MITCH ROPELATO: We're here in Hafjell, Norway.
It's second to last round at the world cup series.
This is my first time here.
So I think I'll be able to pick it up pretty quick.
It's like berms and techie stuff, which I've usually
excelled at.
It's got some really bike park sections, and then one massive
hook that is kind of scaring me.
But [INAUDIBLE]
first lap.
I was kind of on the fence post about which bike I was
going to ride at South Africa.
So we got two bikes painted up.
So this week I thought it was only right to bring out the
demo paint job, show the Stars and Stripes.
Aaron had a pretty good fall at South Africa.
They diagnosed him with the third
degree separated shoulder.
TROY BROSNAN: I think he's just at home resting up.
And it was a pretty smart move.
It sucks.
You never want to see anyone get hurt, and not be able to
finish the season.
But it's one of those things that happens to everyone.
It happened to me last year.
So we're just try and stay healthy, and hopefully he's
all right for next season.
I've had almost the whole season to get back up to
speed, and get the confidence level going.
And I'm free and still want to win.
So not going to come to these races just stoked on a top 10.
I want to win.
I want to get on that podium again.
And, if I could freaking win one, that would be sick.
I'm not going to lie.
Just got to make it happen, I guess.
You need to take a couple risks.
But we'll see.
If I'm feeling it this weekend, we might go for it.
But anyways, I'll still be putting in 100%.
MITCH ROPELATO: We had a little uh oh in the run.
Coming out of the last woods I just, like, hit a rock, and
just hit a tree, went to keep going, like, tripped over the
tree, or a rock or something.
I don't even know.
It was like, crap.
Then I just pedaled to the line.
We went 45th, so that's not too bad.
When we did those timed runs, I did a 3:40.
So I know I can go faster than 3:40.
So we should have something good for Sunday.
TROY BROSNAN: I'm pretty stoked.
I just wanted to have a smooth run the whole way down.
And I kind of balled up a couple of things at the top
with tiny mistakes that I lost speed on.
But apart from that, I just pedaled real hard, and hit all
my lines down at the bottom, and ended up sixth, only 3.2
seconds off the win.
So gave me some more confidence and keep riding
like I have been.
Everyone says it's going to rain tomorrow.
So we'll see what that brings.
But I always like the wet.
So bring it on, I say.
[RAIN]
MITCH ROPELATO: I was all right.
Just a couple of moments--
completely slippery, muddy.
It was fun, though.
Yeah, I'm pleased.
It was fun.
Rain was a bit gnarly.
But Not much you can do about that.
So I had a blast.
And I'm alive, healthy.
Yeah, I'm pleased with it.
It wasn't bad.
So good way to end the year and go home, work on some
things this off season, and see if we can come
back better next year.
Had a fun season.
Just build on that for next year.
TROY BROSNAN: Yeah, it went good.
I felt pretty good at the top.
And the track was, kind of had a river down it.
But I was still pretty grippy.
And I had one mistake in the rock garden.
But apart from that it was pretty smooth run.
I felt like it was a podium run.
But just wasn't one of the days.
It was good.
It was smooth.
No real big mistakes, except for that one in the rocks.
And just, I guess I didn't push it hard enough.
So I'm happy enough.
It's another race that I got down to the bottom in, and
moving forward, and just got [INAUDIBLE]
get the monkey off my back.
And then we'll be home, and getting ready for next season.
So I'm always stoked to come down and finish a race run
without crashing.
And being in the top 10 these days is pretty hard.
I'm still pretty stoked.
But always want to do better.
I was aiming for the podium if not a win.
But just learn from these things.
And go on to the next race.
And just try and do that bit better again.