from September 1st 2008, Marzocchi’s suspension division is part of Tenneco, a US industrial group operating globally. The competencies coming from the two companies merged up, giving birth to the Tenneco Marzocchi S.r.l.

About Tenneco
Tenneco is a $7.2 billion global manufacturing company with headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois and approximately 24,000 employees worldwide. Tenneco is one of the world largest designers, manufacturers and marketers of emission control and ride control products and systems for the automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment markets and the aftermarket. Tenneco markets its products principally under the Monroe®, Walker® and Clevite® Elastomer brand names.

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26 Comments
  • 23 1
 I hope to see Marzocchi continue. I rode on a 55RC3ti last year and it is absolutely the best long travel trail fork on the market. The fork absolutely blows away the 36 and the Lyrik. Plush. Traction. Bottomless. Active. Linear. Sensitive. Lively. Smooth. Stout. Easy to service. And Marzocchi has the balls to give the air head dominated market what it really needs - a TITANIUM spring. No need for half truth marketing lingo or magic potion words such as "coil like" or "linear air spring" or "near coil like performance". Marzocchi delivers a moto-worthy fork, with a full range of damper adjustments, a real spring and all in a very well lubricated and easy to service damper.

You are on the right track again(after derailing for a few years). Please don't change.

I had to get that off my chest. Phew.
  • 8 0
 I love my 55 RC3 too. Great fork, that performed well right out of the box.
  • 6 0
 DVo or what.. i'm starving myself to get 888-rc2-evo-ti
  • 5 0
 Trudat! Came from a Lyrik Coil and 36 TALAS and my 55 RC Ti just blew them away!
  • 3 0
 Glad to see these comments, has i get my rc3 55 ti evos today HAPPY DAYS!
  • 4 0
 DVO rear shock maybe, but my forks are all marzocchi, too bad they stopped making the "trail iron" (66) hope it will make a comeback!
  • 22 0
 Bring back the 66!
  • 5 1
 i went out of my way recently to buy one used, as opposed to a totem. best decision ever.
  • 3 2
 Bring back the 66!
  • 1 1
 It'l be back next year Wink
  • 3 0
 The 66 was discontinued in 2013 because the factory where they where building them dropped Marzocchi, so Marzocchi went to a different factory company. The new factory had all the machines to build all of Marzocchi's forks except for the 66. But, if they wanted to start manufacturing the 66 again they would have to buy the machines from the last factory and it wouldn't be cheap. So for the foreseeable future there won't be a Marzocchi 66 which pisses all freeriders off including myself. If anyone is intersted in buying a Marzocchi 66 2012 model or and Marzocchi fork for that matter call Krakatoa Bikes. It's a global bike outfitter and is one of the biggest Marzocchi distributors in the U.S. He would be glad to order you a Marzocchi fork. If you are intersted call (415)-453-0333 or you can reach him on PinkBike username-krakatoabikes
  • 7 1
 perhaps this is because of all the dvo posts lately, I still like marzocchi and my 2007 888rc2x still kicks ass, but It will be interesting to see what both dvo and marz come up with next season as its time to finally get a new fork.
  • 3 0
 Marzocchi is the best suspension company in the world. My friend and I swapped forks for a week, im using his 40 RC2's and he is using my 888 R's. First day i rode them i knew i wanted to trade back. I like my 888's more, even if they don't have the tuning the 40 does, i find them more smooth
  • 5 0
 They should have a new 888 for next year. will be an air unit at about 6lbs.
  • 9 4
 marzocchi is hands down the best suspension on the market.
  • 8 10
 and you couldn't be more wrong.
  • 3 0
 finialy some very much deserved marzocchi love, i love my 2011 888 rc3 evo, but got a chance in new year of picking up a TiNi coated proto 888 Big Grin
  • 3 2
 Great too see this Zocchi love. They build the best suspension I have owned to date! I don't know why they don't get more love. They had a few bad years, but I just came off a full race season on my 888 Rc3 Evo Ti. I had zero issues. 888 had the same plush feel at the last race as the first. I am entering into a winter series on the same fork and expect zero issues. I can't say the same thing for the 40 or the boxxer I owned. I had to service them every two weeks to keep things plush.
  • 1 0
 I have a 2011 888 RC3 EVO ti and a 2012 55 RC3 EVO ti, both with the werks package. Apparently the 55 used the same damper cartridge as the 888, and it shows. That little fork is amazing. It can take way more than I am able to throw at it. Both are super reliable, just change the oil twice a year in spring and fall and they are issue free. Also a 3 year warranty on a freeride fork is amazing, and living in North Vancouver you can get warranty and service just down the road. Marzocchi are back on their game...
  • 1 0
 I've been running the Evo V2 ti since Jan12 and they were pretty good while they worked. It is annoying though that I had to remove the Va chamber, the foam rings, run triple the amount of oil in the spring side to make it work her best. I also had to wait 4 month for the right spring which weighs more than twice that of the stock spring and to top it off I now have to buy a new casting because the bushings aren't sold separately anymore. Also their German distributor and service (Cosmic) is a utter and complete joke. I really liked MZ and I've been running several on two bikes but now I just hope DVO will do a better job.
  • 1 0
 You have instilled me with confidence haha, my 888 evo v2 ti is across in germany for warranty repair or replacement. I had to run the extra firm spring in mine. I've given up on marzocchis and ordered a set of dorados.
  • 1 0
 I'm running the x-firm too, only had to wait for it more than 4 month. The only helpful people at Marzocchi I came across were Mike from MZ USA and the dudes from MZ North Van. I still find it weird having to go across the pond for decent service. Oh yeah according to the German service the stock spring is fine up to 200 lbs and the VA (bottom out control) can be used to compensate for too light a spring (I thought I was on "pranked" when I got that piece of advice).

On the other hand my gf's 2011 66 ti is one of the best working forks I have ever come across...
  • 1 0
 yeah bit of a hit or a miss, I think the marzocchis as standard are good for people who don't ride hard and want travel that soaks up every little bump in the trail. I find I can ride harder with old 32mm boxxer world cups as they can actually take the big hits, it gets dangerous on the marzocchis.
  • 2 0
 66, great suspension, lots of amazing memories, come back!! now i get 888-rc3-evo-ti with my turner, hehe ,old guys. but Marzocchi is my favourite brand. aha
  • 2 0
 66RC3 on my pos Trail bike, Like it better then the Boxxer on my DH.
  • 1 0
 I love my marzocchi bomber fork







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