2024 TEAM RUMORS

Not a rumor, but a guess.  Ibis changes nothing on supporting the 31 XC team, and continues to support, maybe even steps it up.

Ibis Enduro, I'm worried for the factory Enduro team. I think in an Olympic year, the money has to be spent on former Olympic champions, and if money is needed it will have to be taken from the dead end that UCI has created 

I always thought it was Steve jones from dirt mag...

ok. I'm done here. I'll see myself out. 

Isn't it basically confirmed Ibis enduro team is no more? I don't know what's real and what's a rumor anymore...

Umm...

Bright and white wings.. flutter across the Atlantic. A new home with familiar faces. A new frame of reference, ready to work. 

Angel suarez to frameworks 

That's a left field one. They were teammates with Neko on YT, right? 

Could also be a more subtle hint to MS (ex-Mondraker) Racing (wings in their Logo, from Austria / RedBull connection) going to Intense (new bike seems to work well, their Programm has been on Intense frames in the past)

I reckon it's this.

Angels have bright and white wings. And a new frame of reference, ready for work -> frameworks.

That's got to be it. His mechanic is on the team and Martin mentioned that they were in negotiations with a rider who has podiumed. Angel has a 3rd place finish. 

If not Angel, i wonder if Charlie Harrison could be making comeback. He was testing with fox factory at crestline this week on the frameworks bike. I know he’s giving neko feedback, but slightly surprising he’d be out testing with fox if he wasn’t racing. Jackson was also out there, so it wasn’t like they were testing with non-racers. 
 

Charlie seems to be enjoying his retirement, so maybe not, but would be cool to see him back out there. 

It would be crazy with the cost increases for WC teams, etc if Neko and little Frameworks could have signed and supported a rider like Suarez. Maybe Whiteley is working some "contract magic", or secured an outside sponsor.

With Asa in Jrs, and Angel in elites there could be Frameworks podiums in both classes. That would be insane for a brand that has sold about 60 frames to date!

Going to be an interesting year.

Wouldn't bright white wing be a redbull rider?

Didn't he say in the Making Up The Numbers Podcast that they were talking with a potential sponsor from outside the industry? Maybe they've made it happen.

Seems like Gwin / Intense rumors are true. Between the clip that was posted with Stebber talking and Gwin’s interview with Downtime Podcast, it seems his team is looking. I was hearing some remorse from Gwin in not ever having the chance to put the new M1 to the ultimate test. 
 

The stuff about Dak leaving or not, it seems like Gwin personally help fulfill the costs of Dak joining the program. Pending what frame sponsorship looks like for IFR or whatever the I becomes, I think Dak will leave or stay. I think the funding for him would be there. It didn’t sound like Gwin would want to part ways if it were up to him. 
 

Dak and Martin’s relationship and Martin and Neko’s relationship and all of their proximity, I think that could be possible for Frameworks / Dak union, if the other pieces could cover the costs. 
 

I really think a Frameworks Factory Racing with Gwin Dak Neko and Harrison would be amazing for US DH but that is high hoping!!

Nina posting a story on IG selling a bunch of her Santa Cruz bikes - is she confirmed with SCS next year?

I wouldn't read too much into that, it's normal for athletes to sell off their bikes at the end of the season. It's a good way for them to bump up their salary and bike build videos at the beginning of the new season are great for pluging sponsors on their socials.

About the Syndicate. Who is Greg's new mechanic? When he moved away from Lyle, did he just take a teammate's mechanic? Is Lyle nolonger with Syndicate? Old news, but I never heard how it was finally resolved. 

Tom Duncan is in the more recent Santa Cruz videos (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6vJ8B-hBxM). 

Tom was Peaty's mechanic for a few years & then went to GT, followed by Cannonade when they did that strange test season for a few years, but I'm pretty sure he's happy with his normal job from now on.

Louise Ferguson selling bikes off on the local Queenstown MTB page - Moving on from Nukeproof / more fuel to the fire given the current financial situation?

Yeah. I can’t remember which podcast it was on (maybe Making up the numbers?), but they implied that she would have a ride but not on a factory World Cup race team because she has a lot of interests outside of just racing downhill (freeride, crankworx, etc). 

Lyle said in a video this year that he has a different role within the Syndicate and only jumped in temporary as Greg's mechanic again at the beginning of the year.

If I were Neko (and Martin if he's pulling the strings behind the scene), I would not sign Angel.  If we're looking at results, Neko would be better to sign Charlie, Dak or Pinky.  Plus, unless it changes soon, Frameworks sells only to North America right now correct?  I feel it would be beneficial in the first few years to pump the American aspect of the team as much as possible.  That's just me though.

Neko said they'd sell outside of NA if someone really wants a frame but they're not set up for it so there are a bunch of caveats; import/VAT is on you, longer ship times for parts etc.

When I was listening to the making the numbers podcast I was wondering who Martin could be referring to - now that I read it makes perfect sense.

they have been working together on the YT mob for a long time and Martin always speaks highly of Angel. Plus both living in Spain. I’d say 90% you’re correct there

I have heard that the Godziek brothers will be riding for Specialized next season. 🤫

🇦🇹 Gas Gas?

🇦🇹 xerode?

Moonraker factory with 🇺🇸 🇳🇿 ?

☢️ riders currently without a team and not one in sight for any of them. Even the big names. 

🇬🇧 rider who struggles to sit down 🍒 has no ride ⏰ 

A 🥇 rider not having a ride despite the win and the team tightening it’s 🪪