Belgian Gravity Team

Gregoire Pazdziorko - Copyright: Christophe Bortels

The 3 riders of the Barracuda-Kona Team showed a solid peformance in La Roche (Belgium) for the 3rd round of the Nissan DH Cup. La Roche is now a well-known track on the circuit and requires a lot of flow from the rider on the top section. The new spectacular last part was the place to be for the public as you could follow the riders on the very steep last 30 seconds of the course. The finish line was just after a 20 meters bridge built just for the occasion.
The surprise of the week-end came from Gregoire Pazdziorko who grabed 1st place overall ! After a top ten in qualifying, the U-17 belgian champion took advantage of the rain falling for the super final. Where other riders had some troubles on this steep track, Gregoire placed the perfect run and took a confortable position in the hot seat !
Kristof Lenssens had more troubles riding those wet roots. His fast run was not quick enough to stand on the top of the classification but he ended 1st in the elite category.
After taking 1st in the qualifying round, Bertrand Gilles was the last man on track. His run was very impressive to follow on the Voo giant screen but after having the best intermediate time, Bertrand lost precious seconds on the last section and finally took the 3rd position in the Elite category !
The team will now have two weeks dedicated to training before the IXS Cup in Bad Wildbad (Germany).

Gregoire Pazdziorko - Copyright: Christophe Guilloteaux

Last week-end, the Lac Blanc, one of France’s most famous bikeparks, held an international DH race which attracted the creme of the French DH scene. The Lac blanc is well known for his rough and physical tracks. Gregoire Pazdziorko has made a solid performance by wining the U17 category in a time of 2′54″34. The overal classification was won by local hero Remy Thirion. Next week-end Gregoire will take part at the second round of the French Cup in Val d’Isere.

Bertrand Gilles and Kristof Lenssens represented the Barracuda/Kona team in Maasmechelen (Belgium) where the local bikepark hosted the third edition of the Kona Freeride Series. This event is a public’s favorite with the short and spectacular track and an always cool atmosphere. The flying ducthmen Joost Wichman and Daniel Prijkel has taken advantage of their 4X skills to take the first places. Bertrand Gilles was fourth, just a second behind the best time while Kristof Lenssens took sixth place on his Kona Cowan

Kristof Lenssens - Copyright: Christophe Bortels

A fall on Friday and a bruised thumb = a week-end to forget for Kristof Lenssens @ Fort William World Cup ! 118th overall…

See you next week in Leogang…

Kristof Lenssens - Copyright: Christophe Bortels

This year’s Belgian DH championship took place during the Houffalize MTB festival, a great event mixing XC, 4X, DH and marathons races. The perfect place for the Barracuda DH Team to show his strenghts in front of a huge crowd wich showed at race day.
The track had a very physical top section mixing berms, jumps and pedaling sections. The last half was very spectacular with some scary drops and a funny high speed section that brought you to the finish line with some jumps. Qualifications went well for our team riders with Kristof Lenssens taking first place, Bertrand Gilles finishing fourth and Gregoire Pazdziorko already standing first in the U17 category.
Gregoire was the first rider down for the team and rode clean fast lines to take his first national title ! With the talent and motivation he showed from the begining of the season we an be sure it is not the last one !
Then came Bertrand Gilles, defending elite champion, really motivated about this race and who took the start ready to give everything. Whilst trying to push past his limits he made a big mistake in the top section which made him lose a lot of speed. Bertrand made a super fast and spectacular last section which gave him a well deserved second place, 0,9 second behind winner Nico Vink.
Last man to start was Kristof Lenssens who managed to ride a good clean and fast run but not enough to défend his first place in qualifying. Kristof ended 3rd and completed a really succesful week-end for the Barracuda DH Team. 3 riders, 3 podiums and a first national titel for Gregroire Pazdziorko !

Next stop for the team will be Todtnau (Germany) this coming week-end for the second round European IXS DH Cup.

The team Barracuda/Kona has signed Gregoire Pazdziorko, the 15 year old Belgian DH rider, as a new member of the gang for the 2011 season. Gregoire will team up with reigning belgian DH champion Bertrand Gilles and Kristof Lenssens on the 2011 team roster

Gregoire Pazdziorko has achieved some notable results in 2010 which include winning the overall in his age category of the Nissan DH Cup. “We’re delighted that Gregoire has chosen the team Barracuda-Kona for next season” says Pierre Burton, representing the team Barracuda-Kona. « It is important for us to help young talented riders. It was one of our primary goals when we’ve started the team 3 years ago ».

“I’m super excited to have signed with the best DH team in Belgium and I am really looking forward to ride and learn with Bertrand and Kristof”, says Gregoire Pazdziorko.

The three riders will ride the Supreme Operator, the brand new fast and sexy DH bike from Kona Bicycles.