Friday Profile: Jonny G

We know him as G. But one could be forgiven for wanting to refer to him simply as the Natural. While his rookie season got off to a bit of a rocky start, it's been nothing short of astonishing since then. A regular podium finisher at last year's WNRS, he rocked a couple of cx "B" races before moving up to "A" races, where he belongs. After he received a letter from the establishment informing him that he'd been moved up from Sport to Comp for the 2009 season, what does Jonny do? He responds with a third place finish in the season's first mtb cup race. And that's not even to mention the topic of moustache growing, where he really shines.

So much a natural is Jonny G that a major sports beverage company recently built an advertising campaign around him:


Perhaps his most admirable accomplishment, however, is the fact that he is the longest serving member of the FGBC to have successfully avoided any significant bureaucratic appointment. He's not the director of anything, let alone a VP of some sort. One can only conclude that Jonny G is doing something right. Very right.

Not only is he a cracker jack bike racer and an admirable anti-bureaucrat, he is also arguably the reason that Team FGBC continues to exist at all. Last year, after a once high profile FGBC racer defected to another team, we at Team FGBC were feeling a little down on our luck. So much so that there was talk about shutting down the whole operation. But that's when Jonny G stepped up to the plate. And while it would be a stretch to say he belted a grand slam, he did, at the very least, manage a solid base hit. Indeed, it is fair to say that his arrival saved the racing division of the FGBC from sliding into obscurity. Which raises the question of whether it is possible to slide into obscurity if you're already obscure to begin with. But that's a question best left to the philosopers. Or perhaps the Spring Ride campfire. Let's just say that what originally looked like it might be the tragic end to a proud, if small, venture turned out, thanks to Jonny G, to be the big opportunity we didn't know we were waiting for. Thank-you Jonny.

Did you know? Jonny G is a master handler. Which is to say, he likes to huck. He's also mean mandolin player and a key member of the Paul Bergman Band.