rock Posted October 22, 2007 Posted October 22, 2007 I hope they are not true - word on the street is Minnaar will be on a Trek next season........kaching!!
ChrisH Posted October 22, 2007 Posted October 22, 2007 Iron Horse or even Santa Cruz. That's where my money is.The Oracle has spoken.
javadude Posted October 22, 2007 Posted October 22, 2007 Not sure he'll make as much as with Honda. Apparently that contract was unusually high, even for a downhill world champion.
ChrisH Posted November 21, 2007 Posted November 21, 2007 Iron Horse or even Santa Cruz. That's where my money is. The Oracle has spoken. *Cough Cough* http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/company/?news=1&NewsID=0013
Danger Dassie Posted November 21, 2007 Posted November 21, 2007 "Josh Bryceland excitedly says, ?That's awesome news! I can't think of a much stronger group with Steve, Nathan and Greg!" How true is that, reckon this will be like the power house days of Sunn!
MintSauce Posted November 21, 2007 Posted November 21, 2007 OMG!!!! What a relief....woulda lost some respect for the boy had he signed with Trek!
rock Posted November 21, 2007 Author Posted November 21, 2007 OMG!!!! What a relief....woulda lost some respect for the boy had he signed with Trek! True - but don't forget, Marius rides a Santa Cruz...... Syndicate will kick butt next year.
BMCfan Posted November 21, 2007 Posted November 21, 2007 i thought general motors(delta) is going to give toyota a run for they money when i read the topicbtw - well done to greg for signing syndicate!
MintSauce Posted November 21, 2007 Posted November 21, 2007 btw - well done to greg for signing syndicate! No no....well done to Syndicate for signing Greg. Think he could pretty much choose who he wants to ride for
RodTi Posted November 21, 2007 Posted November 21, 2007 btw - well done to greg for signing syndicate! No no....well done to Syndicate for signing Greg. Think he could pretty much choose who he wants to ride for Hey Minty - not trying to be funny or anything, but have to ask - do you think our boy is still so sought after? Not trying to slag him off at all, what with him flying the flag for us - but surely he should have been regularly placing higher with the backing of the team that he had, i.e. Honda? Or do you think his bike wasn't really all it was cracked up to be? Like I say - not trying to be funny, and nothing would make me happier than reading that actually Minaar is very sought after - I just want to know why? Surely that cannot be based on current performances? Or is it a case of the people in the know, knowing what he is capable of - possibly on a better bike?
rock Posted November 21, 2007 Author Posted November 21, 2007 hmmmm.....2 world cup overall wins, 1 world championship title, more world champ medals than any other current rider (think sam Hill may have caught up tho), 2 Norba titles, even a World cup 4x win, oh and he got 4th at world champs with a dislocated shoulder and broken scapula...... ja is ok-ish.
RodTi Posted November 21, 2007 Posted November 21, 2007 hmmmm.....2 world cup overall wins' date=' 1 world championship title, more world champ medals than any other current rider (think sam Hill may have caught up tho), 2 Norba titles, even a World cup 4x win, oh and he got 4th at world champs with a dislocated shoulder and broken scapula...... ja is ok-ish.[/quote'] Ja Rock. Look - I'm not disputing his record - he has done amazingly well, as is proven by all that you have listed. My question though, was relating to current form... From what I understand, he was looking seriously good in the race before coming off and re-injuring the shoulder... So I'm not arguing about his ability... But just seems to me (and I may be wrong, since I don't follow the DHs as close as what I have in the past), that he has had an awful bit of bad luck at crucial times of late.... Wasn't he also looking good in that race through the town up in Portugal(?), but then came off right near the start? Anyway - point I'm making is that his pedigree is bril - but how much of those you listed have occurred within the last season of two? Wasn't most of that 4/5 years ago? And if so - is he still so sought after now? I hope so - really do.
MintSauce Posted November 21, 2007 Posted November 21, 2007 Rodti....I understand what you mean. I think the general consensus is that he is quite possibly the most talented and professional rider on the circuit but has just had some bad luck. And that last overall World Cup win was on '05 which isn't that long ago. This from his website: 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.
RodTi Posted November 21, 2007 Posted November 21, 2007 Thanks Mint... Ja - 2005 wasn't that long ago - here's hoping he can give that Aussie a run for his money... The two of them on the same bike - going to make comparisons much easier... Sounds like he is still considered to be the bussiness - which is awesome! Here's hoping he leaves the bad luck behind!
MintSauce Posted November 21, 2007 Posted November 21, 2007 Have to say though, the man of the moment is Sam Hill I think. Read an article a couple weeks ago about his race at the Champerey World Cup described by the author as the greatest ride in the history of downhill racing. Read it in some mag but will see if I can find it online
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