GT Factory Racing Adds 2 Racers

POWERHOUSE RIDERS TAYLOR VERNON AND MARTIN MAES SET TO RIDE WITH BEAUMONT AND ATHERTONS.

GT Bicycles has signed two of Europe’s most dominant young riders to expand its champion downhill and enduro race teams. 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.”16-year-old Vernon will be racing on a GT Fury as he works to dominate 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.”

Zerode G2

New Zerode G2

• 63.5 degree head angle standard.
• 20mm more ground clearance.
• Race inspired 8.5." travel with a 2.8 stroke shock. Saves weight using idendical ratios as the G1's 9.25".
• Shorter head tube allows more bar height adjustments.
• Forged lower yolks reduces weight and increases stiffness.
• Bent chain stay allow for more crank clearance.
• Box section down tube, lighter and stiffer tube intersections.
• Now available in size LARGE with an reach of 415mm.

Niner Bikes Includes A Paid In full IMBA Membership

As a part of their ongoing efforts to support the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA), Niner Bikes will be including a paid-in-full certificate for an IMBA membership with every RIP 9 RDO LTD Edition XX1 complete bike purchased in the United States.

The RIP 9 RDO is a new model for Niner and the LTD Edition build kit includes the hotly anticipated SRAM XX1 drivetrain. This should be a great way for Niner to create IMBA members – they will receive a year of benefits, paid for by Niner. Hopefully, after seeing what IMBA is all about, these new members will choose to become renewing supporters.

“Niner couldn’t exist without mountain bike trails and trail access – we know this, and want to do what we can to give back.” said Niner president Chris Sugai “I hope we foster significant long term membership growth. If the program is successful, we will certainly find ways to expand it.”

"Everyone wins when companies step up like this to promote IMBA's work building trails, organizing volunteer days and preserving access” said Rich Cook, IMBA’s Director of Development, “Niner sets the gold standard of what a small company can do to help grow the cause, protect the resources and trails that we all enjoy."

Individually numbered IMBA certificates will ship with bike orders. Memberships are transferable in the case that purchasers are already IMBA members. The RIP 9 RDO LTD Edition XX1 bikes ship the second week of March for $6499USD, through authorized Niner dealers

: http://www.ninerbikes.com/dealers  . Interested riders can find complete bike information at http://www.ninerbikes.com/rip9rdo.

For more information about IMBA or to join, visit: http://www.imba.com

2013 Keyesville Classic

The 25th annual Keysville Classic is just around the corner. It is a small race with a great feel. Come race DH, XC, AM and kids race.

Keysville Classic Information

X-Fusion Sponsors Pivot Factory DH Team

Two years way from the World Cup DH scene, X-Fusion is proud to be back as the official suspension sponsor of the Pivot Cycles Factory DH Team. The team will primarily focus on the UCI World Cup downhill series, along with other high profile events such as Sea Otter and Crankworx. Team DH riders consist of Bernard Kerr and Austin “Bubba” Warren, and Bernard’s brother Bard Kerr who will focus on 4X.

Bernard commented, “The partnership between the factory Pivot team and X-Fusion is awesome. We couldn’t be more excited going into the 2013 season knowing we have XF’s knowledge and passion for racing behind us. We’re looking forward to working with them on and off the race track this coming season!”
 
While focusing on race results will be a primary goal, the Pivot Cycles Factory DH Team will also be a key asset in the development of XF products. Keep an eye out for them shredding DH tracks on their Vector HLR rear shocks and new XF forks.
 
X-Fusion Marketing Manager John Hauer added, “The Kerr brothers and Bubba are all fantastic riders, with style for miles, and are great representatives for the sport. Everybody at XF is truly ecstatic to be coming back to World Cup racing and look forward to helping these riders reach their goals, while they in return help us develop some amazing new products.”
 
For team updates throughout the season, follow XF @xfusionshox