HUTCHINSON UNITED RIDE TO POLYGON BIKES

2013 race season : Hutchinson UR team partners up with Polygon for the team frames and travels to Indonesia for the team launch

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A holiday in Indonesia and it looks to be all official, Hutchinson United Ride move from Morewood to Polygon bikes and gain a team member. Full press release below including pics from I’m pretty sure on this the wonderful Tim Bardsley-Smith. Hopefully we’ll see some Polygons this week at Aus Champs….

After a great 2012 year during which the team made it on to more than 34 podiums throughout the season, Hutchinson UR has some important goals for 2013. The team has chosen Polygon as frames sponsor and welcomes the recently crowned female junior world champion, Holly Feniak.

Sometimes decisions regarding bike partners are difficult to take. But signing with Polygon was an easy choice for the team. Yannick Granieri and Sam Reynolds, friends of the team and slopestylers already riding for Polygon told the team that the brand was very professional and passionate about racing. After some testing with different bikes in Whistler last Autumn, Fabien and Mick realized that the Polygon DHX was the fastest bike that they had been riding. The team went to Indonesia in October to visit the factory and it became clear that Polygon and Hutchinson UR share the same goals and values. On top of that, Polygon is giving the riders a lot of liberty to develop the gravity range and to make all the bikes even faster.

To officially launch this partnership, Mick Hannah, his sister Tracey, Fabien Cousinié, Guillaume Cauvin and Holly Feniak all met up in Surabaya in Indonesia to launch the 2013 season at Polygon HQ accompanied by their title sponsor Hutchinson Tires.

Fabien, the team owner and also rider for Hutchinson UR says : “I’m very excited to have all the riders here together for the first time. It’s essential for us to be able to meet here in Indonesia to set up the Polygon bikes and have a look at the new Hutchinson tires we will be riding this season. I’m eager to get the racing started, from now my goal it’s to be more a rider than a manager, i’m so happy to have found a good staff to help all the riders and myself focus on racing.”

Yustian Nimara from Polygon says : “We are very excited with the signing of the team to represent Polygon in the World Cup circuit for the first time and it’s a dream come true to work together with outstanding athletes like Mick & Tracey Hannah and the junior world champion Holly Feniak. This will be an exciting time for both the team and Polygon to step up to the next level and to follow our strategic plan of working with young and outstanding athletes.”

Jérome Dumartin from Hutchinson says : “After the good season in 2012, we are proud to support our team again and we expect lots of great results especially since the arrival of Holly Feniak. Our presence on the mountain bike downhill scene is an essential strategic choice for Hutchinson ; our DH range is more and more complete every year in order to respond to the teams and customers needs.”

The Hutchinson and Polygon partnership is very helpful for the team’s improvement in racing and product development. Hutchinson will be providing tires for all of Polygon’s downhill and enduro range.

The team would like to thank the following sponsors to keep being part of the adventure for 2013 :

Hutchinson for tires, AllTricks.com as official bikeshop, Fox for suspensions , Formula for braking , Spank for cockpit, Bluegrass helmets and protections, Crank Brothers for pedals and seat posts, Zodiac Watches, 100% for goggles and sunglasses, Mavic for wheels, E13 for cranks, chain guides and chain rings, Zéfal pumps and chain lubs, Blackmountain snowscoot, ODI grips, FiveTen for shoes and Kronos titanium springs.

The team is also proud to welcome as partners :

• Polygon as Bikes sponsors
• Alpinestars for racing and casual clothes
• Fizik for saddles
• Sony for helmet cam
• VP Components, for headsets
• JetBlack Products for trainers
• Clear Protect for frames protections

Rider quotes :

Mick : “This trip to indonesia is a perfect way to start the 2013 riding season. I’m happy to be riding a Polygon bike this year, as I’m confident that their downhill bike is easily capable of winning. In addition to that, Hutchinson is working very hard on providing us with the best possible tire choices. I’m working hard to be in top form for the World Championships in Pietermaritzburg in South Africa.”

Tracey : “I’ve just started riding my new downhill bike a few days ago. The recovery from my broken femur is going well and I’ve already got some great confidence on the bike. My first race will be at the Australian National Championships in Canberra this weekend. I’m eager to start racing again to see how strong I am.”

Holly : “This is the first time I’ve travelled to Asia and also my first trip so far on my own. The whole team really are amazing riders and a great laugh. I’m getting on with them so well. This year I will be doing the full world cup season along with other important international races that I have never competed in. It’s going to be a great challenge to discover and race all these new tracks. I can’t wait to get started!”

Guillaume : “This year will be my first in the Elite category. I want to do my best at all the races and see where that gets me. Mick and Fabien always help me a lot in training, scoping the right lines, checking the braking areas and setting up my bike. I know I have all the right ingredients to go fast. After being 2nd in Elite at the French Cup race last year, I would like to go one better this season.”