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FWIW I'm quite excited at the thought of a race in South Korea and I may well attend. Putting that aside your sentiment is easy to understand (for me at least) when we live in a world where Saudi Arabia has just won the bid to host the 2029 Asian WINTER Games and F1 races are held under floodlights because it's too hot to race that location during the day. $$$$ is increasingly all that matters, everything else is secondary. Especially common sense (we need to change that expression, it becomes less common by the hour). I see WBD trying...

Another hint that YT are shutting their team down.

Wouldn't surprise me, or at least some form of guarantee into 7 figures as part of an agreement to host a world cup. While those fees aren't public since WBD took over, you can go on UCI and see the World Champs ones - For 2029 MTB Worlds there is a 20,000 CHF Bid fee and then actual hosting UCI fee is 620,000 CHF And this is all before you actually organise and run the event

I hope not . Reece Wilson is an exciting rider to watch and was finding some form before injury, Monika Hrastnik has had a podium and Hattie has shown she has the pace and probably just needs more racing experience to put it all together. I would guess that you wouldn't put the effort into staring something like that then knock it on the head after a year .

Rumor here is that WB wanted $750000 for MSA to host in 2026 and previously the cost to host was significantly lower.

Rules don’t say what happens if a team folds but sounds like the YT riders are free to sign with another team.

My wife surprised me by donating to Wyn for the next few rounds, I dont think Vali getting the award was ever a scenario in her mind 😅

4 elites per team so most likely Dylan is the odd man out. Rumour in here was Frameworks but he probably has a few options * edit - 4 riders per category

We knocked out another B practice podcast this week, and had a few rumor topics come to light: 1. Dak signed a two year deal with Mondraker that ends this year. He was SUPER tight lipped about what the future holds. 2. Cami is retiring, Richie is EDR World Champ, Tyler Waite will be in Elites next year. I'm curious what Richie decides to race, and who they add to the team alongside Tyler (assuming he stays with them) 3. Max and Till Alran will be in Elites next year. Can anyone confirm how many Elite riders you can have...

FWIW all my chats with Orbea this year has been focused around them trying to make a bigger splash in the U.S. and Canada. They've added personnel, and I've been in contact with them about a few things to come in the future. Typically when a brand doesn't plan to sell something in the US, we don't get hit up to be apart of the coverage.

Vali going to be needing that privateer bonus from Wyn

I'd pay money to see Oisin on a Nukeproof. I'd also like to think the YT enduro boys would follow. MoiMoiTV would be great for rejuvenating the brand!

A friend of mine in the Industry told me that he had heard from one of the reps that Orbea was withdrawing their US presence (at least in terms of inventory) due to tariffs. It was one of the reason's I bought my 25' Wild as I was assuming I wouldn't be able to get one easily next year or especially at a discount like it was right now. That would all indicate to me they aren't going to suddenly put a bunch of money into a North American based racing effort if they aren't even trying to sell more...

Oisin was joking in Theo’s vid that they need to make prize money to continue racing

Just listening to the OTB podcast . Rumor from them is that the YT truck got repossessed and the team won't have the funds to make the north American rounds . Pretty rubbish situation all round .

Lou Ferguson to stay on Intense for 2 more years.

Financially speaking, if Orbea wanted a truck at North American events, they would buy a truck that is already in North America. Shipping a vehicle like that overseas is not cheap.. Plus, all the other legalities with registration and such.. I can't see that making any sense, even if they did a full blown team here..

Pretty sure that’s for the logistical part of the team. Peaty is more the performance side and isnt booking flights etc.

I will be intereted to see how quick teams will be to drop riders if they have an off season once points no longer belong soley to the racers. Some teams will def stay pretty loyal to racers, but I can absolutely see some teams under presure being quicker to cut racers in order to replace with an up and coming racer.

If Vali is looking for a new ride at the end of the season, she's got to be one the hottest prospects on the market.. It will come down to who's got the room under the tent and space in the budget... She will be a big pick-up for someone..