Yeti/Fox Factory Racing pro rider Justin Leov of New Zealand has won the final round of the NMBS Downhill Series at Snowmass Village in Colorado, USA. Justin took the win on Sunday after qualifying fastest on a new and longer track at the world class high altitude venue.
Coming into the finals Justin wasn't highly ranked in the overall standings, but his double win pushed him up to 4th overall in the series, despite missing 2 of the 5 races due to other race commitments.
"I wanted to do a solid qualifing run and pedal hard to get an idea of how physical this new longer course would be for the final. After qualifing 1st I felt good for the final but wanted to make sure I didn't have a repeat of Deer Valley this year, where I was over eager and blew it. Even though my race run was a little wild in some sections, and I think in some sections I could have crashed if I'd just been a touch faster, I was stoked to get to the finish line with a good run", said Justin from Colorado, where he's training up until the World Championships, in Scotland in 3 weeks.
"I was pretty happy to cross the line and hear everyone's reaction to my time. Going off last, and then having the winning run, it's a great feeling. I'm happy to get my first NORBA win out of the way and it's a bonus to finish the series in 4th overall, something I didn't expect after missing two rounds. I feel my form is coming on at the right time of the year. It's been hard at the World Cups this year. They've been rain affected at two rounds, and I managed a 7th when the rain didn't mess things up at Mont-Sainte-Anne, but it's such a short series this year. This win here has given me a good level of confidence going into the Worlds and World Cup finals".
Justin will race his Fox Shox equipped Yeti 303, this weekend at the Sol Visa G3 in Colorado before crossing the Atlantic to represent New Zealand at the World Championships.