2016 Racing Rumours

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Primoz
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12/24/2015 9:12am
It was said on Pinkbike that an unnamed big player sells 50 enduro bikes to one DH bike.

And selling people on your brand instead of your product can be very useful, because they can become the (local) evangelists, which is basically free marketing (they suggest said brand to their friends and other local people, which costs the company zero in terms of marketing money).
xyian
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12/24/2015 9:19am
I keep hoping to see rumours about Pauline Ferrand-Prevot joining the Giant DH team so she can win another world championship in another discipline. Plus, we could use more coverage of her. Wink
EddyDave
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12/25/2015 1:59am
Merry Christmas
NóiNPO
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12/26/2015 7:36am
I just want to know where Loic Bruni and co. will go. Really hope it´s not specialized, really don´t like that brand.
Austen
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12/27/2015 2:41am
Dean Lucas is on the move, not sure what team though, I just seen a comment on Instagram from Bryn congratulating him
waldog
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12/27/2015 2:45am
Austen wrote:
Dean Lucas is on the move, not sure what team though, I just seen a comment on Instagram from Bryn congratulating him
Was talking to my mate about this yesterday, my theory is Kona.

Apparently, I stress apparently, as I haven't seen it with my eyes, but his grandma commented on his Facebook saying something like it's great that you'll have Australians looking out for you on your team this year. Kona is completely aussie, well the riders obviously...

Then again, polygon...
LTrumpore
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12/27/2015 3:48am
Austen wrote:
Dean Lucas is on the move, not sure what team though, I just seen a comment on Instagram from Bryn congratulating him
waldog wrote:
Was talking to my mate about this yesterday, my theory is Kona. Apparently, I stress apparently, as I haven't seen it with my eyes, but his...
Was talking to my mate about this yesterday, my theory is Kona.

Apparently, I stress apparently, as I haven't seen it with my eyes, but his grandma commented on his Facebook saying something like it's great that you'll have Australians looking out for you on your team this year. Kona is completely aussie, well the riders obviously...

Then again, polygon...
The clue is a strong one, but you are thinking about it the wrong way. Kona riders are looked after by a Canadian. Wink
Primoz
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12/27/2015 4:03am
Isn't Whiteley Australian?
12/27/2015 10:54am
Austen wrote:
Dean Lucas is on the move, not sure what team though, I just seen a comment on Instagram from Bryn congratulating him
waldog wrote:
Was talking to my mate about this yesterday, my theory is Kona. Apparently, I stress apparently, as I haven't seen it with my eyes, but his...
Was talking to my mate about this yesterday, my theory is Kona.

Apparently, I stress apparently, as I haven't seen it with my eyes, but his grandma commented on his Facebook saying something like it's great that you'll have Australians looking out for you on your team this year. Kona is completely aussie, well the riders obviously...

Then again, polygon...
LTrumpore wrote:
The clue is a strong one, but you are thinking about it the wrong way. Kona riders are looked after by a Canadian. Wink
Weeeellllll sorta... Both owners live in Bellingham Washingtin now and for all intensive purposes the company is more American than Canadian now.

Part of me thinks Kona sponsors all Australian riders because the American dollar does really well there. Paying an athlete costs them less but their athlete still gets decent money. Also most don't know this but Teagan Malloy is not actually a full factory sponsored rider by Kona, only Fearon and Crimmins.

Granted as a Canadian who works in the states and getting payed in USD I don't see why they don't find a Canadian racer as well haha I make a lot of money on the conversion right now.
12/27/2015 11:48am
Weeeellllll sorta... Both owners live in Bellingham Washingtin now and for all intensive purposes the company is more American than Canadian now. Part of me thinks...
Weeeellllll sorta... Both owners live in Bellingham Washingtin now and for all intensive purposes the company is more American than Canadian now.

Part of me thinks Kona sponsors all Australian riders because the American dollar does really well there. Paying an athlete costs them less but their athlete still gets decent money. Also most don't know this but Teagan Malloy is not actually a full factory sponsored rider by Kona, only Fearon and Crimmins.

Granted as a Canadian who works in the states and getting payed in USD I don't see why they don't find a Canadian racer as well haha I make a lot of money on the conversion right now.
I'm pretty sure General Lee was talking about the mechanic/team manager who is Canadian. He lives in Bromont I think (hence the amount of edits Connor shot there)
12/27/2015 3:07pm
Weeeellllll sorta... Both owners live in Bellingham Washingtin now and for all intensive purposes the company is more American than Canadian now. Part of me thinks...
Weeeellllll sorta... Both owners live in Bellingham Washingtin now and for all intensive purposes the company is more American than Canadian now.

Part of me thinks Kona sponsors all Australian riders because the American dollar does really well there. Paying an athlete costs them less but their athlete still gets decent money. Also most don't know this but Teagan Malloy is not actually a full factory sponsored rider by Kona, only Fearon and Crimmins.

Granted as a Canadian who works in the states and getting payed in USD I don't see why they don't find a Canadian racer as well haha I make a lot of money on the conversion right now.
fabdemaere wrote:
I'm pretty sure General Lee was talking about the mechanic/team manager who is Canadian. He lives in Bromont I think (hence the amount of edits Connor...
I'm pretty sure General Lee was talking about the mechanic/team manager who is Canadian. He lives in Bromont I think (hence the amount of edits Connor shot there)
Aaaah yes yes.
Twitch
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12/28/2015 1:19am


12/28/2015 1:47am Edited Date/Time 12/28/2015 1:53am
It's official! Aaron Gwin leaves Specialized: http://www.iamspecialized.com/news/tribute-to-aaron-gwin/

Aaron has disclosed that the reason he is leaving comes down to a difference of opinion as to what he thinks his value is and the value that Specialized would attribute to his contribution. No hard feelings apparently, just a business decision then.
Capricorn
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12/28/2015 2:05am
maybe gwin thinks he was always a Young Talent...
snsn64
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12/28/2015 2:19am
I have nothing to back it up, just a hunch, but maybe Gwin will got to santa cruz? They are a big brand, and so can afford to pay the kind of money Gwin will be wanting, and the syndicate will be loosing Peaty after the 2016 season? Another big name to add to their marketing quiver? I would if I was them.
Bisiu92
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12/28/2015 2:19am Edited Date/Time 12/28/2015 2:20am
so now??
gt, trek, santa cruz and lapierre are full ...
Norco,Polygon or Mondraker ???

Panda-Bear
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12/28/2015 2:32am
Just based off Ream Tumors comment, I'm guessing Gwin will be on a YT, Radon, Bulls, or Solid, and will be backed partly by KTM, going back to the 'KTM/TLD/Redbull backed team on a bike of his choosing' rumor.

Pretty sure Norco signed 2 year deals last year, so their team should be mostly the same and full, Idk about polygon, and Mondraker still has Hart unless I totally missed something. Oh and Santa Cruz still has Ratboy, Minaar, and Peaty for this season. I don't think they need Gwinn.
JessyDH
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12/28/2015 2:45am
Panda-Bear wrote:
Just based off Ream Tumors comment, I'm guessing Gwin will be on a YT, Radon, Bulls, or Solid, and will be backed partly by KTM, going...
Just based off Ream Tumors comment, I'm guessing Gwin will be on a YT, Radon, Bulls, or Solid, and will be backed partly by KTM, going back to the 'KTM/TLD/Redbull backed team on a bike of his choosing' rumor.

Pretty sure Norco signed 2 year deals last year, so their team should be mostly the same and full, Idk about polygon, and Mondraker still has Hart unless I totally missed something. Oh and Santa Cruz still has Ratboy, Minaar, and Peaty for this season. I don't think they need Gwinn.
You gotta be smoking crack if you think Radon, Bulls or Solid have the money to pay Gwin what he's after
EddyDave
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12/28/2015 2:46am
How do we feel about Giant? Who do they still have?
Panda-Bear
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12/28/2015 2:54am
EddyDave wrote:
How do we feel about Giant? Who do they still have?
Marcelo, but they're big into Enduro right now, with Barelli, and the other two (can't remember their names rn and I'm really tired) I'm not sure they care about downhill. They would have the funds to pull Gwin, but for some reason I don't see it happening. I work for a Giant dealer so I'd love nothing more than Gwin on Giant, but they just aren't putting much money into big bikes right now. It could happen though.

EddyDave
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12/28/2015 2:59am
Panda-Bear wrote:
Marcelo, but they're big into Enduro right now, with Barelli, and the other two (can't remember their names rn and I'm really tired) I'm not sure...
Marcelo, but they're big into Enduro right now, with Barelli, and the other two (can't remember their names rn and I'm really tired) I'm not sure they care about downhill. They would have the funds to pull Gwin, but for some reason I don't see it happening. I work for a Giant dealer so I'd love nothing more than Gwin on Giant, but they just aren't putting much money into big bikes right now. It could happen though.

Aye, it seems that they're much more focused on everything other than DH right now. However. One rider is hardly a team?
Same with Mondraker, don't they only have Hart left?
Panda-Bear
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12/28/2015 3:06am
JessyDH wrote:
You gotta be smoking crack if you think Radon, Bulls or Solid have the money to pay Gwin what he's after
You gotta be smoking crack if you think it couldn't happen. I don't understand with how accurate a lot of the rumors have been people still don't see it. Ream Tumors clearly states those as viable options, with the drawing from a while back of number one USA rider going to Germany (also restated in the ream tumors comment) it makes even more sense. Also Gwin is definitely in bed with KTM Motorcycles (not the bicycles, the wealthy motorcycle company), hell he was at the KTM USA Christmas party. Bicycles and Motorbikes are constantly mixing more and more (specialized sponsoring Roczen big time... etc) so it wouldn't be far fetched that KTM would help fund a team, with Redbull (wealthy as fuck) and probably TLD as well, so a frame sponsor wouldn't need to pay much. under this idea the team itself is funded by the big three, KTM, RB, TLD, so Gwin would really just need a frame and that's it. The big bike companies paying for teams wouldn't necessarily want Gwin as they are funding their own teams, so it makes sense for a smaller company that can't afford a full team to toss in some decent cash for Gwin to ride their frame. They won't be paying full team costs... Honestly Radon, Bulls and Solid were a bit of a surprise when I first read it, but it makes sense. My bet is still YT though.

That's just the way I'm interpreting all this. I could be wrong, but I guess all we can do is wait and see.
Panda-Bear
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12/28/2015 3:12am
EddyDave wrote:
Aye, it seems that they're much more focused on everything other than DH right now. However. One rider is hardly a team? Same with Mondraker, don't...
Aye, it seems that they're much more focused on everything other than DH right now. However. One rider is hardly a team?
Same with Mondraker, don't they only have Hart left?
Yeah I just double checked and they have 8 listed offroad racers (including XC). Marcelo is the only pure DH rider, but if I remember correctly Alex Marin was racing a few of the Junior races this year, and has talked about putting more focus into DH for 2016. Even then 2 riders is a small DH team. From what I gathered from my manager talking to our rep it sounds like Giant is investing a lot more into the Share the Ride foundation, and not worrying as much about sponsorships. They also sponsor most of Nitro Circus, as well as 2 or 3 freeriders, but that can't be too expensive. I'm sure they have the money, I just doubt they'll spend it.

Mondraker I don't now about.
Bisiu92
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12/28/2015 3:13am Edited Date/Time 12/28/2015 3:14am
Specialized Team 2016 ???

Brosnan + Brannigan ?? or Brosnan + Greenland ??

what about Nukeproof for Aaron? with Sam !!

12/28/2015 3:29am
Matt walker was sighted in QTWN , also posted an instagram photo ( with a cube trail bike) on a gondola someone has seen a COMMENCAL and a CUBE dh bike.

George Brannigan has recently become friends with various commencal riders (from various disciplines) on facebook ,also has followed them recently ( around the same time brook started following GTbicycles) - In the past two days George has like 2 photos of Commencals new bike releases.

I think its safe to say we will see George on the v4 Dh for 2016.

As for LOIC and LORIS, I think.. we all can't see it cause its too simple.. But them moving to Specialized bikes is probably highly likely.

Aaron Gwin stated in his interview - that the move can only be made if the bike has proven to win.. this puts ( canyon and YT out of the question )

My personal opinion is that the only remaining option for gwin is. Most likely a private team - paid to ride by individual sponsors or a move to an already winning bike..

Intense are coming back, They had shaun palmer... maybe they want the gold jacket for gwin!

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