The margins in downhill are razor thin, and Norco Race Division lives in that space. We sat down with Gracey Hemstreet, her mechanic Brett Ward, and data lead Jeff Hunter to unpack how a modern DH race program actually works, from early mule frames to a bike chasing its final few percent.
We get into the craft behind setup decisions: pushing aluminum stays to the edge before landing on carbon flex targets, testing geometry and idler positions at extremes to find the centre, and what changes when development shifts from “find big answers” to “chase small wins.” Gracey explains how her feedback evolved from “it’s good” to precise sensations the team can translate into measurable changes.
Psychology is woven through every lap. The crew talks about when to speak and when to stay quiet in the finish corral, how confidence compounds after a result, and why hovering just outside qualification can mess with your head. Leadership plays a huge role eliminating variables so race day starts with clarity, not noise.
With limited practice laps, the team builds an edge through preparation: track-walk footage, GPS overlays, and arriving at first laps with a plan. Add in team banter, travel stories, and the unsung roles behind the scenes, and this episode shows what it really takes to turn chaos into speed.
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