If proof is needed that winners ride Maxxis, NORBA #7 provided it: The company’s sponsored riders won eight races and a total of 21 spots on the podium. The event was held August 18-21 in Snowshoe, West Virginia.
Team Maxxis’ Geoff Kabush battled to first place in men’s cross country despite a muddy, technical course and a serious challenge from another rider. Riding ADvantage in front and Medusa in the rear, Kabush took a decisive lead in the last lap, giving the crowd a “V for victory” sign as he crossed the finish line. The strong finish put Kabush, the defending champion, in the lead for the men’s cross country title. Teammate Mathieu Toulouse also did well, finishing in ninth place despite a mishap early in the race.
The LUNA Chix’ Shonny Vanlandingham took the victory in women’s cross country, after attacking the lead rider on the final climb. Vanlandingham, like Kabush a defending champion, is currently in the lead for the NORBA women’s championship in cross country. Teammate Alison Dunlap, in her last season of professional racing, took third place.
Riders on Maxxis swept all top four spots in the men’s dual slalom. The victory went to Jared Graves of Team Yeti, with Christopher Herndon in second place, John Kirkcaldie of Team Maxxis in third, and Graves’ teammate Rich Houseman in fourth. “I felt solid and had good runs, but I really just tried to keep my nerves under control because I knew I could do well today,” Graves told cyclingnews.com. In the women’s dual slalom, the LUNA Chix’ Kathy Pruitt nabbed a spot on the podium, taking fourth place.
The men’s mountain cross was also a triumph for Maxxis, with a win for Mick Hannah of Team Haro, and Graves in fourth place. Pruitt took fifth place in the women’s mountain cross.
Riders in the short track race had to contend with a course nicknamed the “Hurricane of Pain” by Team Maxxis manager Eric Wallace. Seamus McGrath of Team Haro took first place with Kabush nabbing second and McGrath’s teammate Chris Sheppard in fifth. McGrath gained a formidable lead in the last lap, surging ahead before the final climb.
Taking an early lead and staying in the front group throughout the race, LUNA’s Katerina Hanusova won the women’s short track, with Vanlandingham taking fourth place.
Maxxis swept the top positions in the men’s downhill, with Hannah taking the win in 4.13.9, Graves in second place in 4.16.4, and Kirkcaldie rounding out the top three in 4.19.0. Graves currently leads the series for the men’s downhill.
Pruitt won the women’s downhill in 5.05.6, with Maxxis’ April Lawyer taking third place in 5.28.7.
Maxxis is proud to sponsor all of these fine riders.
