X-Fusion Title Sponsor of Ashland Mountain Challenge

X-Fusion proudly announces today its title sponsorship of the Ashland Mountain Challenge Mountain Bike Enduro for 2013. The Ashland Mountain Challenge (AMC) is in its 4th year, with prior history as the 12 Mile Super D. This year, the AMC will be organized as a true Enduro style event, and racers will be competing in more stages and riding more trails than previous years.
 
“Our goal is to grow with the current explosion of Enduro racing, as well as provide racers with more time on their bike and a better overall experience”, says Bill Roussel , AMC Race Director. Bill also added, “Having X-Fusion as our title sponsor this year is very special to me. This is a suspension company that I have been testing with for the last 3 years and I continue to be blown away by their commitment to performance, quality and reliability.”
 
The 2013 event will encompass both the Eastern and Western ridges of Mt. Ashland. Racers from the Pro and Cat 1 categories will race on one ridge, while the Cat 2 riders start their race simultaneously on the other ridge. Once finished, racers will then be shuttled to the next leg/ridge. There will be climbs involved to get to each stage, but not timed. Only the descents will be timed, which will have small burst type climbs and other physical challenges. This format promises to reward racers that are skilled, fit and on bikes that can handle technical terrain while being efficient around the mountain.
 
Adds X-Fusion Marketing Manger John Hauer: “X-Fusion has spent a ton of saddle time ripping down the Ashland trails and has held a close relationship with Bill Roussel of Ashland Mountain Adventures. When the opportunity to support such a unique event at what we feel is one of the most ideal venues in North America for Enduro racing, we had to jump on it.”
 
Event Date: Saturday June 22nd, 2013
 
To register go to www.ashlandmountainadventures.com and click on the race page Starting March 1st, 2013.
 
Event Sponsors: X-Fusion, e*thirteen by The hive, Ashland Mountain Adventures, Kali, WTB, Smith Optics, Clif Bar, Specialized, Decline, Ibis, ProGold Lubricants, Standing Stone Brewing Co., HWY 68 Hillbillies.

Trek World Racing Enters The Enduro Series For 2013

Following the recent announcement of the upcoming Enduro World Series, Trek World Racing is excited to confirm that the team will commit to the series. This follows today's signing of Justin Leov on a 2 year deal that will see the talented New Zealander focus on Enduro Racing. Justin recently retired from World Cup Downhill racing, but the new Enduro calendar provides the 28 year old with the perfect opportunity to extend his racing career.

Justin said today: "I'm really looking forward to racing a fresh new discipline, and being able to make it happen around my new career in building, with Trek Wor ld Racing providing me with all the support for my racing, is the ideal situation. It's a team that feels like family and I know the product and the staff so well, it's the exact support I'll need to compete at the highest level in Enduro."

The team will attend at least 4 rounds of the Enduro World Series where Justin will be on board his Trek Remedy and Slash machines. There will be other selected events like the Megavalanche, and Justin will be also be aiming to regain his title as the Crankworx Garbanzo winner. When the schedules permit, Justin will be lending a hand to his downhill team-mates trackside.

The team website www.trekworldracing.com will be updated with more information on the exact team schedule and co-sponsors in January.

2013 GT Factory Racing Brings on Next Generation of Talent

GT Factory Racing announced today the signing of two of Europe’s most dominant young riders to expand its champion downhill and enduro race team GT Factory Racing. Taylor Vernon of South Wales will join the world’s fastest downhill race team to train alongside Gee Atherton, Rachel Atherton, and Marc Beaumont, while Martin Maes from Belgium will join Dan Atherton on the enduro team.

“Taylor was first brought to our attention last year and we’ve seen him post some solid results in the under 16 sections this past season,” said Dan Brown, Team Director. “The team is on a roll right now with Rachel’s World Cup win, fastest team overall title and Gee taking podiums in every race. It feels like the right time for us to start to bring on some new young riders and we think that Taylor has the potential to become a major force on the World Cup scene.”

Vernon is 16 years old and will be racing on a GT Fury. During the season, he will focus on dominating the Junior World Cups and World Championships.

“Words can’t describe how stoked I am to be joining Dan, Gee, Rachel, and Marc on GT Factory Racing,” said Vernon. “I’m so excited about racing at the International and
World Cup level and know that I could not ask for a better or more experienced team of people to teach me all there is to know.”

On the enduro side, 15-year-old Martin Maes turned heads when he took 5th place overall at the Superenduro of Nations at Sauze d’Oulz. He will be riding a GT Force and focusing on the Enduro World Series.

“Nobody could quite believe it,” said Dan Atherton. “There isn’t a junior category in superenduro so this 15-year-old boy is just wasting some of the toughest and most experienced adult riders on the circuit. We are really excited about the Enduro World Series in 2013 and I’m stoked to have a new teammate with this much potential.”

“This opportunity feels like a dream come true,” said Maes. “I have the greatest admiration for Rachel,Dan, Gee and Marc and will be so happy to ride with them. My key objectives for 2013 are to brush up on my English and to listen to Dan’s recommendations to progress on my bike.”

Keep glued to athertonracing.co.uk for all the latest on the team as they enter the 2013 season.

2012 POC Eastern States Cup Last Chance For Glory Enduro

The POC Eastern States Cup, POC Sports and E-Thirteen are excited to present the First Annual “Last Chance For Glory” POC Downhill Enduro Race at Plattekill Bike Park on November 10-11, 2012. This event is a great way to end the mountain bike race and riding seasons. It’s the “Last Chance” for racers and riders to get together for a unique and fun race weekend in 2012. Plattekill Bike Park is one of last DH MTB resorts still in open this year. Last season Plattekill Bike Park was operating into December, this year the resort will keep operating as long as weather permits.
 
The POC Eastern States Cup and Plattekill have partnered to offer a unique racing format that is sure to please racers and garner the attention of the MTB racing industry. The plan for this USA Cycling inscribed race is 2 timed runs on Saturday and 2 timed runs on Sunday, total fastest time wins. One-day entries will be available for time only. Annual or One Race USAC Licenses will let you race any class including the Pro/Open Class. The Pro/Open classes will split up to $1600 in cash and the amateurs will vie for high-end sponsor prizes. The Pro/Open format encourages the fast Cat1 racers to compete with the pros for the cash awards. POC is offering a $100 cash bounty to the fastest non-USAC pro in the Pro/Open class.
 
The unique format will keep racers busy all weekend while testing their DH skills and endurance. Total race time will approach 30 minutes. Unlike traditional enduro races the riders will use the ski lift for every race segment. Starts will have short intervals and passing will be part of the fun. The tracks will be long, fast and fun with some Plattekill steepness mixed in. They have been selected for their fun, length and equality between DH and AM bike designs. There will be a pedal section and a short uphill on both tracks to challenge racers. Total uphill is less than 2% and those sections are right after long fast downhill sections. Carry enough speed and pedaling will be an option. The Saturday and Sunday tracks will feature different unique finishes that will test the racers and provide a fun time for spectators.
 
POC is a Swedish company, built on a strong mission; to do everything we can to possibly save lives and to reduce consequences of accidents, for gravity sports athletes, by developing and renewing what personal protection is all about. POC has been a big supporter of the ESC and Mountain Bike racing.
 
The Hive is committed to improving cyclists experience through the relentless application of engineering and design principles. In 2010 The Hive merged with chain retention manufacturer e*thirteen. Together, they are building on a shared philosophy of strong engineering principles and quality manufacturing to deliver great bicycling components to customers.
 
Race Awards

Men Pro / Open      $300 – $200 – $150 – $100 - $50* POC Fastest “Non-USAC Pro/Class” $100
Women Pro / Open $300 – $200 – $150 – $100 - $50*
*If less than 10/class cash amounts will be ½ the above.
Amateur will receive prizes from POC and E-13 for the top 3 every class!!
 
Race Classes

• Men Pro / Open  (Pros and Fast Cat1/2/3 and Day Licenses)
• Women Pro
• Women Amateur / Open
• Under 18 Amateur / Open
• 19-29 Amateur / Open
• 30-39 Amateur / Open
• 40-49 Amateur / Open
• 50+    Amateur / Open
• USAC Licenses are required – Day Licenses are available onsite.

 
Race Fee’s:

• $65 Amateur Two Day
• $75 Pro/Open Two Day       
• $45 One Day for Time Only
• All Race Fees Include Lift Tickets!!!

 
Schedule:

• Saturday: Registration: 8-11  Race Starts - 12 noon and 2pm
• Sunday:    Registration 8-10  Race Starts – 11am and 1pm

 
For more information, please visit: http://www.easternstatescup.com/gravity-enduro/