2015 racing - who's moving where?

Lewis A

I don't know how long Brendan can last at scott either, he may be a free-racer, but that doesn't win scott races. Maybe having Needles on his team will spur him on. I do agree tough that the Athertons, Rachel in particular, have done and are doing lots for the sport.

rockmonkeysc

Brendon is another one who is there for the attention he brings to Scott. He may not be deserving of a factory ride based on his race results but for publicity and marketing he does a brilliant job and the whole reason factories get involved in racing is for marketing, not for the sport.
I wouldn't describe Gee Athertons rides at Rampage as "a good attempt" he has won a rampage.

Lewis A

Gee has come second twice, but never won. Some of his lines were crazy, like the drop to wall ride in 2010, and then that massive crash in 2013(?)...

paul.skibum

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Brendon is another one who is there for the attention he brings to Scott. He may not be deserving of a factory ride based on his race results but for publicity and marketing he does a brilliant job and the whole reason factories get involved in racing is for marketing, not for the sport.
I wouldn't describe Gee Athertons rides at Rampage as "a good attempt" he has won a rampage.

I watched his winning run and it was fast but hardly dramatic in terms of tricks or even big drops - his aborted attempt the next year had him lining up a huge air but he wrecked himself in practice.

Fairclough finished 29th overall - you look at the guys beating him like Johannes Fischbach a convert from 4x and Steve Peat 14 years his senior and you got to think he's not worthy of being lead rider for a big team although I agree he has a good marketing profile. Not sure who he appeals to specifically though - slope style riders look to the slope style guys and racers look to winners....

rockmonkeysc

He appeals to younger racers because of his style, they all want to look like him and ride like him. He has sold a lot of bikes to lads who want to look like him. To Scotts marketing department his place in the team is justified.

supersonic

Difference with peaty is that he's done it. He has a name that few others do, and he get's paid for that regardless of recent results (which are still in the top 25% anyway!). He's a sponsor's dream card, and he looks after them likewise.

The Rookie

Results are only part of how many bikes a rider helps them sell, at the end of the day that is what they want, to sell bikes. Very very few of the Sales that will be triggered will have even the slightest resemblance to the DH bike anyway.

rockmonkeysc

Blenkinsopp and Heath are on Norco for 2015
http://m.pinkbike.com/news/sam-blenkins ... -2015.html

Dick Scruttock

Hart to Mondraker now official just need a press release seen as he is a a mondraker advert in a spanish mag.

Hob Nob

Fairclough finished 29th overall - you look at the guys beating him like Johannes Fischbach a convert from 4x and Steve Peat 14 years his senior and you got to think he's not worthy of being lead rider for a big team although I agree he has a good marketing profile. Not sure who he appeals to specifically though - slope style riders look to the slope style guys and racers look to winners....

Firstly, he finished 17th in the overall.

His spectrum of appeal is pretty big, there are bucket loads of Gamblers at the races, and out & about.

His job's to sell bikes for them - you could argue he does a better job than the Atherton's do for GT, because there is f*ck all of them at the races, despite the apparent 'marketing juggernaut' that is Atherton Racing.

rockmonkeysc

Hob Nob wrote:

His job's to sell bikes for them - you could argue he does a better job than the Atherton's do for GT, because there is f*ck all of them at the races, despite the apparent 'marketing juggernaut' that is Atherton Racing.

The Fury probably doesn't sell very well because the previous model was pretty bad and the new one doesn't seem to have been reviewed by magazines. Also you can get a carbon Davinci Wilson for £2k if you shop around now so why buy an aluminium GT for double the price?

Hob Nob

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Hob doorknob wrote:

His job's to sell bikes for them - you could argue he does a better job than the Atherton's do for GT, because there is f*ck all of them at the races, despite the apparent 'marketing juggernaut' that is Atherton Racing.

The Fury probably doesn't sell very well because the previous model was pretty bad and the new one doesn't seem to have been reviewed by magazines. Also you can get a carbon Davinci Wilson for £2k if you shop around now so why buy an aluminium GT for double the price?

So was the last Gambler though - that thing was an absolute piece of sh*t. But then a lot of people don't like the new bike that much either, yet it sells by the bucketload.

rockmonkeysc

Good point. Personally I think the Demo is extremely over rated as well.

rockmonkeysc

Mullaly has left Trek and Greg Williamson is moving in.
Word is Mullaly is off to join Fairclough at Scott

http://dirtmountainbike.com/news/trek-w ... cjiXUI1.97

rockmonkeysc

Neko Mullaly on Scott for this year
http://m.pinkbike.com/news/neko-mulally ... -2015.html

Brendon won't be beating his team mate in 2015. Training with a faster rider might help him find some more speed though.