To call the 2008 mountain bike seasons of reigning World Champion and U.S. National Champion Melissa Buhl successful would be a tremendous understatement. Today she added yet another exclamation point to her racing dominance by the capturing title at the second leg of the Jeep 48STRAIGHT Mountain Bike Series held at The Canyons in Park City, Utah.

Despite facing one of the deepest fields in Jeep mountain bike history and intermittent rain showers that impacted the surface of the racecourse, Chandler, Ariz.’s, Buhl swept the competition without losing a heat, a feat all but unheard of since the event’s inception.

Buhl’s day was no less spectacular, featuring wins over Open Qualifiers Lisa Myklak and Tammy Donahugh, both of Boulder, Colo., to earn a spot in the finals. There she would face off against Jeep mountain bike racing veteran and three-time World Cup winner Fionn Griffiths of Great Britain. Griffiths reached the championship heat following a defeat of Open Qualifier Allie Burch of Patterson, N.Y. and a shocking upset of U.S. National Champion Kathy Pruitt, winner of the first leg of the series. In the finals, Buhl was just too powerful, winning both races against Griffiths to win her long-awaited first Jeep title. Pruitt earned third place with a win over Donahugh in the consolation heat.

“I came into Utah feeling really confident, focusing on my own race and making all of the jumps I needed to make,” said Buhl. “The weather definitely impacted everyone’s plan, and I had to race just a bit more conservative at times than I normally would. But I’m thrilled to get out of here with the win, and I couldn’t be happier with how the season went. I’m very excited about the final race in San Luis Obispo, where I like the dirt and racecourse and have a chance to win the season championship.”

The prize purse for Jeep 48STRAIGHT tops $100,000 with additional bonuses from sponsor Paul Mitchell. The winners at The Canyons pocketed $5,000, with cash earnings for each finisher through 16th place. Points are awarded during each race, and the overall series champion will receive the keys to a new Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Each event of the Jeep 48STRAIGHT summer season will receive national broadcast coverage on CBS Sports, representing the most visibility of any mountain biking event in the sport. The event at The Canyons will air on CBS Sports on Oct. 12.

Jeep 48STRAIGHT will now head to San Luis Obispo, Calif., on Oct. 24-25 for the season’s grand finale.

JEEP 48STRAIGHT MOUNTAIN BIKE SERIES
THE CANYONS - PARK CITY, UTAH
SEPTEMBER 20, 2008

Women’s Standings

1.    Melissa Buhl - Chandler, Ariz.
2.    Fionn Griffiths - Great Britain
3.    Kathy Pruitt - Santa Cruz, Calif.
4.    Tammy Donahugh - Boulder, Colo.
5.    Leslie Slagle - El Cajon, Calif.
6.    Allie Burch - Patterson, N.Y.
7.    Jackie Baker - Park City, Utah
8.    Lisa Myklak - Boulder, Colo.