World Champion Interview with Greg Minnaar

Greg Minnaar, 2012 UCI Downhill World Champion, sat down for an interview the night of his victory, as he and his team celebrated. Interview by Sven Martin. Photographs by Sven Martin, Duncan Philpott, Joe Bowman and Hoshi Yoshida.

Greg won World Champs in 2003 on a pair of tires he ran for the entire race weekend! Things have changed. With such a beautiful bike, we have to let the sponsor plugs fly.

Team work is the dream work. Many pieces of the Santa Cruz Syndicate machine right here!

After a rainy practice, Kathy Sessler knows how to use the kitchen to her advantage.

It's a game of millimeters...

Minnaar dances over the roots during a muddy practice. -John Reynolds

Greg was able to stay loose during his race run and nail the top corners.

Even though he slipped out in a corner, he was able to carry momentum and give the race run his all...

Which made him the fastest rider of the day, earning him the rainbow stripes and 2012 World Champion title. Bravo, Greg!