Team News: Sam Hill and Brendan Fairclough's New Ride

By Ryan LaBar

Photo Brice Minnigh

Over an indulgent night of sushi in La Jolla, California, Monster-Specialized put months of rumor and speculation to rest. They finally confirmed that Sam Hill and Brendan Fairclough will race on their 2009 World Cup DH team.

Asked why it took so long to officially confirm the rumors, team manager Sean Heimdal said: "It is just the right time—Sam Hill was still under contract with Iron Horse, and we had to fulfill obligations with sponsors."

Gunning for stripes, Hill and Fairclough will race the full World Cup series, making both of the North American stops—at Mont-Sainte-Anne and Bromont, both in Quebec. If you can’t make it to either of these events, the team plans to compete in a few other North American contests: Check them out at Sea Otter on April 18-19, the US Open on May 23-24 and Crankworx on August 8-16.

Hill and Fairclough will both be aboard Specialized Demo Eights, with custom geometry per each rider's preference, for the 2009 season. The bikes will be kept stock except for Hill's, as he is on the SRAM Black Box program.

Sam's Demo 8 Race Bike

Photo Brice Minnigh

Reader Comments

Posted Wed Nov26, 2008, 7:32 PM — By toucher

That bike is SIC!

Posted Thu Nov27, 2008, 12:35 AM — By crazylax42

poor Sam Hill...that bike's gonna suck compared to his Sunday. I'm sure he'll still wow us this year though

Posted Thu Nov27, 2008, 2:56 PM — By Pete

I think the demo 8 is a lot better than the sunday. sam and brendan will kick ass on the demo

Posted Thu Nov27, 2008, 6:37 PM — By Erwin

That is a nice looking bike compared to iron horse Sunday. They use to call specialized a generic brand for bicycles. Well now that sam is with specialized what you gonna say now??!!

Posted Sat Nov29, 2008, 1:52 PM — By mike stockwell

they were never generic ironhorse is generic. donkey

Posted Sun Nov30, 2008, 2:22 AM — By LaDuchi

The Iron Horse Sunday is still in my opinion the best Downhill Mountain bike. Sam is going for cash, not for a better bike that's for sure. If any of you have a memory you will remember back in the year when the Demo came out, that the bike was never intended for downhill racing, so why should it be a racing bike now? Oh, yeah, because sam rides it. I still love Sam Hill, he's the best, but the Demo is not a racing bike, good luck to him.

Posted Wed Dec 3, 2008, 7:45 PM — By Twowheel Lover

Whether the bike is made for racing or not, Specialized will hit all the angles that Sam Hill wants. Most Race Bikes do not go by the bike sold angles and design. There is extra stuff done and normally the racers know exactly what they want the bike setup to.

Posted Thu Dec 4, 2008, 11:38 PM — By wheelie king

Sam won't be riding the Sunday anymore because Iron Horse won't be making it anymore. Iron Horse dropped its race program. Sam didn't leave looking for more cash. No more DW patent which is what made the Sunday such a cool bike.

Posted Fri Dec 5, 2008, 11:05 AM — By chillax

i don't comment on these often but i have to in this case. laduchi needs to check his history record. the demo 8 was always intended as a race bike. the 9 was for freeride and the only reason they got rid of it is because the 8 is lighter and can still handle the same punishment as the 9. people have been racing the 8 for years now and they have been winning too. if you are actually involved in the race scene at any level just a little bit you would know this. sometimes it is better to keep quiet and appear ignorant than it is to say something and prove it. keep in mind, even the 9 came out first and wasn't a dedicated race bike like the 8 is, companies make refinements and improvements over the years. this is not the same bike. opinions are fine, but if you are going to make a statement like that, you should do some research first.

Posted Sat Dec 6, 2008, 4:15 AM — By LaDuchi

Chillax, You are totally correct on what your saying, you are right the Demo 9 came out first. I am involved in racing and I really don't see so many Demos out there. I love Sam Hill, he's my hero, but I have to tell you, the Iron Horse Sunday is the bike of choice of probably 45% of the racers out there alone. Good luck to him and Brendan. I am going to miss the IronHorse team.

Posted Sun Dec 7, 2008, 2:05 AM — By AmirH

Now that Sam is on Specialized him and I are on even playing ground. I'll close the gap on him at the Otter races - yeah!!

Posted Fri May22, 2009, 4:16 PM — By hibob

sam had some stuff down to the bike so it would be better for racing and also the demo is tad lighter then the trek session 88, plus specialized is at customizing bikes for their riders then iron horse.

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