Video INTERVIEW - The Downhill G.O.A.T. Greg Minnaar Racing NORCO Bicycles

Рет қаралды 84,261

Күн бұрын

Downhill mountain bike racing legend, Greg Minnaar, announced that he joined Norco Bicycles after 16 years with the Santa Cruz Syndicate. Minnaar has more Mountain Bike World Cup Downhill victories than any other Elite male racer. While 2023 was supposed to be his farewell season after two-and-a-half decades of racing, a flat tire at World Championships in Fort William left Greg with a poor result and a hunger to end his competitive career on a high note. When Santa Cruz decided to let Greg go, he found a new home at Norco. In this interview we talk with Greg about that change, the possible challenges of working with a new bike and team, as well as his expectations for the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup DH race season.
Video Contents
0:00 - Intro / Is He on FOX or RockShox?
3:31 - Any Other Sponsor Changes?
4:21 - Why Didn't He Retire in 2023?
7:55 - Did He Try to Stay with Santa Cruz Syndicate?
10:50 - Norco's Race Engineering Program
13:09 - How Will He Adapt to the Norco Prototype DH Bike?
16:17 - From VPP to High-Pivot to DH Bike
20:20 - Does Suspension Platform Really Matter?
22:30 - The Source - Norco Junior Development Team
25:29 - What If He Doesn't Get Results or Gets an Injury?
30:44 - 2024 Race Goals
32:48 - Insight into 2024 World Cup DH Format
36:06 - Would He Wear the Fox One-piece Suit like Christian Craig?
36:58 - What Will He Miss Most about The Syndicate?
Thanks to ‪@MaxxisTiresUSA‬ , ‪@FOXFACTORY‬ and ‪@jensonusabicycles‬ for supporting Vital MTB's The Inside Line podcast.
#MTB #mountainbike #downhill

Пікірлер: 111

@alanmartinezrodriguez884 5 ай бұрын

Greg winning one of the world's stages on a Norco would be just epic, let alone winning the world cup and retire. That would remind us that as important as bicycle brands are, they're not more important than the riders themselves. Go Greg! 🤙

@thingswelike 5 ай бұрын

Editing in the race footage and Norco footage was such a great idea. Really slick!

@dillydean 5 ай бұрын

As a huge Norco fan for years now this gets me real excited! I know it doesn't really matter but it's crazy to hear he's on Norco of all brands

@ElBikeShop 5 ай бұрын

I'd be really interested in hearing a comparison from Greg between Fox and RS suspension, and what made him decide, apart from being used to it 😅

@amir_mtb 5 ай бұрын

Second that! I'm assuming it wasn't a sponsorship decision?

@thingswelike 5 ай бұрын

I don't think many pros will answer questions like that. It's just not classy and also, it's not a good idea to burn any bridges.

@onlysends696 5 ай бұрын

@@thingswelikeif companies cannot take constructive criticism from pros in order to make their products better, then they shouldn’t be racing

@ollialanko699 5 ай бұрын

Greg has ridden Fox so long, it'd probably require some kind of magic from RS to send a perfectly shimmed fork to compete with that. It'd require time and testing for sure.

@thingswelike 5 ай бұрын

@@onlysends696 Constructive criticism from a pro in private is probably welcome. Not in public.

@acarter028 3 күн бұрын

Listening to Greg he is fully into Norco and feels the team is behind him and should have made the change years ago. He sounds like a new man. Hugely impressive

@scott8277 5 ай бұрын

100% worth the 40 min. Greg's a great guy and interview. say it all a guy who wants to grow the sport and people beyond himself. knowledge is power

@NextLevelRiding 5 ай бұрын

Stoked to see all this unfold. Great interview, stoked for the entire team. Gracey and Lucas have an awesome mentor now. I hope Mark is handing this all ok, sure is disappointing they couldn't keep Mark on another year. Wishing everyone all the best for the upcoming season!

@adrianwilkinson2547 5 ай бұрын

A very confident Greg has to be a terrifying thought for the rest of the men’s DH field! He’s such a gentleman and inspiring character 🤘❤️🌈🕊️🌎

@thegibbonisreal 5 ай бұрын

This was SOOO much better than the PB interview. Congrats/

@gavinbrown6046 5 ай бұрын

Great interview. I'm really looking forward to seeing how things shape up with Greg and the Norco team. Exciting times 🤘

@nvogz 5 ай бұрын

Didn’t think it was possible…..but the G.O.A.T has transcended……GOD-Mode activated! You can see the passion for this next-level-shit in his face!! A chilled and playful Minaar….what a season were in for!!

@seanoneil277 5 ай бұрын

I started following WC DH right around the time he started in Seniors. It's been a long career and he has a lot of experience. Imagine having the ability to work on refinement/puzzling with engineers who are from a serious background, not a Lucky Trust Funder background. No wonder he is excited and yes, this will be an impressive season from him for sure.

@marksmith2726 5 ай бұрын

Love Greg's attitude to the whole deal, So down to earth and positive, Hope you go awesome this year !!!

@berad1cal 5 ай бұрын

Hell of an episode! Good luck to Greg and Norco

@nathantoney.1501 5 ай бұрын

I love how you excited Greg sounds. I’m really looking forward to seeing norco progress

@blindspotclinic 5 ай бұрын

Norco was the first company to master suspension geometry back in the early 90's for suspension forks. Norco is the GOAT in the MTB industry.

@rip.tear. 5 ай бұрын

The one and only GOAT, always good to hear from Mr Minnaar!

@BurnsRubber 5 ай бұрын

🐐 - Great Interview - Good luck Minnaar and Norco

@stupodeso 5 ай бұрын

I enjoyed this interview, Greg has a lot of great insight that I think he can pass on to upcoming racers. It sounds like his plan to transition after he stops racing himself is gold, can't let all that go to waste.

@DownhillSnail 5 ай бұрын

Great to see! Sounds like a really good move all round!

@lsugimoto8361 5 ай бұрын

Wishing him the best in '24!! Classy dude

@BeniKenesei 5 ай бұрын

Ah thank god, would have missed him in Dialed

@christianobermeier7862 5 ай бұрын

I think no one expected that ! Go on Greg.

@yaakov_meir 5 ай бұрын

Norco got Greg and you got an exclusive interview from Greg. Keep it up.

@MichaelSchneiderTexas 5 ай бұрын

I am no pro, but ride a Norco and its a great riding bike. Hope they bring some new tech to the forefront.

@arthurbax3477 5 ай бұрын

I'm a SC rider but key takeaways Team SC sounds like a bunch of real cool surfer dudes puzzling and racing. Team Norco sounds like they bringing that F1 energy, dyno's, jigs etc... Got me stoked!

@wallyr.7854 5 ай бұрын

Theeee absolute G.O.A.T.!!!!!!! 🙌

@spencerwvcmoon 5 ай бұрын

Go Greg! Have the great3st year of your life and love it! I had a norco years ago and it was really nice very well built and koooool❤

@WarrenMelissaGoRiding 5 ай бұрын

LOVE IT!!!! We cant wait to see you kill it this year! 🥰😍

@theotherphillhall 5 ай бұрын

32:43 look how much he wants to race, you can see it in his eyes. Good luck Greg.,

@blackhorsegrind4255 5 ай бұрын

Great questions

@MrOberliX 5 ай бұрын

Thats how its done when you are the goat 👍 speechless how ihe turned that around

@Jybbas 5 ай бұрын

Wow what a good video 😍

@andyhayfield6947 5 ай бұрын

Mclaren derived🤔Good advert for Norco makes me want one

@bikenetwork_SA 5 ай бұрын

Great interview

@nvogz 5 ай бұрын

Absolutely!👍🏾

@ninjazzrhythm400 5 ай бұрын

Greg didn't know that theres better things out. Now he knows😂😂😂

@paulgreen503 3 ай бұрын

Very well said

@kentpeters6446 5 ай бұрын

Great interview and a elite competitor. What team wouldn't want his knowledge? Oh, Syndicate? Always loved his exchanges with Jordi at Fox. Wish nothing but the best for Greg and all of his future endeavors. Riding Encyclopedia! Jackson can Google Encyclopedia Britannica? Jackson got the condensed version and it paid off.

@billionnaire1 Ай бұрын

The best team, bike and components are always the ones that are paying you

@NoamRosich 5 ай бұрын

when Greg will retire he'll ba a team manager. my word.

@energ8t 5 ай бұрын

Wow! This should be cool. Greg has more life left in him.

@Black97m3 5 ай бұрын

With all the years of Greg”puzzlin”, I think he will enjoy the ability to isolate variables with this frame, and norco will benefit from that

@JamieMcilreavy 5 ай бұрын

Good luck with your future

@chuckdavis572 5 ай бұрын

That bike looks nuts. I wonder how heavy it's going to be with all those adjustments.

@vlbz 5 ай бұрын

Glad Greg secured a ride. Hope to hear the same for Danny soon.

@johnconnolly2815 5 ай бұрын

FWIW, I have been intrigued by Norco for several years. A lot of really good riders on them (Dangerous Dave, etc). Once someone is "sponsored", you lose some clarity on the brand. Are they on it cuz the bike is great, or because of the $$$$$$? 3 months ago I bought a new Norco Sight for my wife. Had a problem (not Norco's fault). Gave Norco a shout, and they went above and beyond to solve it (which they did). I was so impressed, I bought a used 2022 Norco Range. It had a problem from the PO which I wasn't aware of when I bought it. I thought "what the heck" and contacted Norco again, and they solved the problem for me. I've been on Santa Cruz and Ibis for over 10yrs, and have never been treated this good. Norco is LEGIT, and you definitely should give them a good look.

@JustJake77 5 ай бұрын

Norco is so solid in that department.... My friend snapped a chainstay on a Norco 4by (a long discontinued frame) he contacted Norco about it.... They dug and old stay out of their parts bin for that frame and re welded into the rear triangle for him... free of charge.... I've been a Norco loyalist for over 40 years.... Some of the best bikes and people going.

@topspot4834 5 ай бұрын

I keep a short list of brands I like (Pivot, Santa Cruz, Ibis, Transition & We Are One). Hadn't considered Norco, mostly since my LBS doesn't sell them, but with Greg on the team, I'll at least take a serious look and have them on my radar.

@Tequila628 5 ай бұрын

Your bike list is heavily influenced by mass media. Try to broaden your horizons and take a look at RAAW, Propain, Nicolay, Vitus, Marin, Rocky Mountain (This one is Quality) and so on.

@wallyr.7854 5 ай бұрын

Lets not forget Intense, Foes, Ellsworth and Yeti 👍🏻

@gabrielmachadoyoutube 5 ай бұрын

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

@420xwaytoomanyx420 5 ай бұрын

Add Canfield to that list 💀💀💀

@JustJake77 5 ай бұрын

Norco has been on the leading edge of the bell curve for decades.... They consistently have B.O.Y. with multiple frames.... Some of the best bikes going, been my go to brand for 40 years.

@sohaibyounus 5 ай бұрын

I am a FOX fan and even though I am no expert by any means the main difference I feel is that FOX has more mid support without adding any spacers. I don’t like that Santa Cruz is getting rid of all the FOX builds. That’s kinda why I didn’t buy a brand new 5010 and just bought the frame and swapped parts. I am trying out the RS shock that came out of the box to get a good feel and will replace with DPX2 to see if I see any major difference. I hope I will since technically the stock shock should be tuned for this specific frame.

@energ8t 5 ай бұрын

From a TV watcher POV, two races in one day isn’t fun. Old format was better.

@cedricmathieucm 5 ай бұрын

very cool ;)

@fabbike1805 5 ай бұрын

good choice

@Guido1970 5 ай бұрын

Sounds like he should try that raised reverse stem..

@donnyjaafar8453 5 ай бұрын

Great Move by Norco. I think Greg is there mainly for development. Norco needs to Catch up.

@jokermtb 5 ай бұрын

Greg mentions at 30:03 , the 'hot cooking pot' of "next level" stress and pressure........I wonder what was happening in the Syndicate to prompt that comment?

@LaurentiusTriarius 5 ай бұрын

Be safe Greg! Don't end it with a bang pls 😅

@mediaburn2 5 ай бұрын

I hope Norco keeps the alloy "always improving, never set in carbon" idea here. I really don't need a DH bike, but damn if that thing isn't sexy. N +1

@abeautifulview 5 ай бұрын

Wonder why everyone quits Santa Cruz? Bryceland, Loris, Luca, Greg

@Bonky-wonky 5 ай бұрын

How about answering your suggestive question yourself?

@user-jm7kr2wc8l 5 ай бұрын

He def had some bad luck with tyres popping off and earned a better send off than 2023 gave him. As much as he hypes the engineers I'd be confident he'll do well on on any WC level bike. Jackson will have years ahead of him so SC probably needed to get him on the main team or loose him so understandable Greg was 'retired'. As much as a new team will reinvigorate him I hope he pics a few specific tracks and does well on them, 2022 was a very good year for him after all.

@jokermtb 5 ай бұрын

greg never uses inserts.............

@tobywonkinoby8916 5 ай бұрын

So weird that Greg isn’t with syndicate anymore. I still can’t wrap my head around it.

@Opd351 5 ай бұрын

i wonder if greg would like the raised reverse stem

@Opd351 5 ай бұрын

greg is the best

@juliuskliem2312 5 ай бұрын

Whoah whoah, there is the B Practice Shirt, I hope Dak gets some $$$ of these😂

@user-xs3sy9vt8c 5 ай бұрын

Smart dude.

@erikklumpp3464 5 ай бұрын

Norco and Devinci give me hope in a landscape where biking gets destroyed

@michaelk.5706 5 ай бұрын

I am bit suprised that santa cruz obviously did not dynoing there racers stuff

@gtz_29 5 ай бұрын

Dayyyyuuumm I feel like there’s some real unspoken shit that he’s feeling about SC…

@danieljames4584 5 ай бұрын

Does everyone on the team pick their own suspension, or has Greg picked it for the team to use ?

@calebmccalla4715 5 ай бұрын

Looks like a high pivot Nukeproof

@kangsterizer 5 ай бұрын

i swear vital interviewer is more emotional than greg haha.

@chrispalanca1250 5 ай бұрын

sc drops him favoring goldstone

@Peterrabb 5 ай бұрын

Tomac vibes

@femacampetiquettefordummie6979 5 ай бұрын

Does this mean that we'll have to pay 2K more for a decent Norco now?

@superchickensoup 5 ай бұрын

Hey Greg you have a light bulb out mate 👍

@sketchyscree2452 5 ай бұрын

Manitou or ohlins!!!

@giovanni19ify 5 ай бұрын

Dont understand why he didn’t try Ohlins suspension. Way better

@TheArrowFist 5 ай бұрын

I think he knows what’s better, especially over you.

@boodgiek8146 5 ай бұрын

Videos coming out of carbon bike frames mixed with fiberglass to save money ,and the customer thinks he's paying big bucks for an all carbon bike.this is ONLY for bikes produced in china,Taiwan,india,indonesia,just MAKE sure your carbon bike frame is made in the USA or EUROPE.

@fud1376 5 ай бұрын

Wonder what the odds will be on him winning everything.....Ha !

@porroco 5 ай бұрын

He is already worn out, is like seen buba steward going and racing again.

@supersuppliers 5 ай бұрын

Tom Brady Move

@rhettcorbett3346 5 ай бұрын

What will happen if he dont get results ?

@thomasboss4944 5 ай бұрын

How tf is that guy 40 years old

@alanmartinezrodriguez884 5 ай бұрын

Sports! 👌

@nw7654 5 ай бұрын

@@alanmartinezrodriguez884one hundred percent!! Eating clean and consistent exercise for years on on end. Also mindset is big in terms of doing a job that you love and enjoy, happiness has a big impact on physical health

@beethovens.allena8543 5 ай бұрын

you mean santa does not make you choose?

@loris._busa 5 ай бұрын

you have impressive video quality, I think I'll try to replicate on my channel

@user-lp1hw9bb5e 5 ай бұрын

why was having fun such a big goal for him there paying you to race not to have fun?

@boodgiek8146 5 ай бұрын

Would hate to pay 3 grand and up for a fiberglass carbon mixed frame made in china,so the bike company can make a bigger profit.

@Pajaroloco_Trips 5 ай бұрын

Greg talks as if Norco was better than SC. But whatever…

@johnshredsalot1295 5 ай бұрын

Because it is LOL.

@JustJake77 5 ай бұрын

They have been building better frames than SC for decades.

@pablojmcglynn2863 Ай бұрын

The coverage of the world championship dh is a disgrace , period. Discovery , espn yputube coverage , live coversge is non existent, 10 of the best riders in the world , who ate looking to promote themselves and ypu will never see any of them unless they mske the cut to the final 30. This could be one of the greatest televised sports in the world , but instead, it's reduced to sound bites and playbacks days later , shot coverage. On the saturday at fortwilliam in scotland there was no live coverage, discovery + esn etc where showing judo , pingpong , dward wrestling and fishing ....nit one live show/coverage from the dh world cup.

@FINNdeischgut 5 ай бұрын

It's somehow incredibly tiring to listen to him. He mumbles, doesn't speak complete sentences, beats around the bush and I understand very little because of his dialect.

@awfully.average 5 ай бұрын

the key takeaway in this interview i get is that Norco's team is great, and at the beginning he kinda niggled about how tardy the SC race team was . maybe he got tired of the SC team conduct ?