2016 Racing Rumours

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1/3/2016 10:18pm
I believe Martin Soderstom is also sponsored by Audi. Though it is mostly targeted at the European market. He has been flaunting a chrome Q5 all over social media. I believe he has also been in ads. So its a possibility. Though I don't see them matching up brand wise.
PolkaDot
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1/3/2016 10:55pm Edited Date/Time 1/3/2016 11:00pm
arnoldtm2 wrote:
The santa cruz enduro team is probably Josh Lewis, Iago Garay and Mark Scott.
Deleted
PolkaDot
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1/3/2016 11:02pm


Mark Scott new bike.
1/4/2016 3:11am
So...wait,what? General Trumpore's car pic leads me to think about Gwin getting involved with Martin again, right? Obviously, just because TWR stopped, it'd seem daft to think that Martin's no longer interested in DH? If this is true, it raises a couple of interesting questions.
One, although I don't have first hand experience of it, I imagine MW's contact book stretches far and wide. He's very good at bringing sponsors together to back his teams. Two, although he's used (and on the Enduro side, appears to still be using) Trek frames before, he's not completely tied in and could conceivably use any frame for a DH team he put together? ...and Three, it's been 3yrs since Gwin and Martin parted ways. That's a fair amount of water under the bridge. There's nothing to say that all/any differences have been settled and put to bed months ago?
Anyway, all this talk of Gwin becoming part of some semi independent "super team" would make far more sense to me if you were to factor MW in at the head of it.
Gweggy
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1/4/2016 4:51am
The Fischbach - Radon thing is old news, but in the article on mtb-news they also say that Faustin Figaret is another addition to the team.
Radon has quite a team there: Nick Beer, Benni Strasser, Fischi, Figaret... all guys that are likely to crack the Top 20 and maybe Top 10 next season and will produce top 30 finishes at worst.

They say they want to get more international (Radon is about as big as Canyon or YT in Germany), so I'm excited to see what they pull off the next few years.
1/4/2016 5:17am
Just to clarify: Radon is bigger than YT, yet nowhere near as big as Canyon. Canyon has also a selction of very good road bikes.

YT is a marketing powerhouse who basically has three bikes on offer. They appear a lot bigger than they are since they sponsor riders that are famous among forum users/insiders and benefit a lot from rampage covering.
lister_yu
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1/4/2016 5:31am
regarding "how big a company is" is a really interesting question.

sales for canyon 2013/2014 combined (they always have two years in their statement) are about 120 million euro
sales for radon 2013 are about 90 million euro

which one is bigger?

please don´t get me wrong - yt is pure marketing and canyon has a very different way of selling their bikes. radon (at least for me) was not well known and is slowly getting momentum during the last years
Unicycle
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1/4/2016 6:48am
Is it possible that Whiteley has resurrected 23*, will be signing Gwin again, and other athletes as well, and each one of those athletes will ride whatever they want? Maybe even some of the athletes that we recently learned have already signed with a bike company, may actually be riding for 23* with Audi as the title sponsor?

Oh yeah, and they will all be required to compete in DH ski racing in the off season as well..
LTrumpore
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1/4/2016 7:00am
Unicycle wrote:
Is it possible that Whiteley has resurrected 23*, will be signing Gwin again, and other athletes as well, and each one of those athletes will ride...
Is it possible that Whiteley has resurrected 23*, will be signing Gwin again, and other athletes as well, and each one of those athletes will ride whatever they want? Maybe even some of the athletes that we recently learned have already signed with a bike company, may actually be riding for 23* with Audi as the title sponsor?

Oh yeah, and they will all be required to compete in DH ski racing in the off season as well..
23° never went away, there have always been/still are athlete's on their roster who race for other teams. That 23° branded audi has been around for a couple years.
csermonet
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1/4/2016 7:06am
So I'm confused why you would post it in regards to the Aaron Gwin speculation. Are you insinuating that he is back on 23*? Or are you just trying to get everybody all riled up?
1/4/2016 7:22am
Exactly! I don't know where the speculation comes from for Audi? Is it because he did some filming for an advert or because an old manager is in bed with them? Monster energy athletes ride red bull events, it really is OK to do events without being sponsored! Some of you lot need to calm down, although it's funny to read...
lister_yu
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1/4/2016 7:38am
It was funny about 10 days ago.
BMW should, according to the common logic, also put their money into dh.
They sponsor skiracers and events.

I think the idea Audi sponsoring dh is not going to work.
Gweggy
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1/4/2016 7:59am
Just to clarify: Radon is bigger than YT, yet nowhere near as big as Canyon. Canyon has also a selction of very good road bikes. YT...
Just to clarify: Radon is bigger than YT, yet nowhere near as big as Canyon. Canyon has also a selction of very good road bikes.

YT is a marketing powerhouse who basically has three bikes on offer. They appear a lot bigger than they are since they sponsor riders that are famous among forum users/insiders and benefit a lot from rampage covering.
Sorry, didn't clarify: with big I meant popular and I just took that from what I hear/see at the races and bikeparks.

Interesting to see Radon is worth that much, would not have thought that.


William42
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1/4/2016 8:02am
So Gwin will be on 23 degrees with some title sponsor somewhere and be either riding their bike, or a frame of his choosing if they don't make bicycles.

If its a frame of his choosing, I have to think he'll be on a demo. He's jiving on it pretty well right now.
arnoldtm2
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1/4/2016 8:27am


1/4/2016 8:29am
Nagaredama wrote:
If there was an al̶l̶ stars team would Gwin make it?
A team based in the Alps? a team of Alpine Stars you could say?
lister_yu
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1/4/2016 9:13am
Gweggy wrote:
Sorry, didn't clarify: with big I meant popular and I just took that from what I hear/see at the races and bikeparks. Interesting to see Radon...
Sorry, didn't clarify: with big I meant popular and I just took that from what I hear/see at the races and bikeparks.

Interesting to see Radon is worth that much, would not have thought that.


I was surprised too although it is "just" sales and the whole H&S Bike Discount. Not bad for it at all. If I got time I dig into that more.
1/4/2016 10:09am
From Rich Houseman on ridemonkey. Interesting. Sounds like a return with Whiteley is a good bet.


Been a long time since I've posted here! Some entertaining comments on here.......

Looking forward to seeing things unfold in 2016!

For the record, I no longer handle Gwin's business deals as of 12/31/15.

I'm still on his program and helping with other duties related to his program.

Should be some good racing in 2016!
MattPatt
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1/4/2016 10:16am
schwaaa31 wrote:
From Rich Houseman on ridemonkey. Interesting. Sounds like a return with Whiteley is a good bet. Been a long time since I've posted here! Some entertaining...
From Rich Houseman on ridemonkey. Interesting. Sounds like a return with Whiteley is a good bet.


Been a long time since I've posted here! Some entertaining comments on here.......

Looking forward to seeing things unfold in 2016!

For the record, I no longer handle Gwin's business deals as of 12/31/15.

I'm still on his program and helping with other duties related to his program.

Should be some good racing in 2016!
Good bet? Do you really think Whiteley is willing to let bygones be bygones even after a fairly public display of frustration...

http://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/Developing-Trek-Wants-Aaron-…

I highly doubt those two would enter into another business relationship together.
jimmypop
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1/4/2016 10:34am
schwaaa31 wrote:
From Rich Houseman on ridemonkey. Interesting. Sounds like a return with Whiteley is a good bet. Been a long time since I've posted here! Some entertaining...
From Rich Houseman on ridemonkey. Interesting. Sounds like a return with Whiteley is a good bet.


Been a long time since I've posted here! Some entertaining comments on here.......

Looking forward to seeing things unfold in 2016!

For the record, I no longer handle Gwin's business deals as of 12/31/15.

I'm still on his program and helping with other duties related to his program.

Should be some good racing in 2016!
MattPatt wrote:
Good bet? Do you really think Whiteley is willing to let bygones be bygones even after a fairly public display of frustration... http://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/Developing-Trek-Wants-Aaron-Gwin-Back-Whiteley-Pursuing-Legal-Action,706 I highly doubt...
Good bet? Do you really think Whiteley is willing to let bygones be bygones even after a fairly public display of frustration...

http://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/Developing-Trek-Wants-Aaron-…

I highly doubt those two would enter into another business relationship together.
Money talks. Just ask Aaron Gwin.
LTrumpore
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1/4/2016 10:46am
LTrumpore wrote:
Who Gwin is riding for might just be a lot more interesting Wink

Hmmmmmm......
1/4/2016 10:50am
MattPatt wrote:
Good bet? Do you really think Whiteley is willing to let bygones be bygones even after a fairly public display of frustration... http://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/Developing-Trek-Wants-Aaron-Gwin-Back-Whiteley-Pursuing-Legal-Action,706 I highly doubt...
Good bet? Do you really think Whiteley is willing to let bygones be bygones even after a fairly public display of frustration...

http://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/Developing-Trek-Wants-Aaron-…

I highly doubt those two would enter into another business relationship together.
Yes. Yes I do. 3 years is a long time. Whiteley has the chance to have the best rider right now under his wing, and Gwin can make loads of money. I think they can both let the past go to better their situations today.
MattPatt
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1/4/2016 10:56am
LTrumpore wrote:
Who Gwin is riding for might just be a lot more interesting Wink

LTrumpore wrote:
Hmmmmmm......
Is this what I'm having for dinner? Wink

Oz_Taylor
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1/4/2016 2:07pm
LTrumpore wrote:
Who Gwin is riding for might just be a lot more interesting Wink

LTrumpore wrote:
Hmmmmmm......
Is it Donald Trump? He's got the money to pay Gwin, plus I think he might own an Audi or two. KTM/Alpinestars/Trump Racing
William42
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1/4/2016 2:22pm
Trump Racing.
1/4/2016 2:52pm
William42 wrote:
So Gwin will be on 23 degrees with some title sponsor somewhere and be either riding their bike, or a frame of his choosing if they...
So Gwin will be on 23 degrees with some title sponsor somewhere and be either riding their bike, or a frame of his choosing if they don't make bicycles.

If its a frame of his choosing, I have to think he'll be on a demo. He's jiving on it pretty well right now.
Gwin is going to stay on a Specialized bike without being sponsored by Specialized.

Because Specialized wouldn't offer him the deal he wanted, he is going to have no frame sponsor, and instead rep them for free.

I can continue if the inanity of this hasn't set in yet.
1/4/2016 3:42pm
Gwin is riding for Team Trump next year. Hes going to rep the Bald Eagle on his TLD kits. No frame sponsor. Hes going to ride a different frame at each round next season to prove he can win on any bike (as long as the frame isnt built in Mexico or a Muslim country)
1/4/2016 3:52pm
William42 wrote:
So Gwin will be on 23 degrees with some title sponsor somewhere and be either riding their bike, or a frame of his choosing if they...
So Gwin will be on 23 degrees with some title sponsor somewhere and be either riding their bike, or a frame of his choosing if they don't make bicycles.

If its a frame of his choosing, I have to think he'll be on a demo. He's jiving on it pretty well right now.
Gwin is going to stay on a Specialized bike without being sponsored by Specialized. Because Specialized wouldn't offer him the deal he wanted, he is going...
Gwin is going to stay on a Specialized bike without being sponsored by Specialized.

Because Specialized wouldn't offer him the deal he wanted, he is going to have no frame sponsor, and instead rep them for free.

I can continue if the inanity of this hasn't set in yet.
I could see staying on a demo frame except he wouldn't do it for free. A smaller slice sure but Gwin will get sponsors for everything down to the powerlink on his chain if possible. It makes more sense for him to change frames as a company eager to get publicity would benefit more than a big player.

So where is all the YT rumors coming from? I think I watched an interview last year and the CEO said they weren't interested in racing cred. Money aside, "good times" fits their branding more than racing... Either YT has changed course and want a world cup racer and people are spilling the beans or they have jumped into the speculation to get some free publicity out of it and play a good joke on us.

In any case the speculation is fun...

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