[Press Release] – 2023 Downhill season is set to be one for the history books, with big changes rolling out from all sides. Today, Crankworx announced their up-leveled plans for downhill mountain bike racing, including the following:
“Crankworx is all about creating the ultimate experience in mountain biking,” says Darren Kinnaird, Managing Director of Crankworx. “With that in mind, we have re-imagined what Crankworx Downhill is for 2023. We’ve got the opportunity to bring some of the world’s best to race in these amazing locations. We’ve got a dream team in the booth, elevated coverage, and a unique new award for athletes to chase in the 1199 Award. We hope that fans will have as much fun, whether they are trackside or watching on Red Bull TV, as the athletes who come to compete at Crankworx do. We are stoked with what we have planned for DH in 2023.”
The 1199 Award (also referred to as “the 1199”) will be awarded to a rider whose outstanding performance over the course of the Crankworx Downhill season pushes them to achieve a points total in excess of 1199 in the 1199 Award Standings. The first rider (male and female) to reach 1200+ points in the standings, thereby completing the Quest for 1199, wins the 1199 Award, and a prize of CAD 10,000.
The Quest for 1199 is open to all pro men and women.
If the feat is not achieved in a season, the prize money rolls over to the following year, until the 1199 points total is surpassed, and the award is claimed. The prize pot grows and the stakes get higher every year the award is not claimed.
1199 is a reference to Canadian downhiller Stevie Smith’s legendary points total from his 2013 overall World Cup title.
Points are up for grabs at all RockShox Crankworx Downhill races over the course of the season. There are four races in total, staged in the following locations:
The points structure and rules are detailed here: 1199 Award
The goal is to introduce a new challenge in downhill mountain bike racing, award Crankworx’s fastest and most consistent racers, while amplifying the legacy of one of the disciplines most legendary riders. In addition, it’s to celebrate the road to Whistler on the Crankworx World Tour. With the Whistler Mountain Bike Park track created in Smith’s honour as the final race of the season, some years the Quest for 1199 will come down to the Whistler track. In those cases, the quest is both a push to go beyond 1199 points, and a push to master the 1199 track.
Crankworx Downhill season kicks off in four weeks’ time in Rotorua, with a stacked roster of elite DH racers set to tackle the storied trail set amongst the Rotorua jungle.
Stay up to date with all things Crankworx: www.crankworx.com
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