[IH8Rice]

GT it is

This is big one - check out the name on the 4th 2012 Elite team. Who was ranked 4th in 2011? You guessed it, the Commencal / Atherton Racing Team. They are now listed as GT Bicycles.

Monster's team changed their name too

Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Catz becomes Monster Energy / Specialized Factory Racing.

http://www.vitalmtb.com/news/news/UCI-Release-List-of-2012-Elite-Teams-MS-Mondraker-Listed,402

 

[Supa8]

Those are the 2011 teams in the .jpeg

 

[IH8Rice]

Those are the 2011 teams in the .jpeg

noted and deleted

 

[Trekrules]

The 2012 Elite Gravity Teams are as follows. Note that they are ordered according to their 2011 rankings.

1. Trek World Racing (ESP)
2. Scott 11 (SUI)
3. Santa Cruz Syndicate (USA)
4. GT Bicycles (GBR)
5. Giant Factory Off-road Team (USA)
6. MS Mondraker Racing (AUT)
7. Riding Addiction Commençal (FRA)
8. Monster Energy / Specialized Factory Racing (USA)
9. Lapierre International (FRA)
10. Chain Reaction Cycles.com / Nukeproof (GBR)
11. Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team (USA)
12. Ghost Factory Racing Team (GER)
13. Alpine Commençal Austria (AUT)
14. Hutchinson United Ride (FRA)

There are a number of particularly interesting things that we can deduce from the the list of Elite teams:
•This is a big one - check out the name on the 4th 2012 Elite team. Who was ranked 4th in 2011? You guessed it, the Commencal / Atherton Racing Team. They are now listed as GT Bicycles.
•MS Evil becomes MS Mondraker, indicating that they'll be on Mondraker bikes next season.
•Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Catz becomes Monster Energy / Specialized Factory Racing.
•Morewood Unitedride becomes Hutchinson Unitedride.
•Several teams either declined the offer to be an Elite team for 2012, or are no longer in existence (as is the case with Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain). This is why the 20th ranked 2011 Morewood Unitedride team is the 14th 2012 Elite team. We can assume that the offer was not extended to 4X exclusive teams, including RSP and Milka Trek, since there will no longer be 4X events at the 2012 World Cups. Team GR, the Mondraker Factory Team, and Team Morzine are not on the 2012 list.

 

[William42]

why is trek world racing listed as ESP? Is it based out of spain? Am I reading into the wrong thing?

 

[W4S]

Martin Whitely owns the Trek team, the official base is Spain.

Strobel on Transition is my guess.

 

[BigHitComp04]

Saw this over on Dirt. Kinda looking like Minnaar?

http://dirt.mpora.com/news/competition-oneal-sign-world-cup-downhill-star.html

 

[blackohio]

i would say the shoes are a giveaway to not being minnaar.

...and that logo does suck. Generically distressed(pre) font's are the dirty equivalant of using papyrus, blippo, comic sans or trajan.

 

[Transcend]

Those're 5.10 approach shoes. It's Minnaar.

 

[dhr-racer]

the enve wheels and overall stature certainly suggest Minnaar

 

[blackohio]

is that a new (unseen) shoe? looks different from the current approach and not on their site?

 

[William42]

who the fyck cares?

wait, nevermind, its december 19th and its ridemonkey.

 

[FlipFantasia]

OMG!!! I can hardly believe a racer has a new clothing spawnsorz! This totally changes my kit wants for next year!!

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

OMG!!! I can hardly believe a racer has a new clothing spawnsorz! This totally changes my kit wants for next year!!

+ rep added.

 

[BigHitComp04]

Wasnt particularly saying that I cared but thought this would go in the 2012 team rumor/speculation thread category.

 

[dhr-racer]

who the fyck cares?

Wait, nevermind, its december 19th and its ridemonkey.

there are only days left!!!!!

 

[phycoref]

Cedric Gracia.

 

['size]

Cedric Gracia.

is already sponsored by o'neal.

 

[IH8Rice]

the competition trying to take Gwin out like Nancy Kerigan!

 

[Ian Collins]

the competition trying to take Gwin out like Nancy Kerigan!

guarantee the driver was an aussie

 

[IH8Rice]

guarantee the driver was an aussie

Gwin probably wasnt drifting his bike and the aussie didnt take kindly to that

 

[Covenasty]

well it's 2012 and there are a bunch of unknown's out there...like.... the athertons to GT, what about the current GT guys?

 

[Mo(n)arch]

Animal and Athertons part ways!

http://dirt.mpora.com/news/animal-athertons-trails.html

Have you something to tell us Mr.stiksandstones?

 

[dhr-racer]

OMG... ITS THE FRIGGIN 3RD ALREADY!!!!

 

[kidwoo]

This is Thrilling News!!!!

 

[big-ted]

Kintner and Atkinson to Norco...


https://www.facebook.com/norcobicycles

 

[Raingauge]

Kintner and Atkinson to Norco...


https://www.facebook.com/norcobicycles

Does that mean the Dirt/norco team will be no more?

 

[SthFRider]

Does that mean the Dirt/norco team will be no more?

is Ben Ried still on the team along with them?

 

[dhr-racer]

Norco/Dirt team remains up and running although separate, these guys are the norco factory worlds squad

You guys really need to work on your Ultra-grom-rumor-creeping-skill powers....

 

[hellonasty]

The Norco World Team and The Dirt/Norco Team are 2 different teams.....

 

[Dogboy]

Kintner and Atkinson to Norco...


https://www.facebook.com/norcobicycles

Good for them! That's a pretty solid line-up of sponsors

 

[Mo(n)arch]

This is Thrilling News!!!!

Still no snow here...

 

[aaronjb]

Kintner and Atkinson to Norco...


https://www.facebook.com/norcobicycles

If one ever wonders whether or not eduction is important, read any mountain bike press release.

It's tough to make it through those at times.

 

[mtg]

If one ever wonders whether or not eduction is important, read any mountain bike press release.

It's tough to make it through those at times.

What is "eduction"?

 

['size]

What is "eduction"?

its lik lerning.

 

[aaronjb]

What is "eduction"?

I left that there as an example, of course. Gold star for you.

/irony, etc.

 

[mtg]

I left that there as an example, of course. Gold star for you.

/irony, etc.

Woops, it was too early in the day for my sarcasm meter to be operational. Can I still keep the gold star, though?

 

[aaronjb]

Woops, it was too early in the day for my sarcasm meter to be operational. Can I still keep the gold star, though?

Keep it, because I actually did make the mistake.

/sarcasm meters broken all the way around.

 

[Pepper Brooks]

Brian Lopes ruins X-fusion.

Team Robot's take on the deal

^^^^ must read.

 

['size]

http://twitter.com/#!/brendog_1/status/156052644010536961/photo/1