Monster Energy/Iron Horse/Mad Catz Racing Team Sweeps WC DH Titles
SAN DIEGO (Aug. 29, 2006) – Monster Energy/Iron Horse/Mad Catz Racing’s Sam Hill and Sabrina Jonnier both captured gold at the UCI World Championships in Rotorua, New Zealand on board the 2007 dw-link equipped Iron Horse Sunday downhill bikes.
“We’re all very proud of Sam and Sabrina; happy they both achieved their goals in such adverse conditions, as well as not being the favorites to win,” said Sean Heimdal, Team Manager for Monster Energy/Iron Horse/Mad Catz Racing. “It’s great that they were able to share this experience with the team and it will be exciting having them wearing the World Championship colors!”
“And again, from our racers, to their families, friends, sponsors, and to all the fans of the team, I can’t thank them enough for their support this year. Thank you!”
The World Championship win for Hill was the first ever for an Australian in the elite men’s division. Qualifying close to fellow countryman Nathan Rennie (who won the qualifier), Hill wasn’t sure he’d be there in the end with all the talent that followed him in the main event; even though he bested previous fastest run by another Australian, Chris Kovarik, by more than seven seconds.
“I was pretty nervous waiting for those last guys to come down,” said Hill of the final several riders, which included rival Greg Minnaar (South Africa). “I'm actually pretty surprised to be up here. I didn't think I could make up that much time from qualifying. My run was flawless. I tried to be smooth, not lose too much time in the technical bits, and start pedaling right away when I was through them.”
For Jonnier there was a bit of poetic justice in winning her first-ever World Championship. With the retirement of Anne-Caroline Chausson, who had won the World Championships every year (sans ’04) dating back to 1993, Jonnier headed up a list of the world’s top women downhill racers that included racers from all over the globe.
Qualifying second behind UCI World Cup DH points leader Tracey Moseley (Great Britian), Jonnier smoked the tires out of the starting gate and never let up through the finish line to take the win.
“I pedaled like a crazy woman!” exclaimed an elated Jonnier from the podium. “I started so fast and just backed off a little bit for the woods. Before the rock garden at the bottom I made a mistake and slid a little bit, but I think everybody had some problems, so my run was almost perfect.”
Next week Hill and Jonnier head to Austria for the final round of the UCI World Cup Series on September 9-10. Hill is the defending DH champ of the race at Schladming.
Lending a hand to the Monster Energy/Iron Horse/Mad Catz racing team are sponsors: Alligator Cables (shifter cables), Avid (brakes), Crank Brother (pedals), DT Swiss (wheels, rims, hubs, and spokes), E13 (chainguides), Five Ten (shoes), FSA- Cranks (bottom brackets, seatposts, headsets), FUNN (handlebars and stems), Maxima (lubes), Maxxis (tires), Minoura (trainers), Rock Shox (suspension), Selle Italia (saddles), SRAM (drivetrain), THE (chainstay protectors) and Troy Lee Designs (ride gear).
About Team Monster Energy/Iron Horse/Mad Catz Formed in 2003, the Iron Horse/Mad Catz Team has quickly become one of the world’s elite professional mountain bike programs. Focusing on the disciplines of downhill and four cross racing, the team has been a breeding ground for champions and stars of the sport. Over the past three seasons, Team riders have won the Jr. World Championship, World Cup Overall, three US Open Championships, two Australian National Championships, and Canadian National Championship. Team Sponsors for the 2006 season include: Alligator Cables, Avid, Crank Brother, DT Swiss, E13, Five Ten, FSA, FUNN, Maxima, Maxxis, Minoura, Rock Shox, Selle Italia, SRAM, THE and Troy Lee Designs. You can keep up with the latest Iron Horse/Mad Catz team news at www.madcatzracing.com.
About Monster Energy Drink Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it mt. bike, motocross, surf, skate, snow, BMX – name it – the athletes are rockin’ Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out all the flavors – Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault and the new Monster/fruit juice hybrid called “Khaos.” Sam Hill digs it – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterenergy.com.
About Iron Horse Bicycle Co., LLC Iron Horse Bicycle Company, LLC (www.ironhorsebikes.com) is a bicycle manufacturer based on Long Island, New York. Iron Horse has built a name for itself with a combination of innovative bicycle designs, aggressive pricing, and a top-notch racing program. The line has grown to over 50 models of mountain bikes, road bikes, comfort bikes, juvenile bikes, and hybrids.
Iron Horse's use of top frame designs has set it apart from others in the cycling industry. Workings with engineer Dave Weagle, Iron Horse’s line of dual suspension models are at the cutting edge of bicycle frame design. Iron Horse’s dw-link and single pivot dual suspension bikes have received acclaim from riders for their handling and top shelf components.
About Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. Mad Catz Interactive, Inc (www.madcatz.com), designs, manufactures and markets a full range of accessories for the video game console and hand held markets. The only "pure play" in the fast growing video game accessory segment, Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. is publicly held and trades on the American Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol MCZ. Founded in 1989, Mad Catz employs 100 people and is the leading third party video game accessories company in the world with fiscal year 2002 sales of $83.3 million. Mad Catz' corporate headquarters are in Toronto, Ontario, with operations headquartered in San Diego, California, where design, engineering, sales, marketing, and finance functions are based. Mad Catz' Hong Kong and China-based staff supervise all manufacturing, which the Company outsources to contract factories in Southern China. Mad Catz' products are sold and distributed globally under the Mad Catz brand. The company maintains a 95,000 square foot distribution facility in Mira Loma, California and supplies its products to over 12,000 domestic and international retail locations including, AAFES, Babbages, Best Buy, Blockbuster, CompUSA, Electronics Boutique, FuncoLand, Future Shop, GameStop, KB Toys, K-Mart, Musicland, Sam's Club, Target, and Wal-Mart. In early 2002, Mad Catz opened a London office and warehouse to help service the quickly growing European market while also developing additional retail distribution. The Company's UK operations supply retailers including ASDA, Currys, Dixons, Game, HMV, PC World, and Toys-R-Us. Mad Catz has distributors in every other significant market in the world, including South America, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and Japan.
For more information on the Iron Horse/Mad Catz Racing Team please contact Team Manager Sean Heimdal at sean@madcatzracing.com.
“We’re all very proud of Sam and Sabrina; happy they both achieved their goals in such adverse conditions, as well as not being the favorites to win,” said Sean Heimdal, Team Manager for Monster Energy/Iron Horse/Mad Catz Racing. “It’s great that they were able to share this experience with the team and it will be exciting having them wearing the World Championship colors!”
“And again, from our racers, to their families, friends, sponsors, and to all the fans of the team, I can’t thank them enough for their support this year. Thank you!”
The World Championship win for Hill was the first ever for an Australian in the elite men’s division. Qualifying close to fellow countryman Nathan Rennie (who won the qualifier), Hill wasn’t sure he’d be there in the end with all the talent that followed him in the main event; even though he bested previous fastest run by another Australian, Chris Kovarik, by more than seven seconds.
“I was pretty nervous waiting for those last guys to come down,” said Hill of the final several riders, which included rival Greg Minnaar (South Africa). “I'm actually pretty surprised to be up here. I didn't think I could make up that much time from qualifying. My run was flawless. I tried to be smooth, not lose too much time in the technical bits, and start pedaling right away when I was through them.”
For Jonnier there was a bit of poetic justice in winning her first-ever World Championship. With the retirement of Anne-Caroline Chausson, who had won the World Championships every year (sans ’04) dating back to 1993, Jonnier headed up a list of the world’s top women downhill racers that included racers from all over the globe.
Qualifying second behind UCI World Cup DH points leader Tracey Moseley (Great Britian), Jonnier smoked the tires out of the starting gate and never let up through the finish line to take the win.
“I pedaled like a crazy woman!” exclaimed an elated Jonnier from the podium. “I started so fast and just backed off a little bit for the woods. Before the rock garden at the bottom I made a mistake and slid a little bit, but I think everybody had some problems, so my run was almost perfect.”
Next week Hill and Jonnier head to Austria for the final round of the UCI World Cup Series on September 9-10. Hill is the defending DH champ of the race at Schladming.
Lending a hand to the Monster Energy/Iron Horse/Mad Catz racing team are sponsors: Alligator Cables (shifter cables), Avid (brakes), Crank Brother (pedals), DT Swiss (wheels, rims, hubs, and spokes), E13 (chainguides), Five Ten (shoes), FSA- Cranks (bottom brackets, seatposts, headsets), FUNN (handlebars and stems), Maxima (lubes), Maxxis (tires), Minoura (trainers), Rock Shox (suspension), Selle Italia (saddles), SRAM (drivetrain), THE (chainstay protectors) and Troy Lee Designs (ride gear).
Iron Horse's use of top frame designs has set it apart from others in the cycling industry. Workings with engineer Dave Weagle, Iron Horse’s line of dual suspension models are at the cutting edge of bicycle frame design. Iron Horse’s dw-link and single pivot dual suspension bikes have received acclaim from riders for their handling and top shelf components.
For more information on the Iron Horse/Mad Catz Racing Team please contact Team Manager Sean Heimdal at sean@madcatzracing.com.
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