Pietermaritzburg World Cup - Friday DH Qualifying

by Fraser Britton
Apr 22, 2011 at 11:48

Riders have an easy day tomorrow with a 9:30-12:30 practice session, and then the afternoon off unless they want to wander over and watch the women's XC.

Old Man Gracia spent the winter training and riding and it's showing. 4th place qualifier for the 32 year old wild man.
Old Man Gracia spent the winter training and riding and it's showing. 4th place qualifier for the 32 year old wild man.
The lower sections of the track here are littered with jumps. Even the mellow parts are potential hucks.
The lower sections of the track here are littered with jumps. Even the mellow parts are potential hucks.
It's all about the details on the World Cup. Hill gets his fresh helmet ready to pair up with a fresh new rainbow jersey.
It's all about the details on the World Cup. Hill gets his fresh helmet ready to pair up with a fresh new rainbow jersey.
Defending World Cup champ Sabrina Jonnier makes her way through one of the last rock gardens on track on her shiny pink Rocky Mountain.
Defending World Cup champ Sabrina Jonnier makes her way through one of the last rock gardens on track on her shiny pink Rocky Mountain.
Steve Peat eyes up the rocks while running flat out in qualifying.
Steve Peat eyes up the rocks while running flat out in qualifying.
Yep, this track does get steep in the lower bits.
Yep, this track does get steep in the lower bits.
Fairclough has been going huge on the lower jumps since yesterday. On the run after this was taken he hucked the big rock mid course to flat, and blew off his feet and wound up rag-dolling through the rock garden. Go big or go home - heal up quick, Brendog.
Fairclough has been going huge on the lower jumps since yesterday. On the run after this was taken he hucked the big rock mid course to flat, and blew off his feet and wound up rag-dolling through the rock garden. Go big or go home - heal up quick, Brendog.
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63 Comments

  • + 39
flag p-romano (Apr 22, 2011 at 12:12)
 Cedric gettin after it this year!!!! (On the hunt as Sam Hill would say)
  • + 14
flag Szlav (Apr 22, 2011 at 12:30)
 Does anyone know how bad Fairclough is hurt? Can he still ride?
  • + 22
flag aoneal (Apr 22, 2011 at 13:03)
 Yep, CG kills it all day long (and of course all night long with the ladies).
  • + 3
flag super-spence (Apr 22, 2011 at 14:15)
 @szlav. dont think they are releasing anything at the moment but he's done his knee which is what we do know!
  • + 4
flag MiloXC3 (Apr 22, 2011 at 16:50)
 What happened to Danny Hart's bike too? He had a mechanical failure.
  • + 2
flag rydindirty (Apr 22, 2011 at 19:12)
 i was wondering how long it would be before sam or bren blew their pedals... the new models look shit to me.
  • + 5
flag turningisfun (Apr 22, 2011 at 19:40)
 the thing is their still running the old models for this race haha
  • + 1
flag rydindirty (Apr 22, 2011 at 20:04)
 looks like the new one to me but then again I am going blind...
  • + 2
flag chochocho (Apr 22, 2011 at 21:24)
 no black stancions on the boxxers this year?
  • + 1
flag hugslyh (Apr 23, 2011 at 3:05)
 hi what does it mean when you "blow your pedals"
  • + 2
flag el-nombre (Apr 23, 2011 at 3:52)
 Slip off both pedals on a big impact and land on your nuts... I assume.
[Reply]
  • + 25
flag The-Dan-Jones (Apr 22, 2011 at 12:46)
 Hand tattoo on Hill? That's interesting, dudes going to look like a Mexican Gangster if he keeps this up.
  • + 7
flag hoshi (Apr 22, 2011 at 13:37)
 I think he has a complete sleeve already... guess he wants to be the badass of DH riding Big Grin go get some Sam!
  • + 5
flag osseus (Apr 22, 2011 at 13:48)
 yeh he has a full sleeve
  • + 3
flag rob-k (Apr 22, 2011 at 14:23)
 he'l be getting on with Riffle soon then
  • - 19
flag KURTSUCKS (Apr 22, 2011 at 14:44) (Below Threshold) show comment
 Sam hill is fat now!hahahah
  • + 12
flag Bmxerch (Apr 22, 2011 at 14:54)
 shit. meant to neg prop this Kurt a*shole. Till you can ride a bike like him, I dont think you should be talking, bud.
  • + 3
flag speedy-rider (Apr 22, 2011 at 17:10)
 @Kurt

If he was fat then its only because he's trying to carry a bit more momentum down the track Wink Not that he'd need it to beat you anyways...
  • + 3
flag panzer103 (Apr 22, 2011 at 17:12)
 @Bmxerch -Chill out!!!
  • + 4
flag MisterHuckMyself (Apr 22, 2011 at 18:23)
 he will look like Andreu soon! haha
  • + 3
flag Bmxerch (Apr 22, 2011 at 18:23)
 I'm not mad ? Just pointing out that he's a dick, dude.
  • + 3
flag KURTSUCKS (Apr 22, 2011 at 23:40)
 hey hey there a lot of f*ckin around here!hahah chill you fanboys hahah..just joking on that one! im actually a sam hill fan as well so...
  • + 2
flag KURTSUCKS (Apr 22, 2011 at 23:46)
 @speedy-rider, yeah man i think thats the strategy going on with him.

he`s like twenty four 0r 5 now so he`s probably moving from a young gun who`s known for speed/ techy and style to big gun category like peaty, minaar, gracia, barel and others who excel in pedaling.
if he does achieve that then wow he`s gonna be techy with power with him. that would mean he`s gonna dominate the circuit hell yeah!
  • + 3
flag lalodh (Apr 23, 2011 at 8:34)
 Mexican gangster???? we dont have as many tattoos as you canadian pot heads do.

Go Greg!!!!!
[Reply]
  • + 16
flag amando96 (Apr 22, 2011 at 12:36)
 Gotta get down on Friday.
  • + 6
flag sagetthegreat (Apr 22, 2011 at 15:17)
 I lol'd so hard
  • + 2
flag winko (Apr 22, 2011 at 23:22)
 hahahaha legend!
[Reply]
  • + 13
flag motostu93 (Apr 22, 2011 at 12:10)
 Fairclough is the man!
  • + 3
flag kyleeiji (Apr 22, 2011 at 12:12)
 brendons killin it! so is CG!!
  • + 13
flag PlumStick13-Magnus (Apr 22, 2011 at 13:01)
 cg up in top 10! how it should be!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag boulder174 (Apr 22, 2011 at 17:14)
 why would Brendan be going so big and taking chances in a qualifing or practice?...he's a great rider and cool guy all around..it'll be a shame if that crash costed him the season..especially at this flat ass XC course.
  • + 2
flag swan3609 (Apr 22, 2011 at 20:25)
 I think the best answer is that he is still a kid.. And he hasnt developed a "race head" yet.. Once he grows up a little more he wont have the desires to send stupid shit that us kids do.. Razz (I am just as guilty as anyone else) and I am sure that once he matures a little bit he will be a huge force on the WC circuit.. Bummer to hear him going down.. hope he heals up quick..
  • + 2
flag baboony (Apr 22, 2011 at 22:13)
 how can anyone that rides a bike for thrills not take a liking to fairclough...i don't care if he hasn't got a 'race head', he'd be the first rider i buy a beer and ask for an autograph and the last rider i'll forget with time
  • + 2
flag swan3609 (Apr 22, 2011 at 22:46)
 I love Brendan, I am just answering boulder174 as to why he would send a monster hit in practice like he did.. I saw a video of him sending a S-works Enduro over like a 50 foot gap and I was sold on the kid.. he kills, I would love to meet him some day.. I am just saying that he will be a huge force on the WC circut once he matures as a racer a bit..

Edit.. Cross reference why I love Brendan

Brendan sending a 50 footer on a Carbon Enduro
  • + 1
flag turningisfun (May 3, 2011 at 4:21)
 he was just testing his line at race pace in qualifying.. your not gona go in blind on your race run, this is what a race head should be, go flat out as fast as you can taking what you thinks the fastest line, not taking a slower line cos the fast ones too hard this is the world cup boss
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag Gardy (Apr 22, 2011 at 12:30)
 where's the Sik Mik pictures?
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag spkeyandy1 (Apr 22, 2011 at 17:12)
 Come on peaty win another worlds for your fellow yorkshire fans Smile
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Idaho (Apr 22, 2011 at 12:12)
 Awesome for Mick qualifying first! Shows he's been training hard in the off-season especially with how much pedaling is involved with this course.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag xenophile (Apr 22, 2011 at 12:13)
 Looks awesome, stoked the season is kicking off! Looking forward to seeing the results. My bet is on Minaar to be a factor in the final round.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag borocks (Apr 22, 2011 at 12:11)
 yeah go big or go home!! but that sucks Fairclough
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag goonrider (Apr 22, 2011 at 14:18)
 so brendog hucked this? http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/6478558/ rock on top right?
or the massive rock roll off thing? http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/6478555/ ?
  • + 1
flag hexhamstu (Apr 22, 2011 at 14:38)
 I'm guessing the second picture the roll off. As it does look sort of huckable, and if as it says in the article he blew off and rag dolled the rock garden, it makes sense. Absolute beast if he did do it! Another man on the hunt! Hope he's not to badly damaged, but if his knee is done in that's his season over in the first qualifier.
  • + 1
flag thurman (Apr 22, 2011 at 15:15)
 That looks beast, I bet he was after some sneaky time to make up for the pedal section. go big or go home !
  • + 1
flag Dave-Man (Apr 23, 2011 at 7:24)
 It was the big rock in the background of the second pic. The one with the wooden ramp down it. It was qualifying so there were points to be won, maybe that's why he was pushing it.

His leg was splinted on site, and he was evacked in an ambulance, sitting in the front seat. Maybe they were just being causious, but it looked like he would not be getting back on a bike this weekend.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag Downhill340 (Apr 22, 2011 at 12:11)
 Will fairclough be racing After his fall?
  • + 0
flag bmxerbear (Apr 22, 2011 at 12:33)
 he didn't quilify, so no.
  • + 1
flag chunter (Apr 22, 2011 at 12:44)
 He still could, the top 20 are protected.
  • + 1
flag elcielo (Apr 22, 2011 at 12:46)
 Actually he did. He has protected rider status. Top 20 get through regardless of their results in the quali round. Now is he hurt and will he race... We'll have to wait until Sunday to find out.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag AussieBoon (Apr 22, 2011 at 16:06)
 Does anyone know where the full qualifying results are???
  • + 2
flag hoolydooly (Apr 22, 2011 at 17:59)
 front page of Vital MTB
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag jungleman (Apr 23, 2011 at 4:36)
 Yeahhh nice to see CG back on top again........such a legend!!!!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag mic9654 (Apr 22, 2011 at 17:04)
 f*ck yea sickmick
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag sngltrkmnd (Apr 22, 2011 at 14:00)
 Can't wait to watch the action!
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag teamdoa (Apr 22, 2011 at 15:09)
 Its hardly worth going big if you end up not being able to race when it counts.
  • + 2
flag hoolydooly (Apr 22, 2011 at 17:58)
 well thats just a gamble that you have to take with DH racing. if it paid off he could have shaved 1 or 2 seconds off.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag IllestT (Apr 22, 2011 at 12:43)
 Gracia's wearing "O" branded knee pads - are they Oakley?
  • + 3
flag The-Dan-Jones (Apr 22, 2011 at 12:46)
 O'Neil mx brand.
  • + 1
flag haegar (Apr 22, 2011 at 13:48)
 Correcting the-dan-jones
It's not exactly O'Neill as this would be the surf brand. The kneepads are O'Neal (MX /Mtb)!
  • + 2
flag evilMonkeeey (Apr 22, 2011 at 13:58)
 O`neal

http://www.oneal-europe.com/
  • + 1
flag isaacds Mod Plus (Apr 22, 2011 at 18:04)
 wild guess, but they're probably his signature o'neal pads...
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Mr-Lemon (Apr 22, 2011 at 12:15)
 Awesome Smile
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag konagoern Plus (Apr 23, 2011 at 2:03)
 stoked for cg!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag JosephBikes (Apr 23, 2011 at 3:31)
 brendog's going big Smile
[Reply]

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