 |
2006
Yeti-FOX Racing Team mission and roster |
Yeti Cycles and FOX Racing Shox have joined forces to contest
the world’s top races and develop the world’s best frames and suspension
components.
Team members Jared Graves, Justin Leov, Rich Houseman, Ross Milan and T.J. Sharp
will compete in downhill and gated races at NORBA nationals, UCI World Cups
and the Sea Otter Classic. Yeti and FOX look forward to impressive race results
and exciting product evolution.
Race Development
In top-level racing, the world’s best riders push frames and suspension
parts to inhuman extremes — and that’s where Yeti and FOX learn
most about performance and durability. Take the FOX 40 downhill fork for example.
It started as an open bath design, but race testing pushed the team to design
a closed damper cartridge that works better and is lighter. Says Mark Fitzsimmons,
FOX’s Mountain Bike Race Program Manager. “Without a dedicated race-driven
development team, this kind of innovation just isn’t possible.”
Many Yeti race bikes have been heavily influenced by their riders: Paul Rowney
and the AS-R, Nathan Rennie and the 4X, Jared Graves and the 303DH. The Yeti
303DH developed from a tight collaboration between Graves, Yeti and FOX. Graves
described where the bike felt great and where it could feel better, then Yeti
and FOX worked together to create the optimum wheel path, spring rate and damping
characteristics. The team made a prototype one week, raced it the next week,
and kept repeating the cycle until the bike was dialed. Graves finished the
season ranked first in the downhill in the NMBS National Series.
Jared Graves rips to 2nd place at the 2005 Angel Fire World
Cup.
“It’s a great relationship,” says Chris Conroy,
Yeti president and general manager. “We’re not choosing what suspension
brand to use after we design the frame. FOX is fully integrated into the product
development process. This integrated thinking allows us to tweak the product
that last five percent, and that’s what it takes to perform well at the
World Cup level.” “By the time we release a bike to the market,”
says Conroy, “it’s been through a few race seasons, and it’s
the best you can get.”
The 2006 Roster
All of this technology boils down to the riding experience, and that’s
all about ripping on mountain bikes with your buddies. For that reason, every
team member isn’t just a great rider — he’s also a cool guy,
easy to approach and fun to hang out with. “We race because we love it,”
says Conroy. “We expect success, but our pit is friendly and fun.”
Here are this year’s Yeti-FOX Racing Team members, along with Conroy’s
comments on each:
Jared Graves - 2005 NMBS Downhill and 4X 1st overall, UCI World
Cup 4X 5th overall - “Jared is one of the few guys who can truly compete
at the World Cup level in both DH and 4X. He’s incredibly skilled and
dedicated, with a ton of natural talent. He’s so stylie, great to watch
ride. The nice thing about him is he’s a World Cup athlete, yet he’s
humble and easy to get along with.”
Justin Leov - 2005 UCI World Cup Downhill 10th
overall - “Anyone who can go out and be committed to racing the World
Cup as a privateer and finish in the top 15 speaks volumes about his talent
as a racer. Now with a full factory ride and the support he needs, he could
be in the top 5.”
Rich Houseman - 2005 NMBS Downhill 16th overall. 4X 6th overall
- “Big House. His BMX background and many years in the saddle give him
an edge – he has great instincts. He’s a fantastic athlete who can
work a full time job and still compete at this level. He’s also stepping
up as the team manager in the U.S., helping younger riders learn about the sport.
And at 220 pounds and riding the way he does, he gives us a big guy’s
perspective on building bikes.”
Ross Milan - 2005 NMBS 4X 11th overall - “The Crusher.
He’s the hometown favorite for sure. He works at Yeti, so he’s as
integrated into the program as you can get. He’s an incredibly fast, strong
and aggressive rider. He’s always going for it. It’s a raw brute
strength thing with him. He has a full time job, but he can still race at the
national level.”
T.J. Sharp - 2005 Mountain States Cup Semi-Pro Gravity 1st
overall - “He’s a great kid. He’s a solid dirt jumper, and
he has great overall skills. He’s a kid we can groom for a good future
in mountain bike racing.” And he’ll be helping drive the team trailer
around North America.
Graves and Leov will contest all UCI World Cups, as well as non-conflicting
NORBA Nationals. Houseman, Milan and Sharp will race the NORBA Nationals and
North American World Cup races. The team will be managed by Damion Smith, who
also has a fast pedigree (2001 Semi-Pro DH Champion). Houseman will help run
the team and take care of logistics in the U.S.
Getting technical
“Our goal is to continue learning about the products,” says Fitzsimmons,
“and we’ve invested in some interesting new technology to learn
even more.” The team purchased timing equipment that measures riders through
sections of a course and when used in conjunction with their unique data acquisition
system, gives them critical data to make the racers go faster. They’re
also looking into video overlay equipment that lets them compare riders, lines
and setups. "Other component companies work with race teams, but their
process is less integrated,” says Fitzsimmons. “Our relationship
with Yeti and our commitment to creating race specific technologies will give
us an edge this year.”
Sponsors:
Yeti / FOX Racing Factory Team will ride the best products on the market.
• FOX – Front and Rear race-tuned Suspension
• Shimano – Drivetrain, chain, brakes, pedals, footwear
• DT Swiss – Swiss quality wheelsets
• Maxxis – Rolling the best rubber on the circuit
• Chris King – The finest headsets on the planet
• MRP – The best chainguides available
• Topeak – Pumps, tools, and bike stands
• Thomson – Stems and seatposts
For more info head to foxracingshox.com and yeticycles.com
