Team Competition Insider
by Matt Wenger
I jumped in a quick chat room with Ross Bennett, Captain of the FootMo Shredders ,and Commander and Chief of Fullerton Bikes/Buena Parks Bikes, Mike Franze, to see meet the teams. I wanted to see how they would approach the team Competition coming two weeks. The top 5 teams all well in within striking distance of the top 1st place step.
My Biggest take away from the series points so far has been….
- Have a big team, spread across a bunch of categories
- Make sure everybody on your team shows up (in case someone gets a flat or bonks)
- A common bond and hanging out is the key…win lose or tie…
Here’s what went down…
(Disclaimer: other captains I did tell them I’d share, but use it as if you have a spy in the ranks!)
Interview with Ross Bennett – FootMo Shredders
OTH : How did you pick your team?Bennett: I got to thinking about all the racers and friends who commented about how hard it was to keep up with all the high school and middle school “Shredders”. It was actually pretty easy to build from there.
Franze: My guys are friends and just love us as we love them, they all have a common love like myself for the love of the bike
OTH: What’s been fun to see happen as you have raced together?Bennett: It’s been fun to see the kids and coaches from Foothill and ElMo working and playing together in community.Franze: Just pushing hard and wanting to do wellOTH: Any strategy to keep Fullerton Bikes at bay in the last two races?Bennett: Both Fullerton and ThinkMTB are formidable challengers. The kids are well trained and know what to do. Prob the two biggest things is remind them 1. The race is always in front of them (no looking back) and 2. Your secret weapon from NICA Racing works at OTH. They all know what that means.Franze: Have all my guys get a Brent hair cut. Just Kidding. just need to make sure all our key players show up.OTH: Anything else?
Bennett: Stoked to have team competition so incredibly close when races standings are within just a few points between First and Third. And also to see more than 100 of us all racing and playing in the dirt together.
Franze: Thanks for all you do, and the E-bike race. I’m looking forward to many more years of this thing “just called Over the Hump”.
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We’re looking forward to seeing how the rest of the team competition shakes out. Don’t miss your chance. 14 teams and 150 racers are pushing torward the August 28 finale. Good luck everyone.
Click for team Results