August 26, 2003 (Port Coquitlam, BC) -You don't have to join the army to see the world. As Norco Factory Team Riders, Deb Mackillop, Brook Baker, Hugo Donais and Mike Jones have discovered, being the best at what you do can take you very far, especially if your specialty is ripping downhill super fast. All four racers have been asked to represent Canada at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Lungano, Switzerland, August 31 to September 7.

You'll want to keep your eye on this group of uber-athletes as they're all coming off a stellar season. For the second year in a row Deb Mackillop is the reigning Pro-Elite Women's BC Cup DH Champ and she also posted a second at this year's Canadian Nationals. As a Junior Expert, Brook Baker has made her presence felt at every race she's attended, whether racing XC or DH, and she's in great form having just captured the Junior Expert Women's DH Championship title at the Canadian Nationals. Now she's going to the world's for a second year in a row.

Still basking in the light of winning the Pro-Elite Men's Canadian National DH Championships and podiuming in the last two Canada Cup events at Fernie and Calgary's COP, Mike Jones is dialing in his trusty Team Race so he'll be in top form at the Worlds. Hot on his heels, the rocket from Quebec, Hugo Donais, is raring to shred a little Swiss dirt, especially now that he finished off his Canadian racing season by claiming the Quebec Championship title and ranking 2nd overall in the Canada Cup National Series.

There's no doubt that all four champs have trained extremely hard and given their all this season. They've all put long hours in the saddle; yet still have taken the time to provide great feedback on their VPS Team Race bikes (look for these changes on the all new 2004 DH race bike). We recognize that their achievements have come from having a ton of heart and desire, and we'd like to think that we've played a supporting role in their success. Like these professional athletes, we'll continue to work hard at what we do best: design great Canadian built bikes that can hold their own and make you damn proud to be a Canadian!