Northville, MI - The 2007 Kona Midwest Racing (KMR) mountain bike team will
be returning their top women's racer and 2006 NORBA Super D National
Champion Amanda Pilling along with some new young guns Brent Steinberg,
Randy LaPrairie, Adam Raphael and Evan Leonard. KMR founders, team managers
and riders Chris Filipiak and Bryan Mitchell as well as Jim Schofield will
be back this year. We are also very pleased to welcome back a former team
mate and one time Michigan racer Jon Cross who is serving with the Marines
right now in Iraq.
The 2007 team will be looking to build on the success of our past with fresh
new riders yet continuing to dedicate ourselves to the growth and future of
all styles of mountain biking as a sport and a lifestyle. As one of the most
recognized and popular teams in Michigan and the Midwest we realize results
are only part of the equation for a great Mountain Bike team. One of our
main goals is to always keep things fun and make our sponsors and ourselves
look good while doing it.
A critical element of any team is the sponsors and title sponsor Kona
Bicycle Company has supported the team from its start in 2005 as a
grass-roots initiative to be one of the best teams in Michigan and the
Midwest. Continental Bike Shop, Maxxis Tires, Mavic Wheels, Hayes Disk
Brakes and Odi grips help equip the team. Rudy Project has always been there
as our Sunglass sponsor. Six Six One supplies, helmets, shoes and gloves.
And of course ProLink Chain Lube has worked on our chains and kept us going
for years. Another new sponsor Crank Brothers will supply the teams pedals
and we welcome back SDG to be the saddle and post supplier for the team. We
also receive financial help from Leisure Time Art.
The team will once again kick off the season with a training camp in North
Carolina then a photo shoot and the first race of the season at the Pontiac
Lake Time Trial in Waterford, Michigan. You can find more information about
Kona Midwest Racing and keep tabs on the team during the season on the team
Web site, www.konamidwestracing.com and team blog at:
www.konamidwestracing.blogspot.com
We look forward to another great season racing here in Michigan as well as
regionally, in the Midwest and Nationally. Let the season begin!
Team Members:
Amanda Pilling - Detroit, MI - Women's Elite XC and DH:
Amanda is the 2006 NORBA Super D Women's National Champion!
Amanda looks to be competitive in Michigan NORBA and MMBA races and plans to
repeat as the NORBA Super D Champ. She also will be very competitive at the
Snowshoe Mountain, West Virginia downhill series.
Randy LaPrairie - Warren, MI - Elite XC:
Randy is the 2006 Elite/Pro State time trial Champion! Randy also placed and
impressive 4th at the very competitive 2006 Iceman Cometh race
(www.iceman.com) and has his sights on winning this years Iceman! Randy also
will compete for the NORBA state series championship.
Brent Steinberg - Brighton, MI - Expert/Elite XC:
Brent was the runner up in the 2006 Michigan Mountain Biking Association's
Championship point's series in the expert 18 and under class. Brent also
took 5th in the state time trial series. Brent has his sights on winning the
series in 2007.
Adam Raphael - Boyne Falls, MI - Expert DH:
Adam is without a doubt the top downhiller from the state of Michigan. DH in
Michigan you say. Well some. Plus Adam travels out of state and is the 2006
Snowshoe Mountain, West Virginia downhill series champion! Adam hopes to
repeat that in 2007 and win at the US Open in May!
Evan Leonard - Ann Arbor, MI - Expert XC & DH:
Even is our shop sponsor wrench and he was developing and coming into his
own in 2006 with some impressive results. We think Evan has potential to be
one of Michigan's best expert XC racers and an excellent downhiller.
Jon Cross - Holland, MI - Expert XC & DH:
Jon use to be one of the fastest elite racers in Michigan with consistent
top 5 results. Jon raced nationally while in college in both DH and XC. He
is presently serving with the Marines in Iraq. I received an email from him
stating how much he missed riding and that he really wants to make a racing
come back. So we just had to be a part of that come back!
Chris "Crispy" Filipiak - Ypsilanti, MI - Expert/Elite XC and DH, Team Manager:
Crispy has the ability to get excellent results in many mountain bike
disciplines like cross country, Super D and Downhill racing. Chris is the
2004 Super D NORBA National Champion. He is very well known and respected in
the mountain bike community. Everyone likes to ride with Crispy!
Bryan Mitchell - Northville, MI - Expert XC and DH, Team Manager:
Bryan took most of the 2006 season off from racing instead riding for fun
and concentrating on promoting the team. One highlight for Bryan was riding,
photographing and raising money in the Wish-a-Mile 300 for the
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan. (www.wishmich.org) Bryan will be 40
years old in 2007 and he to plans a come back.
Jim Scholefield - London, England - Expert XC:
Jim is living across the pond in England right now for work but plans to
return to Michigan several times over the summer and will still be racing
here in our great state. Jim also plans to fly the Kona Midwest colors over
in the UK in the National race series.
