Unless you have been living under a rock for the first quarter of the year, then Keegan Wright will be a name that many of you are now familiar with. The young phenom has been a local quick kid around Rotorua, New Zealand for the last few years but 2017 has been his breakout season. Having won the New Zealand Enduro overall in 2016, he then went on to start 2017 with a bang, winning the Downhill National Cup series overall, Most enduro races he has turned up to, and then really showed what he could do by winning the New Zealand Elite Downhill National Championship ahead of a field that looked like a World Cup weekend.

Keegan Wright and his 2017 Specialized Stumpjumper
Although he looks comfy on board, it hasn't been smooth sailing settling into the new rig.

Keegan Wright - Specialized
Another big change for this coming season has been the move to Fox suspension

Keegan Wright and his 2017 Specialized Stumpjumper


bigquotesWe are really stoked to be working with Keegan for the coming season and have him riding Specialized frames and tyres on the world circuit. We’ve been talking with Keegan for a while and from our first meeting in Rotorua, it was clear that he had his head screwed on and the right attitude towards his sport. Our goal in supporting Keegan is to help him make that next step up to a pro team, following on from the awesome potential he has shown in the last few years. Hopefully, it’s a team that rides Specialized, but we also won’t stand in his way should a good offer from another team come along. Keegan has a massive season of travel coming up which sees him planning to race every EWS, every DH World Cup Round and each of the four Crankworx events. This will be a year he gains a lot of experience and hopefully crack through with a couple of big results. We will definitely be following his progress closely and tuning in to watch him take on the world!James Elvery, Specialized

Keegan Wright - Specialized

How has having WideOpen and Matt helped you so far and helped to influence your racing?

It's been a massive help being with wide Open the past few years, having them only 5/10 minutes from my house is also super handy! Matt has created so many door openings and opportunities, I wouldn't be anywhere close to where I am without the support they have given me, advice and mechanical support! I owe so much to Matt and the boys down there.

Keegan Wright - Specialized

What are your goals for your overseas season this year?

Just try and get some super solid results as well as get to know all the teams. Try and make it onto a world cup team or an Enduro world series team! I would be stoked to try and make the world's team for downhill and try and get some top 20s somewhere. The main thing is to have a heap of fun doing it!

Keegan Wright - Specialized

It sounds like you've got a pretty busy season ahead of you, just what does your Schedule look like?

Busy! I plan to race all 4 Crankworx world tour stops, all EWS rounds, and all DH world cup races plus hopefully World Champs in Cairns.



Keegan Wright - Specialized
Keegan's 2017 Custom S-Works Stumpjumper

Keegan Wright - Specialized
Although Keegan is now on the FOX program, he hasn't received a shock to suit yet so he is running the stock Ohlins shock
Keegan Wright - Specialized
Low key bro - if you know, then you know.
Keegan Wright - Specialized
Keegan Wright - Specialized
FSA Contact Points

Tyre Choice:
Dry – Butcher 2.3 Grid F and R
Wet – Butcher 2.3 Grid F and R
Pressures for this weekend's EWS - 19-21 PSI Front - 23 PSI rear

General:
Bar Width and Rise – 760mm x 25mm
Stack – 20mm
Dropper – 125mm Travel
Drivetrain:
34T front chainring – Sram XO1 10-42t Cassette

Suspension:
Front Pressure: 83PSI – 4 tokens
Rear Pressure: 180 PSI – Rebound fully open
What rear shock will you be running? – Float X2

Keegan Wright and his 2017 Specialized Stumpjumper
Stoke is at an all-time high right now for Keegan

Keegan's 2016/17 Results
1st – NZ DH Series Round 2 – Napier
1st – NZ DH National Series Overall
2nd – Dodzy Memorial Enduro
2nd – Oceania Downhill Championship
1st – NZ Elite DH National Championship
2nd – December 2016 2W Enduro
1st – Feb 2017 2W Enduro
Keegan's Sponsors:
Specialized Frames and Tyres
Fox Suspension
FSA bars, stem, chainguide, crank, headset
Stans No Tubes
Chirs King
Hope - Brakes
ODI Grips
Juice Lubes
POC
SDG Saddles

Keegan Wright is a must watch for a podium position this weekend in the opening round of the 2017 Enduro World Series here in his home town of Rotorua, NZ. It will be interesting to see how he does in the testing conditions, and on a bike he has only had just over a week to ride.


MENTIONS: @cameronmackenzie / @Specialized / @keegan511 / @cameronmackenzie



Author Info:
cameronmackenzie avatar

Member since Mar 6, 2011
66 articles

63 Comments
  • 36 3
 Still: "I plan to race all 4 Crankworx world tour stops, all EWS rounds, and all DH world cup races plus hopefully World Champs in Cairns" and that coming off a busy early season downunder already! Isn't that an overload, how could you keep your form that long?
  • 23 0
 He is young!
  • 27 0
 Have you seen what supercross racers do?
  • 29 0
 "hasn't been smooth sailing settling into his new rig"... how? article didn't seem to elaborate...
  • 3 1
 That's what I was wondering too. Especially as I'm torn between getting a new Stumpy or the new Enduro.
  • 2 1
 It may have been a typo, Cam Mac sometimes makes them (don't we all though).
  • 2 1
 Probably first time on a 29er?
  • 2 0
 @tomlynchwatson: Looks like 650B
  • 2 0
 @Tarekith: The new Enduro has gone more "Enduro" ... great downhill, but not as good uphill. The new Stumpy is pretty much the old Enduro geo, climbs well, descends well, and a bit more lively.
  • 1 0
 @bmcleod: Yeah, I'm just trying to decide how much bike park riding I'm going to be doing more than anything. If it wasn't for that, it would be the stumpy all the way. I've had two Enduros in the past, excellent bikes if a bit heavy for every day (compared to the stumpy anyway).

Thanks for the info though.
  • 1 0
 @bmcleod: yeh i kinda thought that but website shows the 29 frame in that colour combo but the 650 in black. I couldn't make out any decals on wheels or tyres to confirm.
  • 13 1
 Why do so many Specialized riders go for the Stumpjumer over the Enduro? Wasn't Graves riding a Stumpjumper for part of the season last year as well? It looks a bit odd for their enduro racers to race on something other than the flagship "Enduro".
  • 12 0
 As an owner of both bikes - the Stumpjumper is significantly lighter, and in the hands of an expert-level rider, can do damn near anything an Enduro can. Being not an expert level rider myself, I love my Enduro for rock-gardens, but I could totally see myself handling everything on the Stumpy if I were good enough.
  • 2 0
 Graves has a Frankenstein SJ build for EWS this year as well. My guess is that the Enduro doesn't fit him very well.
  • 5 0
 Stumpy is a good choice for most of the trails in Rotovegas for this EWS rd..
  • 1 0
 Graves said that the Enduro just doesn't fit him well, he's between size L and M
  • 2 0
 He has been riding a glory/trance combo for a couple of years. So stumpy matches with that...
everything has been progressing up too, stumpys now 150 and enduros 170. (actually just had a look out of curiosity, its pretty funny how similar a 2009 enduro is in geometry to a 2016 stumpjumper! www.pinkbike.com/product/specialized/Enduro-SL-Comp)
Plus Rotorua is almost all trail bike suitable trails. basically zero rocks and not a lot of big drops.
  • 1 0
 graves has always run shorter suspension travel in the rear no matter what bike he has been on.
  • 1 0
 @salespunk: yeah and the enduros have so much travel now. I imagine they're too wallowy when u need to put the hammer down. Stumpy 29 takes a 160 fork no problem. I copied graves and did the same thing.
  • 15 2
 Normally Im not that into Specialized, but that is one hell of a sexy bike!
  • 5 1
 Exactly my thoughts. That color combo is mint
  • 10 0
 First thing that I think about after reading this was - "I have been living under a rock for the first quarter of the year" :/
  • 12 2
 i still dont understand how they run such low psi . anything below 27 and i flat
  • 1 0
 What tires do you use? In the past I ran 30-front 32-rear with lighter tires. I switched to a heavy tire with a stiffer sidewall (Schwalbe Super Gravity) and now i run ~20-front and ~22-rear. With a set of Michelin Wild Rockr 2, because the sidewall isnt' as stiff as the Schwalbe, I run about 28-30 again
  • 3 0
 @glenward:
dh casing maxxis 2.5 13-1400 gram tires .... yeah
  • 4 0
 @driftmonster: Wow. you must be riding some gnarly rocky stuff. My condolences to your tires and rims
  • 2 1
 Comes down to rider style. Some people are smash and grab and some are melted butter. Advantages to both. Personally I run really low pressures and don't have issues.
  • 1 0
 @glenward: sometimes lol nah theyre good
  • 1 0
 Rim width has alot to do with it too. On my old WTB 23mm inner width rims I couldnt go below 30 PSI without pinch flatting on my new FLOW MK3 29mm Inner width (same as Keegan has in photos above) I am happy at 23 and 20 PSI with the same Maxxis Minions 2.35 EXO and 3C as I was running on the WTB.
  • 1 0
 @xaos: 35mm internal 27 psi on 900 gram tires with huch norris
and my dh bike 27mm internal
yeah lol
  • 1 0
 @driftmonster: Maybe your just railing the berms too hard haha. I think numbers are a bit over rated, really just comes down to what works for you, your bike and where you are doing it. 3-7 PSI and a couple mm between my trail 29er and your DH bike aint much or a difference really. I am just glad the snow is off the ground and I can peddle again!
  • 1 0
 Remember that the average pump that isn't brand new is probably plus or minus 5 or more psi from what the accurate measurement is
  • 4 0
 Pretty amazing to see the progression from that scrawny little brat always up the front of the shuttle in vegas no matter when you went riding, to arguably the countries top rider. All in a few years. Maybe bmx is the perfect development sport for all round riders, seemed to work well for someone else eh.
  • 3 0
 Yeah boy! Super stoked for this dude. Got to admit tho, I'm also keen to hear a bit more about what made this rig hard to get a leg over....and why going with the S made sense over the Giant he's been riding so hard on. No hate, just interested.
  • 6 0
 But what does his Demo look like??!
  • 1 0
 not sure about the tire pressure....even mor unsure about the tire pressure together with the susp. pressure....rather firm suspension with rather soft tire....seems likan inst-flt to me....or maybe he s running on that schwalbe pro-core garbage....that could explain the pressures...maybe......

anybody know the sollution?
  • 4 0
 Rebound fully open?? I guess rodeo is a thing in NZ.
  • 3 0
 tee says Marzocchi, bike says Fox??
  • 4 0
 Same thing nowadays... ^^
  • 3 1
 He rode Zocchi before the switch, prob hadn't got his new sponsors digs yet and since same parent company now no conflict of interest, give the kid a break, did u check his socks and jocks as well sheesh!!
  • 1 0
 @Maverickdh00: I was just curious, didn't know if he was gonna be running zocchi which would be cool but thanks for the info Smile
  • 1 0
 @Maverickdh00: but the special ed s at the top of the wide open shirt is new,,,,
  • 3 0
 Congrats Keegs, well deserved, well done mate, all the best...
  • 2 0
 Great article and best of luck to Keegan. As always, would be great to know rider's weight and height for bike checks ; )
  • 2 0
 Don't be surprised to see him Podium in Rotorua. He basically lives and sleeps on those trails.
  • 1 0
 Shot Keegan, good work bro , well deserved , you have come a long way from that cheeky little shit Smile
  • 1 0
 I'm gonna put this out there, barring injury or a mechanical Keegan will win the Rotorua EWS.
  • 2 0
 Actually I have been living under a rock, is that bad?
  • 1 0
 was Marzocchi not taken over by FOX while back?
  • 1 0
 Good morning! Big Grin
  • 1 0
 Ooh love that colour on a bike
  • 1 0
 he was winning on giant trance all the time!!!
  • 1 0
 I still can't figure out if that's a 29er or 650b.
  • 1 0
 Congratulations, major step! All the best for 2017!
  • 1 0
 crazy results. totally crushing it.
  • 1 1
 Why would you market NZ's national DH champion on a stumpjumper?
  • 1 0
 Because the Stumpy is the best choice for the trails selected in this round for RotoVegas EWS rd, The Enduro still be good but too much bike for many of those trails, Keegan could ride the Stumpy as fast as the Enduro down most near trails no probs, but many of the trails this time aren't as narly as the 2015 rd!
  • 1 2
 I wish spesh sold the stumpjumper as a frame only option and that colour scheme
  • 1 1
 @rjdelly: not in England am afraid
  • 1 0
 *Chris King
  • 1 0
 Is that frame an XL?







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