GT Factory Racing Brings on Next Generation of TalentPowerhouse Riders Taylor Vernon and Martin Maes Set to Ride with Beaumont and Athertons
GT Bicycles, a Dorel Industries brand, announced today the signing of two of Europe’s most dominant young riders to expand its champion downhill and enduro race team GT Factory Racing. Taylor Vernon of South Wales will join the world’s fastest downhill race team to train alongside Gee Atherton, Rachel Atherton, and Marc Beaumont, while Martin Maes from Belgium will join Dan Atherton on the enduro team.
“Taylor was first brought to our attention last year and we’ve seen him post some solid results in the under 16 sections this past season,” said Dan Brown, Team Director. “The team is on a roll right now with Rachel’s World Cup win, fastest team overall title and Gee taking podiums in every race. It feels like the right time for us to start to bring on some new young riders and we think that Taylor has the potential to become a major force on the World Cup scene.”16-year-old Vernon will be racing on a GT Fury as he works to dominate the Junior World Cups and World Championships.
“Words can’t describe how stoked I am to be joining Dan, Gee, Rachel, and Marc on GT Factory Racing,” said Vernon. “I’m so excited about racing at the International and World Cup level and know that I could not ask for a better or more experienced team of people to teach me all there is to know.”
On the enduro side, 15-year-old Martin Maes turned heads when he took 5th place overall at the Superenduro of Nations at Sauze d’Oulz. He will be riding a GT Force and focusing on the Enduro World Series.
“Nobody could quite believe it,” said Dan Atherton. “There isn’t a junior category in superenduro so this 15-year-old boy is just wasting some of the toughest and most experienced adult riders on the circuit.
We are really excited about the Enduro World Series in 2013 and I’m stoked to have a new teammate with this much potential.”
“This opportunity feels like a dream come true,” said Maes. “I have the greatest admiration for Rachel, Dan, Gee and Marc and will be so happy to ride with them.”
Additional Info:Taylor Vernon // 2012 results - U16
British Downhill Series Round 1-Combe Sydenham 3rd place
British Downhill Series Round 2-Fort William 6th place
British Downhill Series round 3-Glencoe 2nd place
British Downhill Series Round 4-Caersws 1st place
British Downhill Series Round 5- Bringewood 1st place
British Downhill Series Round 6-Llangollen 1st place
British Downhill Series Overall 1st Place
Extreme DH Summer Series-Llangollen 1st place
IXS Downhill Round 2- Innerleithen 1st place
IXS Downhill Round 6-Chatel 4th Place
Welsh Champs-Moelfre 2nd place
National Champion-Moelfre 1st place
Martin Maes // 2012 Results
Enduro "hautes vosges" - La Bresse 6th
Mountain of Hell, Les Deux Alpes 13th
Enduro of Nations, Saulx d'Oulx 5th
Enduro of Nations, Valloire 4th
Roc Enduro (Roc d'Azur) 3rd
4X European Race (15/17 years), Winterberg 1st
Photos: Laurence Crossman-Emms (www.laurence-ce.com)
DH is a saturated market and Enduro is hugely expanding with bikes/gear in a better price range for mortals.
Get a great racing team together quick, gain a great rep signing the Athertons, dominate, and watch the sales on GT enduro bikes soar. Gunna see a lot more of GT in the near future i think.
Been a gt fan boy since my first gt zaskar way back in 1992 (i think, its a long time ago anyway)
In the last twenty years i have owned an outpost, tequesta, pantera, 3 zaskars, 2 rts, 1 edge and a fury and am very fond of the brand.
So if I want to tell everyone I happen to own GT bicyles and thoroughly endorse the brand I will.
And is it me or does Taylor vernon look like he's a mini Gee? He makes me think that's what gee looked like when he was younger.
Also , their new enduro rider , Martin maes , is 15? JESUS CHRIST! He looks 20.
15 will get you 25!!
Train hard and prove it on the track next year; make yourself a cv of your results , training, aspirations, commitments (what races you are doing, and what you do to pay for them) etc. Send this out to wherever you can.
If you can get a lift etc. to come up to Inverness then 6th of January is the date to come up. The atmosphere is relaxed and fun.
www.rootsandrain.com/compare.html?i=8388x14388
Pure talent.....but no support.....races off his own back.
The results speak for themselves
Maybe the force has been slackened now that its tapered ht.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA8wXjPX76I
They pin it.
Aha, anyone know where I can get one of those sweaters?
;-)
www.pinkbike.com/video/226539
It is not the wealth, he just went the right way
Martin is not coming from a rich family and doesn't get any special treatment... No matter if his father is a 90's mtb champion it's Martin on the bike that makes the results and podiums.
Those who know martin, his brother and his dad know where the talent comes from, and it's not money.
Oh and as for you being faster than him, you are so very very very wrong!
Here one of Tay's video's to give you an idea of what i mean and in future would you kindly please keep your wrong unfriendly opinions to your self thank you...........
www.pinkbike.com/video/226539
www.pinkbike.com/news/In-Spain-with-Taylor-Vernon-Video-2012.html