ms-racing intense factory NEWS

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Merry Christmas!

The MS- Crew is proud to announce the birth of Zora and Claudio Caluori’s baby… we are looking forward to the MTB world championships of 2025.

Good luck and all the best!

The MS- INTENSE FACTORY- RACING team congratulates Mrs. and Mr. world champion: Sabrina Jonnier and Sam Hill.

riders: Sabrina Jonnier, Sam Hill; photo: Alex Buschor source: www.ride.ch

…and of course we congratulate our friend Sean Heimdal- team manager of Ironhorse/ Mad Catz racing.

The MS- INTENSE FACTORY- RACING team congratulates their friends to the world champion podium:

Men 4X: Roger Rinderknecht/ SUI & Guido Tschugg/ GER

rider: 2. Roger Rinderknecht/ 3. Guido Tschugg, photo: Alex Buschor source: www.ride.ch

Women 4X: Anita Molcik/ AUT

rider: 3. Anita Molcik, photo: Alex Buschor source: www.ride.ch

For all results and photos of the UCI World Championships 2006 of Rotorua/ NZ please click.

The World cup in Schladming – even in the summer!

The mountain bikers will turn Schladming´s night into day!
The final of the season for the best mountain bikers of the world will be carried out from September 8th to 10th 2006 on the “Planai”.

This is the third time for the world´s best mountain bikers to show off their skills in Schladming.

The organising club “ASVÖ Mountainbike Schladming” has been successful to bring the only World cup for mountain bikers taking place in Austria into the Dachstein-Tauern region. Not only is the MTB World cup the only one in Austria, but at the same time it´s one of two triple events taking place in Europe. Together with the final of the season we can talk of one of the greatest UCI MTB event after the world championship in New Zealand.

At the speed races, i.e. Downhill & Four cross in the Planai Olympic stadium giants of the scene like Cedric Gracia (FRA), Nathan Rennie (AUS) or Steve Peat (GBR) as well as female top stars are predicted to present a merciless race. The Four cross taking place on September 9th in the night with 700.000-watt floodlights assures action and excitement.

The 5.000 square meter big Planai Olympic stadium, functioning this year again as the target site for all of the races, will again be remodelled into a camp site for all drivers. This will create a unique ambience in the popular Austrian city Schladming for mountain biking.

Together with the 15 meters Giant truck, the Specialised and the Shimano truck more than 60 teams and exhibitors will grant a view behind the scenes of professional Mountain biking.

Olympic Cross country city race Schladming

The culmination of the World cup weekend is the Cross country city race on Saturday which will start at the main square of Schladming. Not only Olympic champion Bart Brentjens from the Netherlands but also the whole Cross country world elite including the Austrian top riders will be competing for the overall World cup on the shortened track.

All riders, male and female, with a valid UCI licence (U 23 as well) are authorised to start at the World cup competitions! The total prize value amounts to more than € 30.000. Straight after each race in the final of the season in Schladming the overall World cup champions will be honoured with an emotional ceremony.

But Schladming will offer not only sporting sensations during that weekend, the well known “Schladming Nightlive” will care during those days for the best atmosphere as well. For social lions not to be neglected Live Acts will be shown in the Planai stadium and a FM4 party will be taking place in Schladming´s city hall.

C.K. point out again with a 3rd place:

After a 7th palce in the Nissan Biker X and a 8th place at the Jim Beam Air DH C.K. point out with a 3rd place in the "Garbanzo Enduro Downhill" .

MENS:
1 Sam Hill AUS 15:14.0
2 Steve Peat GBR Santa Cruz Syndicate 15:17.0
3 Chris Kovarik AUS 15:17.6
4 Nathan Rennie AUS Santa Cruz Syndicate 15:18.4
5 Eli Krahenbuhl USA 15:29.9

After a exhausting series of race C.K. stay at home to get prepared for the world Championships in Rotorua/ NZ.

For all results and photos of the "Crankworx bike festival" please click.

Darren scores again with a 6th palce:

After a 3rd place after the first qualifying run and a 3rd place in the “Dainese Dirt jump” competition Darren twisted his ankle and it seemed like he wouldn’t be able to do the final runs in Catania.
Nevertheless Darren did his final runs and he became 6th what means an invitation to the main event of the “Red Bull district ride” series in Nürnberg/ GER.

1. Paul Basagoitia/ USA
2. Andre Lacondeguy/ ESP
3. Lance McDermott/ UK
4. Cameron McCaul/ USA
5. Timo Pritzel/ GER
6. Darren Pokoj/ AUS
7. Niels Windfeldt/ NOR
8. Carlo Dieckmann/ GER
9. Darren Berrecloth/ CAN
10. Cameron Zink/ USA

rider: Darren Pokoj, photo: Gero Deibert source: www.redbulldistrictride.com

MS- RACING is really proud of Darren’s sportsmanship- we are looking forward to the next events Darren is going to compete.

“Darren, good luck for the next competitions and get well soon!”

For all results and photos of the "Red Bull District Ride" please click.

Tony Butler's "illusionary lines" following the "super 8":

As preview fort the successor of the “super 8” we put the first clips on the download section of the ms-racing website showing the UCI world cups #2 Fort William/ SCO and #3 Willingen/ GER.

During the whole world cup season 2006 the producer and filmer Tony Butler follows the MS- INTENSE FACTORY crew to show the “illusionary lines” of the race circuit…

Just visit our download site for more information....

1st place at the UCI world cup Mt. St. Anne/ CAN:

After a couple of podiums this year Chris Kovarik won his first world cup race at Mt. St. Anne. This is also the first victory of the MS- INTENSE FACTORY- RACING team and so the MS- crew is more than happy about this fabulous result: Congratulations on this way Chris!

1. KOVARIK Chris MS- INTENSE FACTORY- RACING
2. MINNAAR Greg
3. HILL Samuel

19. Claudio Caluori MS- INTENSE FACTORY- RACING

For all results of the UCI world cup in MT. ST. ANNE please click or visit the website of dirtmag UK for more information to the race.

1st place at the best trick competition of the "Red Bull trail fox"

Also Darren Pokoj did well this weekend. He won the best trick competition and the 3rd stage of the “Red Bull trail fox” 2006.

Results best trick:
1. Darren Pokoj MS- INTENSE FACTORY- RACING
2. Andreu Lacondeguy MSC- RACING
3. Lluis Lacondeguy MSC RACING

For all results of the "Red Bull trail fox" please click.

Darren was just invited to the best trick contest, but he is also a racer and so he compete the whole race with all its stages. The atmosphere and the spirit of the “Red Bull trail fox” inspired Darren and so he is looking forward to come again next year.

Tophy for the best trick competition of the "Red Bull trail fox 2006" photo: MS- RACING

1st palce at the Austrian 4x nationals

Last but not least Georg Engel complete a perfect race weekend with his national title in 4X. After his comeback at the “Adidas Slopestyle” the national title is a big result, which underscore his upcoming form- congratulations mate!

The MS- INTENSE FACTORY- RACING crew congratulates Darren Pokoj to the 5th place at the “Adidas Slopestyle”:

After a long seesaw with the event organizer about competing the main contest of the “Adidas Slopestyle” Darren Pokoj was allowed to qualify by the “Rock Shox Ticket to Style” rookie contest.

Darren was able to argue the judges with his clean style and his trick variation. He won the “Rock Shox ticket to style” which allows him to compete the main contest of the “Adidas Slopestyle”…

In the end he survived all qualification rounds, got into the final round and became 5th. With this result Darren showed that he is the upcoming overall rider with top results in DH, 4X and slopestyle events.

1. Darren Berrecloth
2. Paul Basagoitia
3. Carlo Dieckmann
4. Lance McDermott
5. Darren Pokoj

In addition to Darren also his teammate Georg Engel was competing the “Adidas Slopestyle”. After a long injury he did his comeback at the “Adidas Slopstyle” and showed awesome tabletops over the “yeti”. Georg is really looking forward to practice in the brand new indoor dirt jump hall.
of Saalbach…

For all results of the "Rock Shox Ticket to Style" and the "Adidas Slopestyle" please click.

For Photos of the Adidas Slopestyle please check out the gallery or visit the homepage of Tommi Bause.

Looking forward to a sunshine race we got to the world cup in Willingen, but the weather there was as bad as in Scotland. The Willingen DH track offers ideal conditions to race our Intense 6.66 prototype and so we did. Claudio and Chris had been pretty fast over the whole weekend- in the end we had a podium of Chris and maybe the worst crash ever of Claudio. Nevertheless the Intense 6.66 prototype pass grand UCI World Cup entrance and we are looking forward to race the brand new Intense SOCOM.

photo: ms- racing, willingen DH podium 2006

photo: Intense cycles, new Intense SOCOM

For results of the DH and 4X cometitions please click.

Just a short from Willingen, as we´re preparing for the world cup race this weekend.
Fort William was wet as usual, Chris managed to get his first podium in a 4X world cup with a third place. Claudio flated his front tire in the final after a good top half on the course.
After the 4X race, Chris seemed to be too tired to podium in the downhill as well, he ended up 20th.
As our results were not that spectacular in Fort William, we all travelled to Germany fully motivated to show how fast we can ride our Intense bikes in Willingen!

For results of the DH and 4X cometitions please click.

P.S.: watch out for the new clip of Tony Butler/ "super 8" on freecaster.com.

....posted by Claudio Caluori:

One week before the world cup in Scotland, the ms intense factory racing team got to meet some of the fastest Austrian talents in Schladming. During two rainy days, I was riding the world cup course together with the boys and I was happy to help them become even faster. Darren enjoyed surprising the kids with his drifting skills, and I was surprised how quick the young racers learned. Team Yeti with Jared Graves and Justin Leov, who was staying with me in Zurich, was driving with me to Schladming and enjoyed the two extra days of training on the world cup course and in the jump park.
Excited about riding together with Jared, Darren, Chris and me, the Austrian kids were pushing even harder to show their skills and so it was lots of fun watching them pinning it. Darren amazed everybody with his back flips in the jump park, Chris showed his after-party skills with some 360°s, and Jared showed what real race style means on the pump track.
Finally I had to pick the most talented rider out of the boys, to send him to the Red Bull Trailfox.
. My choice was hard, as all of the riders seamed ready to rock, but there was just one Wildcard to give away. So I picked Boris ......... out of Vienna because of his smooth and focused riding style.

As it was lots of fun teaching the Austrian kids, I’m looking forward to more talent scout camps coming.´

After a crooked preparation week for the race we left Vigo with just an 8th place of C.K. in the DH race.
Bad crashes and diseases branded the whole week- so Claudio had a gastrointestinal infect and a bad crash in the training for the qualifications, Chris rooted out a tree and was only allowed to start by the UCI top 20 rule and Darren was handicapped by stick in his rotor and couldn’t qualify.

After their bad qualifying Chris and Darren had been really motivated for the 4X. Chris fight till the last corner and flew into a group of spectators- incredible but nothing happened! Darren reached the 2nd heat and got eliminated against Prokop and Bas de Bever who are counted among the best 4X racers in the world.

Photo: Tom Hauke, rider: Chris K.

The DH race was crooked like the whole weekend and branded by bad crashes. So we are really sorry to announce that our friend Vanessa Quin got injured. The MS- Crew wishes you a quick recovery and comeback to the world cup circuit- cu hopefully soon!

photo: Tom Hauke, rider: Vanessa Quin, Rachel Atherton

For results of the DH and 4X cometitions please click.

Now we are going for some trainings and test days in Scuol/ SUI and Schladming/ AUT and looking forward to the next world cups in Fort William/ SCO and Willingen/ GER...

The world cup season definitely starts now. Vigo is the first world cup race of the season with one of the best located DH tracks of the MTB race circuit.

Photo: Tom Hauke

Today there has been the 4X Qualifying with the MS- INTENSE FACTORY- TEAM riders Chris Kovarik and Darren Pokoj- both qualified for the race tomorrow…

photo: Tom Hauker, rider: Chris Kovarik

Stay tuned for more news of the MS- INTENSE FACTORY- RACING crew and check out the gallery for more pictures of the race

Petra Bernhard- the only girl in the MS- INTENSE FACTORY- RACING team- competes the national MX- Series with the 2nd place in the overall ranking. Petra: “… I think this is the perfect preparation for the mountain bike world cup series!”

Photo: Susanne Adler, Rider: Petra Bernhard (the leading chick!)

Check out her pics at the gallery or visit: www.supercross.at

For Petra's individual news visit her weblog.

Petra's individual sponsors for MX: Fox Racing, Electric visual, Dalbotex Austria and KTM

just check out the new wallpaper of Darren Pokoj in the download section:

...for more information about Darren check out his rider's site!

photo: Tom Hauke, rider: Darren Pokoj

We are proud to announce: it’s Darren Pokoj
The MS- crew congratulates Darren to his first victory in Europe!

results:
1. Darren Pokoj (AUS)
2. Trond Hansen (NOR)
3. Christopher Hatton (FRA)
4. Beni Korthaus (GER)
5. Jan Stötzer (GER)
6. Nikki Leitner (AUT)
7. Nico Duye (FRA)

Competitors of the Vienna Air King:
Timo Pritzel (D), Benny Korthaus (D), Trond Hansen (N), Andi Wittmann (D), Alfred Scholze (A), Andreas Brewi (A), Benjamin Messinger (D), Carlo Dieckmann (D), Cedric Carrez (F), Chris Smith UK , Christopher Hatton (F), Damjan Siriski (Czech Rep.), Darren Pokoj (Australia), Gary Penman (UK) , Georg Fechter (D), Hendrik Tafel (D), Jan Stötzer (D), Julien Botella (F), Matthias Gattringer (A), Nicolas Duyé (F), Niels Windfeldt (N) , Niki Leitner (A), Pierre Grawitter (D), Richard Delauney (F), Rob J (D), Sascha Bartz (D), Titou Picard (F).

After the contest the riders celebrated their party at Vienna’s scene club "Kju". Darren met the inventor and promoter of the “Red Bull District Ride” and owner of the "rasoulution" consulting agency Tarek Rasouli- maybe we will see Darren P. at the “Red Bull District Ride” Series 2006…

photo: Tom Hauke, persons: Darren Pokoj & Tarrek Rasouli

Check out the gallery for more pics of the event.

Just check out our brand new Manitou Travis Triple Ti Intrinsic in INTENSE racing red:

photo: Tommi Bause

After some good days in Styria/ AUT with Mathias and Georg (check out the photo gallery: photos by- Hendrik Jonke) Darren is on the way to the Vienna Bike festival and the Vienna Air King.

Good luck to you mate…

photo by: Hendrik Jonke, rider: Darren Pokoj

In course of our online investigation after the Sea Otter Classics we found some awesome photo and film material: just check out this teaser of the Sea Otter classics dirt jump competition: movie (source: mtbr.com, cameraman: speedhub Nate)

Claudio and his Intense 6.66- thank you Stikman

photo: stikman, rider:Clauido Caluori

Sea Otter classic is the best opportunity to see new products and prototypes. During the race season 2006 MS- INTENSE FACTORY- RACING will test a new model for 4X and dirt jump. Oppositional to the Intense TAZER hardtail the geometry of the new bike bases on a steeper head angle for the needs of dirt jump.

photo: Lupo

Watch out for these bikes at the world cups 2006.

Today the pro gravity events started. Claudio and Darren had been qualified for the dual slalom, but couldn’t reach the podium in the end. Lopes won, Gracia became seconde by breathtaking fights from heat to heat and Vanessa Quin finished second in a exciting women's final behind Sabrina Jonnier.

...although the dual slalom at Sea Otter Classics is more a fun event the riders fight as hard as for a world champion title....

Beside the sport events the companies show a lot of new stuff. So Manitou set us up with red Travis forks

photo: Lupo

and Jeff Steber come up with prototypes of the new Intense Road Racing bikes, which are made of carbon and show really high-end quality as it is usual for Intense cycles.

photo: Lupo

....MS- INTENSE FACTORY- RACING starts the race season with the gravity competitions at Sea Otter Classic 2006- maybe the most important event for MTB industry.

It is really great beeing at this event, which is known as the season starter of the MTB scene. Claudio Caluori and Darren Pokoj accept a long journey to be part of Sea Otter Classics 2006- the long trip and their enthusiasm might be a reason for why they got setup with special bikes for the gravity competitions made by Jeff himself.

For the Sea Otter DH the team was set up with special prototype bikes with weight and looking of the Intense 6.6, travel of the Intense Uzzi VPX and geometry of the M3- this combination is the perfect setup for the track at Monterey…

photo: Lupo

stay tuned for more news of the Sea Otter Classics 2006

MS- INTENSE FACTORY- RACING welcomes Chris Kovarik
Source: Jeff Steber, Lukas Haider

MS- INTENSE FACTORY- RACING is proud to announce the signing of Australian DH and 4X star Chris Kovarik for 2006/2007. Chris had different offers, but he decided to work on with the team of 2005 come into being by the cooperation of INTENSE Cycles and MS- RACING.

After a couple of top results in his comeback season 2005, Chris aims for the top three in overall UCI world cup and the UCI world championships. C.K. will team up with his Swiss team fellow Claudio Caluori and the Australian newcomer Darren Pokoj to represent MS- INTENSE FACTORY- RACING on international level at all UCI world cups, the European IXS series and chosen international events like the Sea Otter Classics or the Crankworx Festival.
Beside the international riders the Austrian athletes Petra Bernhard, Mathias Haas and Georg Engel complete the team with main focus on European events.

MS- INTENSE FACTORY- RACING team manager Lukas Haider comments: "We are very lucky about the actual team structure and the development of MS- RACING. The closer cooperation with INTENSE cycles and the engagement of C.K. are further steps on the way to realize the vision of the MS- RACING founder Markus Stoeckl of an ideal working mountain bike races team."

MS- INTENSE FACTORY- RACING is proud to cooperate with a range of race interested partners like Manitou suspension, Easton, Shimano, E13, THE, Intense tire systems, Fi?zi:k, Fox Racing wear or Pedro's tools to be a competitive team in the world racing scene.

For more information please visit www.intensecycles.com or the 2006 website of MS- INTENSE FACTORY- RACING (www.ms-racing.at)