The bikes of the World Champs - show us your pride
It's the time of year to go big and bold in green and gold. Aussies - and the rest of the world's best - are booming with national pride for the World Championships in Cairns.
CONNOR FEARON – KONA OPERATOR
We caught up with Mathieu Dupelle (Connor Fearon's mechanic) outside the SRAM tent, instantly drawn to the 'classic Aussie pub' style paint job.
Resplendent sparkling white, with flashes of green and gold, this is head and shoulders the nicest looking rig in the field. When we delve deeper we find the decals were done by Mathieu's friend, "utilising the 'Kona Operators' existing decal style.” What was Connor's input? "Can I get a white bike!”
When asked of any specific changes to the bike for the Cairns course he says, “The kangaroo was an added plus." As far as mechanical additions: "Suspension lock out, the rest is pretty stock."
TEGAN MOLLOY – KONA OPERATOR
MARCELO GUTIERREZ – GIANT GLORY
Some sly new graphics for the toast of Colombia and higher gearing. Simple changes. Oh, and Marcelo's custom pedals.
THE PIVOTS – DANNI BEACROFT AND BERNARD KERR
MEET THE JUNIORS
There are no crazy haircuts this year, but not to be outdone by those juniors who’ve come before, the boys got creative.
JOSH CLARK
DARCY COUTTS 
HARRY PARSONS
BEN ZWAR
PAT BUTLER
SAM HILL – NUKEPROOF MEGAWhen we caught up with Sam in the pits, the obvious topic of conversation was his decision to use an enduro bike for the downhill event.
“For me, it’s something I’m comfortable with and I’ve raced it all year in the EWS races,” he told us.
“I haven’t really had any time apart from Fort William on a downhill bike this season. So for me, it just comes down to being comfortable on the bike. And I don’t feel like I could ride a downhill bike as fast as it could go.
“A lot of the EWS stuff is as rough and fast as what’s up there (on the Smithfield DH course), so I feel like this bike will handle it well. “I feel this is the bike I’ll go fastest on this weekend.
“There’s not much change to the EWS set-up. We’ve just swapped the drivetrain out for a downhill 7-speed. And we’ve gone up with the front chain ring by two teeth. Other than that, it’s pretty much the same. Plus the special green and gold paint scheme for Australia this weekend.”
JAKE NEWELL – MONDRAKER SUMMUMTHE INTENSE TEAM
Jack Moir and Dean Lucas with the only two existing prototypes of the 29-inch M16 had to get creative with their art schemes. Tasteful green and gold decals for the pair, with a specially requested ‘Straya’ for the downtube. Moir even did his own pinstriping.
