08/30/2006 Team
Subaru-Gary Fisher Riders Finish at Top of NORBA NMBS Standings
Its been a good year for the Subaru-Gary Fisher cross-country racers.
The NORBA National Mountain Bike Series (NMBS) wrapped up its seven
race series in Snowmass, Colorado, on August 13. Once all the points
were tallied, the Subaru-Gary Fisher team had three XC riders in the
top five overall standings.
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski finished the overall leader in the Mens Pro
division. JHK rode at a consistently high levle all season. He stood
atop the podium at Sugar Hill, North Carolina; Deer Valley, Utah; and
Brian Head, Vermont. These three first place finishes and two more
second place finishes, made JHK top overall in 2006 and means hell be
sporting the #1 plate going into 2007.
To add to his 2006 success, Jeremy finished second in the Short Track
NMBS series as well. JHK finished just ten slim points out of first.
Being consistently fast all year, JHK landed on top of the podium twice
(including the finals in Snowmass), finished second three times, and
third once. That means Jeremy was on the short track podium at every
NMBS stop.
On the womens side, Heather Irmiger also had an incredible year
finishing second overall in the NMBS point standings. Heather finished
only 13 points out of first to make it an amazingly close series race.
The series title came down to the final in Snowmass, Colorado where
Heathers second place finish made up ground, but narrowly missed
catching the series leader for the overall title.
In addition to battling for the cross country title, Heather also found
time to prove herself on the short course finishing eighth overall.
This included a tight second place finish at Brian Head, Vermont.
Fellow XC racer Willow Koerber helped pack the podium with Subaru-Gary
Fisher riders in 2006. Willow finished fifth overall in the Womens Pro
NMBS standings. Willow got off to a fast start this season and could
have finished even higher had it not been for an unfortunate stick
lodging in her front wheel at the race in Brian Head, Utah ending her
day early. Regardless, Willow showed determination and finished off the
series strong with a fifth place overall finish.
Showing balance in her game, Willow also captured a sixth place overall
on the short track. Willows highlights on the short course included a
second place finish at Mount Snow, Vermont.
First year Subaru-Gary Fisher rider Matt Kelly also kicked into the
cause with a top twenty short track overall finish and a twenty-third
XC overall finish in NMBS series.
Congratulations to all the Subaru-Gary Fisher team riders who
consistently rode their Gary Fisher bikes at the front of the pack.