2016 Racing Rumours

tweedlove_ wrote:

The Canyon Factory Enduro Team (CFET) is proud to welcome one of the world’s top riders, Justin Leov, to its ranks! Justin completes the team’s roster...

The Canyon Factory Enduro Team (CFET) is proud to welcome one of the world’s top riders, Justin Leov, to its ranks! Justin completes the team’s roster to join Joe Barnes, Ines Thoma and Ludo May for 2016. Together, CFET will set out to defend their Enduro World Series Team title. As New Zealand’s fastest, Justin will be nailed on as one of the favourites for individual wins and the series overall.

For Canyon Founder & CEO, Roman Arnold, bringing Justin on board enhances CFET’s standing as one of the strongest outfits in enduro.

"Welcoming a top rider like Justin to the Canyon family is really exciting. Throughout his career, he’s shown his complete commitment to racing and that’s reflected by the fact he’s in the mix at every event he starts in. Justin is a great ambassador for the sport and for Canyon. Our team has progressed over three seasons in the EWS to become series champions in 2015. With Justin now on board, we’re confident we can reach new heights in 2016.”

Justin Leov joins CFET Sven Martin

At 31 years old, Justin has three EWS campaigns behind him having made the switchover from World Cup Downhill in 2012. After finishing third in the 2014 overall rankings, Justin stepped up to become one of only a handful of riders to win an EWS round in 2015 at Tweedlove and was leading the overall series before a crash in Whistler took him out for the rest of the season.

With a new team and new setup, Justin is gearing up for everything 2016 can throw his way and has his sights set right on the top.

“I'm really happy to be given the opportunity to work with Canyon and to be around such passionate people. The presence they have at the EWS shows they are really into enduro. That’s what I'm about too. Every weekend I’m aiming to be up there, I just want to race and know I’ve pushed so hard that there was nothing more I could give. When you cross a finish line and you can’t hear or hardly see anymore because you’ve given so much, that’s what I live for.”

Justin Leov joins CFET Sven Martin

Having fully recovered from the shoulder injury sustained in Whistler, Justin is now back out on the trails getting in the hours on his new race bike, the Strive CF:

“I frigging love my bike! The Strive gets me excited every time I ride it. It's such a beast in DH mode, eats up the trail and sits just right but I love that I can climb the thing without that sacked out feeling you usually get from an aggressive 160 mm bike.”

The 2016 EWS circus kicks off in Valdivia, Chile, on 26 March. From there, Justin, Joe, Ines and Ludo will fight it out across eight rounds worldwide to make it another awesome season!

dirtbeard wrote:

i seem to have missed when Sven Martin joined the CFET thought he was sc Hardcore

dirtbeard wrote:

i seem to have missed when Sven Martin joined the CFET thought he was sc Hardcore

sspomer wrote:

haha i think those are captions or something that got pasted over. sven prob took the pics.

Jim-Laden wrote:

This is a fun fact when the 2015 frames where released last year... [img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2016/01/13/3182/s1200_13_01_2016_11_14_43.jpg[/img] Google translation: What's up? The Forchheimer consignor undertakes a freeride star after...

This is a fun fact when the 2015 frames where released last year...



Google translation:
What's up? The Forchheimer consignor undertakes a freeride star after another ( last Rampage Hero Kelly McGarry ) , conquered the bike markets in America , Australia and New Zealand and is now building an even downhill of carbon fiber ! Are the Franks become megalomaniacal ? Next YT takes perhaps Worldcup Champion Aaron Gwin - contracted ! "Nah , do not worry " , is YT - designer Stefan Willared clear , "This is us but then ' ne number is too large . But with the new , Tues CF ' Gwin would win without any problems World Cup ! "



http://www.freeride-magazine.com/test/test-2015-yt-tues-cf/a23771.html#…

William42 wrote:

So Gwin can't say for a few more weeks, and YT is announcing and introducing their new race team at Bootleg in a few more weeks...

So Gwin can't say for a few more weeks, and YT is announcing and introducing their new race team at Bootleg in a few more weeks, a venue that's been popular with Gwin in the past.

Did we ever hear who Martin Maes was riding for? Gwin/Maes to YT?

trannyslayer wrote:

Which Bootleg because the first bootleg is this weekend. I also heard he was announcing his team and everything at bootleg.

'size wrote:

today's summary for those who can't take a few minutes to read and just post blindly...although i guess no one will read it anyway.... :) leov...

today's summary for those who can't take a few minutes to read and just post blindly...although i guess no one will read it anyway....

leov to canyon
ropo possibly off S
gatto to diamonback
gwin to still nothing official
maes still on GT
brannigan to commencal
yt not announcing anything this weekend at bootleg

dirtbeard wrote:

you forgot sven to canyon. yeeeeeeow

vics26 wrote:

So does this mean that Gwin isn't on YT for sure? Have we determined who the mystery rider is in the Norco instagram post? Initially it...

So does this mean that Gwin isn't on YT for sure?

Have we determined who the mystery rider is in the Norco instagram post? Initially it looked like Leov but now we know that's not the case.

Earlier in this thread rumors were that Gwin was on Rocky Mtn, perhaps there still chance for that or maybe riding Trek frames on his own team. How about Commencal? Seems like now we know less than before. Let the fun continue.

dirtbeard wrote:

you forgot sven to canyon. yeeeeeeow

sspomer wrote:

gold.

Acadian wrote:

I hear Sven is going to Nikon
Lee to Germany with Leica
Dave to Sony

PeteB wrote:

Gwin spotted on a YT. This was totally not photoshopped in like 5 mins with google search images of yt and Aaron Gwin.[img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2016/01/13/3208/s1200_Screen_Shot_2016_01_13_at_8.00.04_PM.jpg[/img]

Gwin spotted on a YT. This was totally not photoshopped in like 5 mins with google search images of yt and Aaron Gwin.

sspomer wrote:

Commencal Vallnord team announced w/ George Brannigan and RockShox suspension in 2016. Press Release ---------------------------- [img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2016/01/13/3183/s1200_George_Brannigan_1_of_5.jpg[/img] [b]COMMENCAL VALLNORD DH Racing Team: With George Brannigan and on...

Commencal Vallnord team announced w/ George Brannigan and RockShox suspension in 2016.

Press Release
----------------------------

COMMENCAL VALLNORD DH Racing Team: With George Brannigan and on RockShox in 2016!

Some spied a yellow bike over in Queenstown (NZ) a couple of weeks back. Some had guessed that it was a SUPREME DH V4… They were correct! So there you are, it’s official, the New Zealander George Brannigan will be riding in COMMENCAL VALLNORD DH Racing Team colours for the next two seasons!

It didn’t take long for the Kiwi to impress the COMMENCAL clan with his engaging style and steeze and they were quickly endeared to his personality. We are convinced by his ability and we’re itching to see the Thirion-Brannigan duo in action!

George Brannigan says, “Joining the COMMENCAL VALLNORD DH Racing Team is hugely exciting for me, it's a fresh start with a new and cool group of people to work with. I have been welcomed to the team with open arms so it just makes me stoked to do my best with them. Having a good bike was at the top of my list for switching teams so after the first ride on the SUPREME DH V4 I knew it was the right choice to make. Everything is dialled from team support to the bike, so now it’s go time!”

As well as George Brannigan, the COMMENCAL VALLNORD DH Racing Team is made up of Myriam Nicole, Rémi Thirion (both of whom have re-signed until 2018), of Gaëtan & Thibaut Ruffin and junior Gaëtan Vige. COMMENCAL is once again committed to the Riding Addiction structure until 2018.

The other big news in 2016 involves our sponsors. We’re proud to announce that the team will be riding with ROCKSHOX suspension. Both SRAM and RockShox become official partners with COMMENCAL.

Martin KIRCHNER, SRAM European MTB Sports Marketing, “It takes a special type of athlete to be a part of the SRAM Team. COMMENCAL VALLNORD DH Racing Team is very special that way. You feel like you’re staying with a family but at the same time they are showing great professionalism and sportsmanship. Knowing Thibaut and his teammates for a long time now, I can say they are making a step forward every year and I´m very confident that the team will carry some good momentum from last year’s Worlds at their home in Andorra, into the next season. It’s going to be an awesome year!”

In more news, the team will be equipped with SPANK Spike Race 33 and 28 wheels and in addition, participate in product development.

Gavin M. Vos, CEO and Lead Designer, SPANK Industries, "There are a lot of obvious synergies between SPANK and COMMENCAL, including shared philosophies of delivering cost effective quality with environmentally responsible materials, and commitment to innovative design and development. We are excited to have COMMENCAL Riding Addiction competing on our flag ship Race33 wheels, the first DH race rim to pair the rigidity of the Oohbah ™ inverted profile with BeadBite ™ anti-burp tubeless technology. Testing with Rémi Thirion and the rest of the team has been very positive and were extremely impressed with the level of professional and technical feedback from the squad. We look forward to continuing our testing and development with the team in 2016 and beyond."

As in 2015, the COMMENCAL VALLNORD DH Racing Team is supported by VALLNORD, Fox Head, Hutchinson and more.

Josep Marticella, Director of Vallnord Resort, “It is very important for us to associate Vallnord with a team and it is natural to have done this with a local team that runs at an international level. It is a partnership that you want to last for time and that fits into our strategy to become the best bike park in the world!”

Max Commencal, “To be honest, I don’t personally know George. However, there are certain riders that transmit positive vibes, who are kind, even if you’ve never personally addressed them. George is one of those people! His riding is crazy, all out 100% and I don’t know why, but I get the impression that his personality is similar to that of Rémi's and on their SUPREME V4s that should do the job... This season, he will have the courage and commitment that will make the difference. And they both have the calibre.”

Thibaut Ruffin, Team Manager, “We are really happy to welcome George to the team. He has an engaging style that everyone loves and we are sure that the SUPREME DH V4 will enable him to exploit his potential. With Rémi, we now have two riders capable of reaching the top step of the podium, not forgetting Myriam doing it for the girls and Gaëtan in the junior category. This is undeniably the goal of the next couple of seasons and we will work hard towards achieving it.

In order to do so we surround ourselves with and count on the support of our partners. The COMMENCAL family have provided tremendous support all of these years. It’s a pleasure to be part of the crew again for the next three seasons. VALLNORD is also our partner of choice, they have everything that we need to progress and we are honoured to be associated with this Mecca of MTB. SRAM has donned our bikes with brakes and transmission for five years and we are super happy to continue with this relationship. The expansion of this partnership for 2016 with ROCKSHOX is an essential point. The first tests showed big potential and we can’t wait to see it for real in a race environment! SPANK is also new for the team, with new Spike Race33 and 28 wheels, which are real jewels! This collaboration is very exciting. FOX HEAD is a key player in our sport not least because of the quality and beauty of their products. We can’t wait to evolve in their new Flex Air MTB range. HUTCHINSON was solid for the team in 2015, their products and attention to detail combined with their proximity makes them an ideal tyre partner.

We also thank all of our other partners who join us in this adventure: CN SPOKE, RENTHAL, PROLOGO, E-THIRTEEN, FEEDBACK SPORTS, UNIOR TOOLS, FIVE TEN, THOMSON, FINISHLINE, RYNO POWER, LITE SPRING, BV SPORTS, GOODMAN CYCLES.

To say that we’re excited to start the season is an understatement! We meet in a few days in California for our team camp and start preparing over the next months for the first World Cup in Lourdes.”

Photos: COMMENCAL & Jay French - Freeride New Zealand (George Brannigan)