Trek World Racing To Focus On Gravity Racing For 2013

Following on the recent announcement that Aaron Gwin has signed to Trek World Racing for the next 3 years, the team is confirming that it will focus on gravity moving forward. As Trek World Racing refocuses on gravity it will be bolstering its line-up of riders by adding another top rider. Trek World Racing will announce its remaining roster of 3 additional gravity riders later in the year. The only confirmed signing at this point is Aaron Gwin.

After 4 years of successfully racing Trek Bikes at the sharp end of the World Cup XC scene with extremely talented athletes like Lukas Flueckiger, Mathias Flueckiger, Emily Batty, Anton Cooper, Willow Rockwell and Liam Killeen, the Trek World Racing XC program will be finishing at the en d of this year.

Team Director Martin Whiteley – "We are extremely grateful for having been entrusted with the development of the XC World Cup program for Trek over the past four years. With 2 World Championships, Worlds Silver and Bronze, a World Cup Title, 3 World Cup race wins and 23 World Cup podiums, we are very happy with our record. Apart from the extremely talented athletes we've been privileged to work with, we'd like to thank our Cross Country specific sponsors for their support of this discipline. We certainly wish our current riders all the best for the continuation of their brilliant careers."

With Trek World Racing focusing on gravity, Trek will continue to race cross-country at the highest levels with a separate Trek XC Program under the management of Jon Rourke (current Team Director of the Subaru-Trek program).

The team website www.trekworldracing.com will be updated with more information throughout December and January.

Justin Leov Races His Last Worlds, Aaron Gwin Suffers Mechanical Failure

Race favourite Aaron Gwin (USA) saw his hopes of taking a 'bonus' title this year come to an end around 1min 20secs into his final race run, when inexplicably both his front and rear brakes failed, resulting in a crash. Shortly after the crash Aaron pumped the brakes to try and get some pressure going but it was insufficient to complete the course safely at speed, and he cruised to the line disappointed he was unable to throw down a run on the three and half minute course.

Justin Leov (NZL) was the best placed finisher of the three Trek World Racing riders, ending a decade of racing for his country at the World Championships with a 21st place. After suffering a repetitive strain injury 2 weeks ago, Justin had recovered completely for the event and was looking forward to the run, but in the end was a little disappointed.

At the World Championships there is no qualifying round or seeding run, but a timed practice session where riders can check their general race speed against official timing. Aaron was happy with his 4th in timed practice and as race day drew nearer, and the sun came out drying the track dramatically, all was set for a classic Aaron Gwin run. Unfortunately the brake failure, something he has never experienced before and in fact is his first mechanical in a race run since joining the team, really took him by surprise.

Aaron said at the finish line – "I really don't understand what happened. I warmed up as usual, tested the brakes as usual at the top, walked down the course to have a look at how the track was running, went into my run, brakes working fine for the first minute or so, and then bang, nothing. I crashed and got up as soon as I could, pumped to see what was there, but it wasn't enough, and knew my day was run".

The brakes have been taken back to Japan for further analysis as there was nothing immediately evident from the post-race inspection, and nothing new was done to these brakes that Aaron and the team has run for most of the season.

Justin said – "For sure I was chasing a top 10 here. The course had dried up really well and I was looking forward to running at speed and getting a great result. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be and I'll have to settle for 21st, but it has been an amazing run from Kaprun (AUT) in 2002, to these World Champs in Austria 10 years later."

Neko Mulally who suffered a torn shoulder ligament in Whistler 2 weeks ago was happy to be competitive here and finished 27th. He's not yet 100% but expects to be so for Norway.

The downhill riders re main here in Austria this week to support their team mates in this weekend's World Championship Cross Country events in Saalfelden, then fly Monday to Norway for the World Cup finals where the team has something very special planned for Saturday, race day, to celebrate the victory that was sewn up at Round 6.

Aaron Gwin SIgns Multi-Year Deal WIth Trek

After two incredible seasons where the history books in Men's Downhill racing have been re-written several times, UCI World Number 1, Aaron Gwin (USA) has just confirmed his recent re-signing with Trek World Racing for the next 3 years. The announcement made last night in the US during the annual Trek World show in Waterloo, Wisconsin which Aaron as attending.

The young American has scored some pretty impressive achievements since climbing aboard the Trek Session, and it's obviously a winning competition that the 2 time World cup Champion wants to see continue.

"I'm honored to continue my rela tionship with Trek Bicycles, and the Trek World Racing program. Their support has been a key part of my success over the last 2 years, and they’ve given me all the tools I need to reach my goals. I'm excited for the years ahead, and looking forward to further developing the Trek Bicycles brand."

A goal that still remains for Aaron this year will be his attempt at winning the UCI World Downhill Championships in Leogang (AUT), a venue that has brought him World Cup success in the past. Then he'll head to Norway to collect the World Cup trophy and try and put in another win for the season.

Team Director Martin Whiteley says – "Obviously we're thrilled to know we have Aaron back with us for a long period of time. He's a consummate professional to work with and a great inspiration to his team mates. His confidence in our staff and support means a great deal to us and we'll do all we can to support him in achieving his goals over the coming years".

Stats: - In the past 2 seasons with Trek World Racing, Aaron has won 9 of the 13 World Cup Downhill events; achieved 100% World Cup podium results, and won two World Cup overall titles. He is the first rider in the history of the sport to win 5 World Cup races in a season (2011), the first to win 4 World Cup races consecutively (2012), and the first American male ever to win the World Cup Downhill Overall title.

Aaron Gwin Skills Camp At Mammoth Mountain

Mammoth Mountain Bike Park is proud to welcome team athlete Aaron Gwin to the trails this August for his first ever Skills Camp. This three-day, two-night camp gives the intermediate to advanced downhill mountain biker a chance to learn the art of two-wheel speed from the defending UCI World Cup Overall Champion. Joining Aaron on the coaching side will be members of the ODI Development Team and Mammoth Bike Park Guides.

Who: Intermediate- Advanced Downhill Mountain Bikers

When: August 16, 17, 18

How: Call 800.MAMMOTH today to reserve your spot, this camp will reach capacity

Package Information (prices do not include lodging tax)

All-Inclusive

• Two nights trailside accommodations at the Mammoth Mountain Inn (double occupancy rooms)
• Three days of unlimited Bike Park access, lift + shuttle service
• All-access clinics and coaching
• Three lunches and a welcome dinner
• $999

Passholder Package

• Two nights trailside accommodations at the Mammoth Mountain Inn (double occupancy rooms)
• Three lunches and a welcome dinner
• $903

Day Package

• Three days of unlimited Bike Park access, lift + shuttle service
• All-access clinics and coaching
• Three lunches and a welcome dinner
• $801

Locals Package

• All-access clinics and coaching
• Three lunches and a welcome dinner
• $705

Aaron Gwin Wraps Up The World Cup Title With One Race Remaining

By taking 5th place at Round 6 of the UCI World Cup, Aaron not only won his 2nd World Cup Overall title in as many years, but he also maintained his 100% record of World Cup podium results, 13 from 13 starts with Trek World Racing, and a record 14 in a row when the final round of 2010 is taken into account. Furthermore, the Trek Session race bike has scored an impressive 35 World Cup podiums since the start of 2009, more than any other bike model.

Having won 4 of the 6 races on offer so far this season, it seems logical that Aaron Gwin would have wrapped up the season early, and become the f irst to score back-to-back titles since Nico Vouilloz (FRA) in the late 90's, but mathematically it wasn't that straight forward. Both Greg Minnaar (RSA) and Gee Atherton (GBR) have been equally consistent so it was a matter of trying to limit the damage after a qualifying run crash nearly brought Aaron’s weekend to an early close.

The penultimate round of the 2012 UCI World Cup in DH was at a brand new venue, Val d'Isere (FRA) on a course which presented a number of challenges. It was short, at around 2mins 20secs, and this means errors of any kind were not forgiven. The limestone strewn down the length of the course was sharp and sliced many a tire and rider. Aaron and Justin both suffered injuries requiring stitches. Justin's injury on his left arm actually required the handy work of a plastic surgeon to stitch torn muscle inside the injured arm, as well as stitches to close the wound. Aaron's right hand was cut deeply and required 5 stitches, an injury he played do wn before the final but in reality, was a tough one to cope with on this course.

Aaron said: "I have no excuses for my 5th today. I had a pretty good run. For how I felt with the hand injury, I'm happy. To win the overall again, it's so amazing, especially after this weekend. I came in feeling good and kinda had a bonehead moment in qualifying—hurt myself a little bit with that. It was better than I thought it was going to be in the finals but I just got a little tired at the bottom. So I had to back it down to make sure I stayed on and I kinda backed it down too much, but it still worked out. Everyone loses some and wins some. I have lost many more in my career so I'm just stoked to be up here in the black leader jersey for 2012."

Aaron takes a 260 point lead into the finals in Norway in mid-September, with a maximum 250 points available. Between now and then, there are the World Championships. The Men's Downhill World Title hasn't been in the hands of an Americ an since his team mate and Trek World Racing staff member Myles Rockwell in 2000, so it's understandable that the goals for the season have now shifted to Leogang, Austria, in about 4 weeks from now.

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