Michal Prokop and Marzocchi: a winning partnership
23.12.2012

The Czech rider Michal Prokop, fresh from a season full of successes including his victory in the World Cup in Fort William and a second place overall in the Four Cross World Championship, came to visit Marzocchi’s headquarters. During his stay, the rider talked about last season and told us about his future projects.

Michal, how did you approach the world of mountain biking?
I have to say one thing: I started to ride on a bmx as a child, before being 5, and to this day I still prefer this type of ride. From then on, what drove me was passion, a feeling which never abandoned me over the years. At 15, I realized that I could ride my bicycle for a living and I threw my body and soul into competitions.

How did last season go?
All in all positive, though I have a bad taste left in my mouth because of the failure in qualifying for London Olympic Games. However, I’m satisfied with the second place in the Four Cross overall standings and with successes such as the one in Fort William.

Is it true that next year you’ll ride Enduro competition too?
Yes indeed. I’m a very competitive person and the idea to test myself in a new discipline excites me a lot. I’m a natured sprinter, but I hope to put to use some of my qualities, such as my uphill power and my curve-exiting speed, in the Enduro competition. I’m using this winter period to train myself this way, to be in the best shape for the upcoming season».

About the other races?
I still will compete in the Four Cross World Championship and the Four Cross World Cups and I’ll race in the various National Championships. Not to mention some must-do events such as CranxWork.

How was working with Marzocchi? What do you think of our products?
I'm very picky, and my bike always expects the best components. For this reason, the Marzocchi “4X” fork was the best choice. What I like most of Marzocchi forks is the their high customization value – I usually prefer a stiff set up – together with their toughness. Despite my rather impetuous driving style, my fork never betrayed me and it coped well with stress, without causing me any problem throughout the season. I’m also satisfied with the assistance received during the races; the Marzocchi staff has always been at my disposal, advising me on the best setups and adjustments to be made. I think Marzocchi’s support and its engineers’ know-how will be increasingly valuable in the future, especially in view of the Enduro competition commitment.