Who’s on Dirt Dave’s Dirty Pinners then?

Right then, it’s that time of year again and we thought we should give you an insight into who has picked who in the Dirt office, and more importantly why!

I’ve jumped in feet first to the quagmire that is team selection and as Mike Rose put it on Twitter…

It’s pretty stressful having £1,000,000 to spend on world cup racers! – @MikeRoseTwit

Who’s in and why.

Cam Cole – Commençal Riding Addiction 

Photo: Commençal

First up it’s Cam Cole. The guy is a machine, no doubt he can ride and ride fast but he has had some bad luck in recent years with injuries. Coming through from Yeti and developing fast such a team is a solid base for any World Cup rider. Yeti have given us Aaron Gwin and Jared Graves to name just two so that’s not a bad place to set up a career from. Cam moves to Commençal this year joining Remi Thirion,  who won the race in which Cam had the crash, the Ruffin brothers and Myriam Nicole.

Breaking his vertebra in Andorra last season with that rag doll crash was pretty horrific but the subsequent blog he penned from his hospital bed solidifies the mental strength he has. Basically turning one of the worst injuries possible to recalling that day as one of his best on a race track.

I think Cam can do it, the fire is in his belly and the power is in his mind, so that’s why Cam made the team for 2014.

Josh Bryceland – Santa Cruz Syndicate

Photo: Laurence Crossman-Emms

Next up, it’s Ratboy Bryceland. Josh is in there for a number of reasons and one of them is epitomised in this photo. The guy just oozes style and can throw down the results when everything clicks into place. Josh couldn’t be surrounded by better team mates in Steve Peat and Greg Minnaar, just have a think how many races those guys have won between them.

Having taken a step up from the fun and loose style of flats Josh is clipped in for the win. Whatever your opinion on clips or flats Josh seems to be pinned with cleats on his shoes and he can still throw whips like this one so he’s not losing any style points.

He’s trained hard this off season with Dan Critchlow and at the BDS he had an air of quiet confidence that comes with a solid off season and mature input from the people who surround him. Ratboy will stil give Peaty a wedgie given the opportunity but I think there is some real guts behind this season so he’s in, do me proud lad.

Troy Brosnan: Specialized Racing 

Photo: Laurence Crossman-Emms

Troy Brosnan, another one of the young guns and in my eyes this could be their year. Having beaten fellow countryman Sam Hill on quite a few occasions in recent years in both World Cups and the Australian nationals he has the pace to rack up the lower digit results.

Like Josh, Troy has a team mate of the highest calibre in Aaron Gwin, he might have dropped off the pace last season but that in no way takes away from how fast he is capable of going on a bike and his mental strength is only going to have a positive effect on a young rider.

Troy is no stranger to the podium bagging two fifth pace finishes last season as well as being the current Australian National Champion he has set himself up for the 2014 season well. Pietermaritzburg might not favour him but an 8th and 10th there in the last two visits is pretty damn good.

Sam Dale: Madison Saracen

Photo: Laurence Crossman-Emms

Sambo has got a lot going for him and taking on the World Cups to level with other young riders is high on his priority list. Hailing from the land of Bryce the two have raced together for years in the UK and this year I’m hoping Sam is going to take to the podium.

Dale has been racing since 2003 when he was in Juvenile and a solid foundation of UK racing stands him in good stead for the World Cups. Personally I think Sam has it in him to push the envelope that is World Cup DH, it;s not an easy transition but the speed and confidence he has makes me think he can do it.

Tahnee Seagrave: FMD Racing

Photo: Laurence Crossman-Emms

Tahneee takes a big step this year, taking herself into the Elite Women for 2014. Reigning Junior World Champion she blitzed the field by 7.5 seconds in Leogang to take the title.

So has she got what it takes to put in the results in 2014 racing with the top girls? It’s a tough call no doubt, Rachel Atherton is on warp speed and Manon Carpenter is chasing her down. Outside the UK the likes of Pugin, Nicole and Charre are all pushing their racing to get the podiums. That said Tahnee is no slouch, at the BDS she looked composed and ready to race, being professional at a young age is important and knitting that with results is the final stitch in the World Cup cloth.

So there you have it, my team for the 2014 season. All the riders are relatively young but with hundreds of races between them they are experienced. Hopefully there is some depth there too and they will pull out some solid points for me starting next week.

Now who is going to be on your team? Check out the Dirt Downhill Fantasy page and get choosing!

PS> If you want to see a real team then head over here to see Ed’s team.