[Closed] Gwinn leaves $pecialized. Where too now?

[quote=nairnster ]No he hasnt.
The specialized factory team is now just Troy Brosnan (unless they sign someone else).
Specialized are now supplying bikes to pure racing (Bruni, Vergier and Iles) who used to be supplied by Lappiere. They will be known as the Specialized Gravity Team.
No one else read that as the Specialized Gravy Train?

http://www.mbr.co.uk/news/loic-bruni-will-leave-lapierre-for-2016-season-335688

This says they [i]were[/i] signed to Pure but the article makes it sound like two Spesh teams.

Edit - so [i]still[/i] Pure then -> http://www.mbr.co.uk/news/loic-bruni-will-leave-lapierre-for-2016-season-335688 <(I'm going to slee now :lol: )

Substantial price hikes on the new 2016 YT range.

Biggest clue yet that they've hired Gwin, I reckon.

How much is substantial ? I didn't think they were much of a hike and mostly due to the fact the bikes now come with Fox or Rockshocks.

(Probably because there were too many issues with the BOS suspension)

Anyway, YT is a small company and Gwin is massive. Id be surprised you could join those two dots together.

chakaping -
Substantial price hikes on the new 2016 YT range.

Biggest clue yet that they've hired Gwin, I reckon.

Biggest clue that they no longer need to be a discount / budget brand and they can pocket the savings they once passed on to the customer.

Just because Specialized have lots of cash doesn't mean they want to spend lots, the press release said that they didn't want to pay what Gwin was asking, not that they couldn't.

I still think he'll be doing a one man team and choosing his bike not specifically riding for a bike brand. Jerome Clementz & Cedric Gracia already do it successfully.

I think you're correct about the way he (or Martin Whitely) will structure things podge, YT hiring him was wrong choice of words. Sponsoring more accurate.

Anyway, YT is a small company and Gwin is massive. Id be surprised you could join those two dots together.

Looks like it's gonna happen though - the lack of any gossip in any other direction is another strong clue.

chakaping - Member
I think you're correct about the way he (or Martin Whitely) will structure things

Has Martin Whiteley been confirmed? I hadn't read it anywhere but it was the obvious thing to happen.

Has Martin Whiteley been confirmed?

no but rumoured, seems likely to me

possibly delaying announcement while he signs up more brands?

Dint Martin Whiteley run the Trek team that Gwin left under not so nice terms?

thepodge - Member
Dint Martin Whiteley run the Trek team that Gwin left under not so nice terms?

Yep but they're both grown ups and I'm sure wouldn't let a bit of "business" get in the way of business.

Or is Whiteley/23 Degrees running the GT team now?

Another rumour but from a pretty crdible source

[url= http://mbaction.com/home-page/gwins-new-bike-sponsor-is-going-to-be ]MBA Article[/url]

A German mag has just called it.

Gwin to YT/KTM/Audi/RedBull.

[url= http://esmtb.com/2016/01/15/aaron-gwin-yt-industries-ktm-audi-red-bull/ ]Little bit here..[/url]

So almost everyone guessed right then.

😆

Obviously all they remain rumors until confirmed officially, but is more than clear that the end result of his 2016 squad will differ little from this

So still not confirmed and just the same gossip everyone else has been spouting

So still not confirmed and just the same gossip everyone else has been spouting

Would you bet against it?

All that German site has done is rehash all the current rumours and then tell us its not confirmed. Its just clickbait.

So you don't think he's going then?

I'm not saying it couldn't be true, its just nothing new and still unconfirmed so a largely pointless news article.

I'd also be a bit surprised if its Audi & KTM as both make high performance cars something I would have thought would come under a non compete clause in a contract.

To be fair, when rumours are this strong, it normally turns out to be true though!

Strong isn't the same as repeated. So far all we have is a load of unconfirmed news articles, a cryptic cartoon drawing and a suggestion by a brand that is laughing at the amount of exposure they are getting.

Strong isn't the same as repeated

No one has put their name to a story, 2 maybe 3 German magazines have published click bait and openly admitted its not confirmed.

Again it could be true but just because everyone says it is doesn't mean it is. Half the comments on this matter still cannot grasp the concept that Specialized said they wouldn't, not couldn't, pay what Gwin was asking, has that changed the finances of Specialized? no but lots of people have said it so it must be true now.

Does anyone really think that $spe$h couldn't afford the money for a single athlete? 😯
They are a huge corporate beast and could pretty much get whoever they want. I'm thinking they want to move more towards enduro (hence Graves). It sells more product and huge corporates like that kind of thing.

Yes, lots of people have been saying it cant be YT because if Specialized cannot afford him then there is no way YT can...

I'd also be a bit surprised if its Audi & KTM as both make high performance cars something I would have thought would come under a non compete clause in a contract.

that's like saying Caterham compete with Ford (or vice versa)..?

Seen far more odd set ups especially in Motorsport. Anyway, it wont be YT paying the money, it will be the marketing guys getting in from additional sponsorship opportunities, YT will just be fronting the frames. Look at the Redbull model, they don't pay for anything, yet they sponsor pretty much everything..

I'd bet that people would be amazed how much money a direct sales model brings a manufacturer......

Remember there's also now an absence of conflicting rumours.

And it won't be "confirmed" until it's official. These embargo-breaking stories are so rare in the cosy world of MTB, I think it's quite refreshing.

Look at the Redbull model, they don't pay for anything, yet they sponsor pretty much everything.

How does that work then?

Yes, lots of people have been saying it cant be YT because if Specialized cannot afford him then there is no way YT can...

Specialized could afford him, they just did not value him as highly as he valued himself.

Keep up at the back please

http://nsmb.com/aaron-gwin-official/

LOL

Keep up at the back please

Think it's you at the back, in denial it's a done deal 🙄

Rick Draper - Keep up at the back please
Think it's you at the back, in denial it's a done deal

I never said it wasn't a done deal, I said nothing has been confirmed.

As for the latest link... Another German site and no official confirmation. I'll believe it when its on a more reputable site or on Gwin's site.

Seems Audi have taken note of all the STW owners 😆

NSMB is a reputable Canadian site, sounds like they already knew.

NSMB are linking to an obscure German site, they are simply reporting that someone else is reporting...

I suspect a few news outlets may already know but have been told not to say anything.

NSMB are linking to an obscure German site, they are simply reporting that someone else is reporting...

There was a tweet the other day about it. Basically saying it might look like a YT but it won't be any YT people can buy. Sounded very much like it will be made in a decent factory and not crack at the first sign of anything slightly off road.

The motorsports model makes sense here - yt would just be a frame provider, in the same way a car brand is just a parts/engine supplier to an f1 team. Effectively this is Aaron Gwin Racing, with (TBC) multiple sponsors to achieve his overall target income.

Good fit for Audi, good fit for KTM, good wage boost for Gwin and hopefully opens the door to more deals like this, boosting the sponsorship pot overall and increasing the reach of the sport to a wider audience, and so growing new participants.

aarongwin1Woke up to some new team rumors posted as "facts" and I'm just over here like...

View this post on Instagram

I would love to see a return to when teams rebadged other makes bikes. Like when Thomas Missier rode a Turner Burner DH with a Kona sticker on it.

Gwinn on a new Demo, with a YT sticker on it.

The classic days of everyone riding a sintesi

Interesting. Im wondering what Audi get out of it? I accept it will be peanuts to them to do it

People who pay $10k for a bike are high income earners who can probably if they desire also buy an Audi. It probably also fits with their adventurous image, they already sponsor a lot of the skiing downhill etc which is (I think) aiming at a similar demographic.

Im wondering what Audi get out of it?

not much, everybody on STW already owns one don't they!

Interesting. Im wondering what Audi get out of it? I accept it will be peanuts to them to do it

They could probably make a pretty good tv advert out of it.

Warner's blog touches on this...
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/news/article/rob.warner.blog.december/19409/

With regard to the KTM/Audi together thing (given that Audi own Ducati) stranger things are happening-

[img] [/img]

[IMG] [/IMG]
There you have it! Gwinn on YT
[url= http://dirtmountainbike.com/racing-events/downhill/aaron-gwin-signs-yt-industries-2.html#0wZ38gr4ucqYev1I.97 ]More here[/url]

So still not confirmed and just the same gossip everyone else has been spouting

😆

Nevermind YT, what about the [i]real[/i] news?!?

Gwin on Onza tyres 🙂

Nice use of Yeti turquoise in the logo highlights in the above photo. Very 2014-15.

He doesn't look very happy it.

wrecker - So still not confirmed and just the same gossip everyone else has been spouting

Just because its correct now doesn't change the fact that it was still gossip back then. There is also a distinct lack of Audi and KTM, so you managed to get 1 out of 3 correct.

The Onza Ibex is a great tyre, do they have the all important fast rear tho, rock razor/slaughter/minion ss. ?

Just because its correct now doesn't change the fact that it was still gossip back then.

There is also a distinct lack of Audi and KTM, so you managed to get 1 out of 3 correct.

Bit of a damp squib at this point innit?

The most news-worthy part of the news seems to be that he doesn't have a drivetrain sponsor that makes mechs and shifters.

Maybe after Leogang last year he's decided to just save the weight?

With regard to the KTM/Audi together thing (given that Audi own Ducati) stranger things are happening-

That's Hyundai Power Engineering, not Hyundai cars, the Korean equivalent of the difference between Rolls-Royce engines and Rolls Royce cars (although in this case I think they are still the same company). Similarly your iPhone probably arrived in the UK on a ship built by Samsung.

Although being a competitor to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries you'd still think there would be some conflict in the branding.

chakaping - The most news-worthy part of the news seems to be that he doesn't have a drivetrain sponsor that makes mechs and shifters.

Doesn't list a fork sponsor either though the pics clearly show fox, I'd have thought they'd have been happy to work with him

Doesn't list a fork sponsor either though the pics clearly show fox, I'd have thought they'd have been happy to work with him

There's a big Fox logo on his jersey....

Its because Fox aren't sponsoring the team, just Gwinn.

So, will YT now cost more ?

YT have already gone up in price on their new releases.

Interesting mix of parts.

TRP brakes! will be interesting to see them in action.

Interesting that neither Shimano nor SRAM are onboard. Wonder if the big brands lean on them to keep away from that nasty direct sales YT lot?

Someone like Hope could've been in there.

"YT Mob".

I'm sure any similarities to "SC Syndicate" are purely coincidental.

Interview with YT boss is interesting, I like the cut of his jib...
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/interview-marhus-flossman-yt-2016.html

Even if he does look alarmingly like James Franco.

Needs to update his website, still has Spesh's logo on it as he stands with his YT.

There's a big Fox logo on his jersey....

Doesn't list a fork sponsor either though the pics clearly show fox, I'd have thought they'd have been happy to work with him

Interview with YT boss is interesting, I like the cut of his jib...

I am too cynical 🙂 He says a lot without saying much, much like anyone involved in sales/ marketing. That isn't to say YT come across badly, just that everything is as expected and predictable. At least he knows what to say to get the PB audience onside which is more than can be said for most companies who seem to be stumbling around a little at the moment!

I don't see the point in buying into the 'marketing machine' when that marketing machine's only notable video production commissioned by himself in 2015 was a motocross video that wasn't for his major sponsor.

Friend of mine started at Specialized last week as their enduro mechanic and I got a guided tour of the workshops, offices bike storage and canteen....
One of their guys was saying that Bruno and the other two young French guys (along with their own mechanic and support) are costing Specialized less than what Gwinn was asking.

I hope that it is already common knowledge that Bruni and Co are riding for Specialized....

One of their guys was saying that Bruno and the other two young French guys

[img] [/img]

??

It said Fox were suspension sponsors on the PB story I thought?

And that's the Fox suspension logo on his jersey (with Alpinestars being his clothing sponsor).

One of their guys was saying that Bruno and the other two young French guys (along with their own mechanic and support) are costing Specialized less than what Gwinn was asking.

I think this had kind of been worked out, but the question is whether they're worth more or not. Bruni is a really likeable lad but I'd expect him to win maybe 1/3 of what Gwin will.

1/3 overall or from now? Bruni has at least 10 more years at the top. From here on in he's a better bet

They must have signed Bruni for three years.

He's previously won one top race while Gwin has won 14.

I think it's a reasonable forecast for the next three years, assuming Gwin wins a bit less and Bruni a bit more.

What's more interesting to me is that Spesh don't seem too fussed on having an all-American hero any more.

I read it that $pesh decided to put more money into enduro (Graves) than DH with Gwinn. Getting Bruni at a fraction of the cost is a no-brainer.

It said Fox were suspension sponsors on the PB story I thought?

In addition to YT as title sponsor, the YT Mob will have the following co-sponsors: e*thirteen, Onza Tires, TRP, Renthal, SDG, Motorex, ODI, Cane Creek and Alpinestars.