The Chain Reaction Cycles Intense DH race team, first launched in 2007, has just taken delivery of a batch of freshly painted bikes ready for the upcoming round of World Cup races, which starts in South Africa on 11/12 April.

The team includes Chris Kovarik, Julien Camellini, Ruaridh Cunningham and Matt Simmonds. The riders will have at their disposal the brand new EVO for DH duties and a Tazer 4X for 4Xing. Based on the M6, the EVO has been developed with input from the CRC riders and includes adjustable head tube angle and dropouts, travel from 8.5in to 9.5in depending on the choice of shock, and tweaked tubeset to drop the weight a couple of pounds compared to the mighty M6.

Nigel Page, team manager, says: “Well, after a hectic week of dealing with UPS and customs and Dave [Garland] and Jason [Marsh] working around the clock building all our bikes, they are finally built and I have to say I have never seen better looking bikes. They look fantastic and most importantly very fast.

"Chain Reaction Cycles have done a great job of getting our graphics done this year to fit the frames, Clayton at Manitou had us some custom blue Dorado graphics made, Hope have made us the blingest matching team blue brakes with the riders names on the levers. The Mavic wheel sets just look so trick, the new Easton Havoc 750 bars are wide enough for the new school but with the same great shape of the older bars."

Team rider Matt Simmonds was clearly delighted with the bikes. After a two day ride at the weekend he said: "The new Intense EVO feels much lighter faster and with the new adjustability we can get the perfect set up on any course."

More team info at www.crcintense.com