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I think people may be slightly misunderstanding why KTM (motorcycles) would want to sponsor Gwin riding a YT frame- they don't care about selling mountainbikes to mountainbikers, they want to sell motorbikes to mountainbikers. Because as its been pointed out many times before "That DH bike costs almost as much as an MX bike"
KTM cycles are on their own, im sure KTM mx doesnt give a shit about what image they have as a cycling brand, as long as their image as a winning motorbike manufacturer is maintained, that is what Gwin offers, and when average joe mountainbiker is thinking "ohh maybe ill give MX a try" whats the first name they'll think of if Gwin is on the top step of the podium head to toe in oraange?
whether KTM will actually sponsor him or not is still out there but there is 100% logic to it if they do.
Could point towards Gwin, he doesn't seem willing to ride anything else than Fox.
Or the YT marketing guys just want to fuel the fire and get even more publicity towards their brand even though Gwin signed with someone else.
I've heard at a meeting with some European Industry insiders (not sure who else was there) the YT guys bragged with Gwin and that they already signed him. That was a few weeks back though, so who knows.
The significance is that when Zink signed for YT they started speccing bikes with brands that sponsored Zink.
Gwin has a really strong relationship with Fox, and i doubt would ever move to anything else. YT has never specced a Fox fork on anything, so i think this is a fairly solid indication of whats going to be announced.
It'd be interesting to see how a really top rider would get on with a Tues, you always seem some fast young lads on them at the UK national series.
The Tues looks like a solid bike and I've heard good things as it is, so hopefully if (big if) he does sign up, they don't remodel the entire bike around him.
Shaun Palmer Specialized salary is grossly underrated, Gwin and his demands likely met & then exceeded this sum from two decades ago. I don't see YT sustaining Gwin without some serious buckling-down.
Gwin is likely going to join Palmer @ Intense, or another company with a strong platform.
Also, so much focus is being given to whether 'brand x' can afford to run a World Cup program with someone like Gwin. Remember that many of the high profile teams are not run directly by the factories but private team owners or sports management companies: MS (mandrake), Gravity Republic (now w/ specialized), Trek World Racing (disbanded, but owned by a certain high profile gentleman with no public team plans at the moment), Atherton Racing, etc etc etc. So framing it as what 'Team' Gwin is going to could help explain how a relatively smaller company--or several-- might afford his services.
And of course the Alpine Stars gear indicates something..do you think he went for a ride and forgot his TLD stuff and just borrowed the AS stuff?
Do you have any idea how many bikes YT are selling worldwide- They have zero overstock, they sellout on pretty much every model, run no factories, employ minimal staff.
They run the epitome of a lean business model, and have been doing so since forming over 5 years ago and you think they dont have enough money to offer a frame sponsorship, not run a team, just offer a frame sponsorship.
And CRC, are you serious, they own multiple brands are the worlds biggest cycling retailer, but you dont think they can afford to pay Hills wage?
You realise that the bulk in which these companies order mean that even the YT tues you think you're getting a great deal on probably makes them 50% profit per unit.
not to mention the exchange rate in paying an athlete from a country with a weaker currency
From SCOTT:
Brendan Fairclough has re-signed with the Gstaad-SCOTT Downhill team for three more years. Team Manager Claudio Caluori continues with the existing roster that he has set up over the last few years: "Having one of the most inspirational mountain bikers in the world on the team for at least three more seasons is of great value to us. There are not many guys out there who race among the Top Ten in the Downhill World Cup and constantly generate next level media content like Brendog does."
Brendan Fairclough, along with Neko Mulally is heavily involved in the product development at SCOTT. "Being part of the Gambler's development was something that really intrigued me when signing a few years back- this is still true today. We've taken many steps to make this bike faster, and I'm excited to continue that over the next few years", Brendan states. The exceptionally good relationship with the R&D dept. and the entire team at SCOTT has been one important piece of the puzzle for Brendan's re-signing and for continuing the successful partnership.
Team mate Neko Mulally and Brendog have become good training partners and will push themselves once they meet up for the first tests in 2016. "Having Neko on board has been quite beneficial. We swap ideas on line choice, bike set up, etc... The team runs smoothly with the two of us. I'm just looking to do more of the same for the next three years. Keep pushing for the top step," Brendan adds. For the moment, however, both of them are riding in different parts of the world. Neko is already training hard in the USA for next season while Brendog recently competed in Rampage and has been working on several video projects, including a cameo in the #HuntforGlory webisodes of XC World Champion Nino Schurter.
Goals in 2016
The podium of the Downhill World Cup is the natural goal of each of the two team pilots. Caluori himself feels positive about landing some top results next season, he gave a good example of how to start prepping. "Nino Schurter just took me out for the first training on XC skis. Brendan better makes sure I don't smoke him during the first tests next spring. Otherwise we'll put him in the commentary box with Rob Warner so he can comment on my comeback to World Cup racing!"
So, in regards to my first scenario (whereby KTM is the main sponsor), I just don't see how a bike brand would want to fork over a bunch of money to Gwin just to ride their frames. Consider if they did and they happened to get a really banger shot of Gwin at a World Cup just destroying the field, the value of the shot is gonna suffer because he's COVERED in KTM logos. Are you (as bike brand X's marketing manager) gonna buy that shot and pay thousands to put it in a magazine where it could end up next a full page ad for KTM mountain bikes? Basically, if you (as a bike brand) co-sponsor a KTM-headlined program you will without a doubt be helping KTM bicycles sell bikes. Maybe you believe you'll get a greater benefit than they will, but it's a quandary nonetheless.
If you think it won't be confusing, look at any press release about a high-profile rider signing with Fox (either head or tail) and read the comments. It'll be like that, but 100x more confusing to the average consumer.
Gwin to a Whitely-run program with KTM as the primary sponsor and a custom bike is my best guess. Who ran the Honda G-cross team?
you nasty boy
you should run your own blog. If Charlie can do it with Team Robot ....
dave
As Lee has said, each sponsor doesn't have to cover the entire cost of Gwin's salary or the team setup, but that leaves the question as to who has the infrastructure in place to make this happen in a relatively short timescale?
In my mind the only answer can be Martin Whiteley.
Or, GOAT=Greatest Of All Time-Gwin and Fox
I was impressed to see Subaru(?) use one of the Mc Cauls (?) in their commercial's and thought "finally". Just because the sport may not have been associated with certain demographics in the past doesn't mean that it should stay that way. DH is becoming a far more family "friendly" sport with the advent of bike parks/resorts. I'll use Highland for example. I ride mostly with my son and, his crew of friends, dads. Amongst us is a software designer, a doctor, an engineer and (myself) Prosthetist. It's not a cheap sport and I think the demographic is shifting as people like me who have been riding since the 90's actually have careers and can afford to spend money in the sport.
My point is, I wouldn't get caught up on the frame sponsors capital resources..Gwin has probably reached far beyond that. And let's face it, the one thing that everybody gives him shit about, (being clean cut and no nonsense) may be the most marketable thing after all. Ratboy sponsored by Bank of America..not so much.
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