Mountain Cross Men
Brian Lopes (GT/Fox) returned to his season’s opening form to fend off several challengers and win the first ever SoBe Mountain Cross series and national championship title at the final stop of the Chevy Trucks NORBA National Championship Mountain Bike Series. Australia’s Katrina Miller (Jamis) took the women’s series while Melissa Buhl (KHS/ODI) became the USA’s first female Mountain Cross national champion.

Lopes entered the contest narrowly ahead of New Zealander, John Kirkcaldie (Maxxis), and Eric Carter (Mongoose/Hyundai). As the qualifiers and brackets shook out, however, Carter and Kirkcaldie found themselves matched in the second round. And soon after both riders found themselves in the dirt when a freak crash brought them down.

This left Lopes in command of the U.S. title, but in danger of losing the series to Wade Bootes (Trek/Volkswagen). His series aspirations were saved when Bootes went out in the semi-finals, another victim of a loose first turn facing riders close to the start gate.

On a tricky course, experience came to the fore and played well for Mike King (Haro/Lee Dungarees). Having qualified second, he pushed into the finals alongside his teammate and protégé, Mick Hannah, a neophyte to Mountain Cross. The surprise of the night proved to be ninth-place qualifier, Chris Powell (Profile).

In the finals Lopes drew his gate position and stuck it from the start. King roared down for second, followed by Hannah and Powell.

1. Brian Lopes – GT/Fox
2. Mike King – Haro/Lee Dungarees
3. Mick Hannah – (Haro/Lee Dungarees
4. Chris Powell – Profile

Mountain Cross Women
The women’s race saw Miller and Sabrina Jonnier (Intense) tied on points for the series lead. The top American had been Tara Llanes (Yeti/Pearl Izumi), but a broken collarbone knocked her out of contention at Round 4. This opened the door for Buhl, who only needed to reach the semis to lock up the national title. She got to the finals, where she lined up with Tai-Lee Muxlow (Dirt Works), Jonnier and Miller. From the start, it was Miller, who established a solid line from the gate and then defended it to the bottom.

“Once I reached the straights I knew she couldn’t make a pass,” said Miller. Jonnier finished second, Buhl third.

1. Katrina Millar – Jamis
2. Sabrina Jonnier – Intense
3. Melissa Buhl – KHS/ODI
4. Tai-Lee Muxlow – Dirt Works