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On the other sight, Brett Rheeder left Trek...

Cant forget about Dante Silva...

I think Oisin will remain on YT this season with some support based on his IG post.

in one of his podcasts he sort of mentioned that he's looking at where the next part of his racing career is going to go and what he wants it to look like. reading between the lines a little bit, i take that to also mean his post racing career. and this is just speculation - that he may be taking a page from the athertons - by developing and racing his own bike he'll have that as a business venture if he chooses once he decides his racing days are over (not that I'd expect that to be anytime...

probably hard to get one when you're not doing contests or big projects apart from the occasional film. It's a shame because he's such a legend but I guess brands don't see the return of investment. He's still on his Sender and Torque afaik.

I would say DH racing puts way more stress on a company for R&D even if they're just a frame sponsor. Just imagine how much has been out into DH over the last 7-8 (2014-2021) years as far as geo, kinematics and wheel size redesigns compared to the 13 years before (2001-2013). The older gen bikes slowly developed geo and some kinematics but a bike from 5 years before could arguably be competitive on race day. Once wheel sizes started to change, bike development went wild. How many mules did each company have to build to get everything right for...

No question a DH factory team will be more expensive than a single slope/freerider. However, the mob was never a factory team. YT was just the frame/main sponsor. But of course I have no idea about exact budgets for either option

But I think it's cheaper to support a slope/freeride program than a racing program (not talking about just rider salaries). A race team needs a ton of support from manager to mechanics to physios to cooks. Plus, you're handling the travel arrangements for the entire team and support staff and equipment. Freeriders and slope riders are almost self-supported. So, yes, you may have to pay the rider's salary and some travel budget, but you're not also paying for an entire support staff to go along with the rider. I mean racer support: we need the mechanic to put on a...

So will they bring bake the Play for him to compete in slopestyle on? YT marketing decisions are weird. Abandon racing programs (while mainly making trail bikes) and sign a bunch of hybrid slope/bmx/freeriders (Fedko and Stark) while not actually having a ton of offerings in those categories.

I mean, no one can really get inside Neko's head and say why, but I think it's pretty clear he didn't get along with the Intense bike that much. That being said: I think it's also pretty clear that Neko is a different breed and has a lot of interests alongside his racing. He definitely seems to have an entrepreneurial mindset and enjoys taking on diverse challenges. I know a lot of businessmen like him who are inspired by new challenges and new undertakings. So... while there may have been some negatives associated with Intense that inspired the decision, I...

Not sure,she was with them in Spain,i think she got home,because she is still going to school

kona bought by kent outdoors who is owned by Seawall capital https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/news/Kona-Bought-by-Kent-Outdoors,1408

Probably frames and tires

Call me crazy but look at the rear suspension. I think it looks different. The seat stays are very high and it looks like a rocker up top rather than the system they have been running. Related: What is the final verdict on why Neko left? Was it the bike (interviews point at that)? Was it program/ sponsors as a whole (not a ton of crossover when he went indie)? His videos, granted they are all hero shots, show him flowing and in ways that I have not seen him in some time.

Remember in the late 90s early 2000s, when lots of racers (who were sponsored by a bike company that didn't make a real dh bike) were riding an Intense M1 that was rebranded with the colors/stickers of their sponsor? It'd be the height of irony if intense sponsored riders in 2022 raced a trek that's been rebranded as an intense!

Confirmation of Pivots sponsors this year, inc. Conti and Leatt.

I think this one got missed but Raphaela Richter on a pro contract with Ibis racing EWS. I often had her in my fantasy teams thanks to her affordability, perhaps her price will go up!

Maybe this screenshot will help if you don't, believe me, 😉

Yoann is on EXT and TRP