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Some really interesting info from Kerr. I am really pushing it here, but he specifically says "if there is 800k or 5pounds left at the end of the year, that's what I make as manager", my naive interpretation is that the Pivot factory team budget is around 800k.
He has an absolutely crazy philosophy that he doesn't need to make a budget and review costs, "it is what it what it is", "it's not like I can cut food costs". The whole point of a budget would be to determine whether you can grow or need to reduce the number of riders, or plan for a junior rather than an elite podium contender etc.
Interesting that multiple sponsors (did he specifically say 3?) asked them why they were doing Enduro and to consider stopping. I would understand if they were a mid-pack team, but they have 3 podium contenders, I would think it is great marketing for their enduro bikes and components, even if we can't follow along.
By the way, I just tried to find results, and I mean any results or even ranking on this page: https://ucimtbworldseries.com/results the rankings page is empty because there were no races in 2024... The results pages just links to various events pages that do not have results. wtf
Let me google that for you
The one that will be loosing his chain, maybe because he will ride a Pinion belt driven bike... Zerode? Gamux?
Doesn't Brook like to go fishing? Brook and Zerode might fit well
First one is Ollie Davis to Commencal Schwalbe
Second one is Louise Ferguson to IFR
Third one might be Elliot Heap. Looking at Instagram, Chain Reaction team has been rebranded to Nukeproof SRAM Factory Racing
Careful. If I remember right, literally a few seconds after he drops the 800k number, he explicitly states, that he's not claiming to earn that much.
Blenki is more the fisherman, I believe…
Innes Graham is/was on Nukeproof?
Gates drive on a Gamux?
Oh that makes more sense!
Last one Blenki to Zerode?
I recall a podcast a while back with Danny Hart and Adam Brayton talking about really liking fishing.
Has Kerr ever been to windrock? Maybe Dyfi is way better but thought windrock should be in the conversation for best dh park open in winter in northern hemisphere. Sorry not rumor 😳
there a very interesting thing under his "I dont need to plan budget" thing.. he has openly said before that some team's budgets are outrageous and that he can run his team on a fraction of other big team budgets just by comparing accomodation costs.. this non-prima-donna semi-austere no-nonsense style is something to look at, and perhaps the reason the riders good money in Pivot.. other riders might only flight business, stay on fancy places, etc..while BK drives the bus back to UK at the end of the season.. not naming names... anyway back to rumors, the gloveless fisherman is the one without a chain on his bike..
shared in the stories of MS RACING
https://www.instagram.com/p/C1_JhrGRbzT/?igsh=enkzMGQ1cWg4Z3p5
It could just be MS sharing content from last year. I'm not sure where Tuhoto is going, but in those photos he is sponsored by MS Mondraker.
From what I've gathered, BK's family has business ventures that pay more than MTB. Don't underestimate that if you come from a family that knows how to operate successful ventures, you hit the ground running much smoother. The resources he has access to in the background to manage budgets, negotiate contracts, handle advance planning, schedule adjustments & so much more I don't doubt help BK be more efficient than most teams that come & go.
It doesn't hurt that while he has all the toys a guy could ask for, he doesn't seem to hesitate to get his hands dirty & yet still manages to quickly delegate tasks to others.
I don't know anything about BK's background, but the guy does 3 jobs. Team owner, team manager, and pro rider (top 5 in the world). He deserves to reap the rewards because that requires a serious amount of hard work and dedication, and of course talent. Not to mention his sideline projects such as the clothing brand. Plus the guy is super likeable, clearly loves riding, and is refreshingly open and honest in interviews. It would be awesome to see him standing on top of that podium in 2024.
Yes, I remember Bruni specifically saying he got to New Zealand in the off season and was tired/jetlagged from his trip in eco class, and then realised that a lot of the other top euro guys had flown business class to stay fresh (a quick check says 1500 in eco vs 7k in business). Makes you realise some of the top dogs spend/cost as much on a single training trip as a privateer spends on his entire race season.
Would love to see Mark Wallace get at least a Single year contract with Forbidden bikes for 2024. He lives on the island and rides with Magnus Manson often so it would be a decent fit.
Magnus I don't think is ready for a world cup season yet due to his health issues so technically there's a spot on the DH team roster. Wallace I cant imagine has a big asking price and hes capable of being top 20 no problem.
Norco kinda did him a dirty with no "goodbye" post or anything (yes I understand they don't have to) but either way... I have been told Norco management has a hate boner for Forbidden, and if Wallace headed to Forbidden and had some banger results it would be a fun mini side story for the season. The ol' "I'll show you" narrative.
Yeah I agree, they know theyd be paying much more in salary and cost flying them around the world if they didnt have BK. Pivot pits dont have alot of extra, mechanics wrenching multiple bikes, Marshy handling all of the juniors.
Hell there is more people in the Santa Cruz pit than there is a Factory supercross pit with 3+ factory riders. There is a couple of different physios that are used by all of the supercross pit but bicycling all have their own team physio at every race. They can do what they want to do but with all the talk about cutting back on racing seems their is more sensible ways before cutting riders.
Pretty sure it’s Danny. I remember a fishing video a while back of Danny on a lake fishing with someone. Ahh… here’s the video of him and Brayton:
https://youtu.be/gFHYkiUKerM?si=4S6fs240JjPIBy7x
Combine with him being down under currently, and Zerode makes sense.
Never thought the idea of a big name rider on Marin. Similar to Kona, they just haven't put a ton of money into big name athletes.
With Mondraker moving to Colorado my opinion of Dak on Mondraker has changed a bit. Mondraker is no stranger to big names, either.
Lol you mean when Adam Brayton dragged him out in his dingy? Lol
I'm still sticking with Blenki. Blenki spear fishes.
Dak in the B-Practice podcast had said he was in. Really good spot for 2024. To me that means he gets to stay on the bike he had a great season on.
If he ends up on Mondraker then it means when he said "in a good place" he meant financialy and is getting paaaaaaaaid
Is Fearon off Forbidden?
No
Taylor Vernon's instagram story shows what looks like a pinion grip shift. Would be sick to see him and blenki on a Zerode factory team together
Not sure about the exact staff levels of supercross physios, but on the whole running a factory SX/MX team is orders of magnitude more expensive than any DH team. A lot of that is logistics and travel costs simply because there are sooooo many more races. Running a top level, two rider 450 team is a $15-20 million per year operation including rider salaries.
Innes is/was on Nukeproof. My first thought for that clue was Focus bikes, not Intense. Innes to Focus could make sense?
As much as some of these people travel they likely have points for all this travel that can be used for upgrades especially if they can stick to one group.
I thought I read somewhere that Marin was going to start using the FSR link on their bikes as they get re-designed?
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