Arai Global Team back for 2003!
season this year and is now officially in the senior ranks. Bad luck
prevailed at his past two junior World Championship bids, but there is
little question that this talented rider has great potential for the coming
years.Team Director comments: "Even since Matti was first spotted at the 2000
European Championships, I knew he had extraordinary handling skills. His
four top 20 World Cup results as a junior tells me that there is a lot more
to come. On the bike he reminds me a lot of Greg Minnaar and that's why we'
re ready to help Matti do a full 2003 season and help him reach his
objective of a top 10 overall result in the World Cup."
Andrew Neethling (18 years old from Cape Town) joins Global Racing as the
2nd South African to have been on the program. Greg Minnaar, before his
graduation from the team, identified Andrew as being the next significant
rider to come out of the African continent. Finishing 9th in the junior
worlds in Kaprun, and being the South African overall Downhill Champion of
2002, Andrew was an obvious choice to be the next rider from Africa on the
team.
Team Director comments: "I had the opportunity to watch Andrew race a couple
of times in 2002 and he is super impressive. With a little more support and
a fuller race program in 2003, there is a very good chance that Andrew will
soon develop into a world-class senior rider. We'll be helping Andrew with
his main goal of doing well on the 2003 NORBA circuit, as well as some
European events towards the end of the season."
Lindsay Klein (17 years old from Toowoomba, Queensland) is the current
Junior Downhill Champion of Oceania, and is the youngest member of the team.
He is one of the latest talented young riders to emerge from Australia.
Lindsay has only been racing seriously since 2000 and has already medalled
at the National Championships against the likes of Sam Hill.
Team Director comments: "In looking at Lindsay's results, and taking into
account the background of his emergence, what equipment and support he's had
until now, and the narrow margins between him and Sam Hill when they've
raced, we felt that Lindsay was a wise choice for our program. Lindsay is
very committed to his education and we support this fully, so he will race
in Australia for the first part of the year and then join the rest of team
in Europe later in the year. We are excited about assisting him in his bid
for a Junior World Championship medal."
The team will once again race on the World Cup proven Orange 223 bikes, and
Orange Patriots, equipped with RockShox suspension, Michelin Tires, Mavic
Rims, Easton Stems/Bars/Seat Posts, Chris King Headsets, Progressive Rear
Downhill Suspension, MRP Chain Guides and DT Swiss Spokes. The team will
once again be outfitted with its familiar Azonic Race Clothing and Gloves,
Salomon Casual Clothing and Bags, and with mechanical support from Motorex
Lubricants and Hozan Tools.
In acknowledging that sponsorship funds were not easy to come by in 2003,
Team Director Martin Whiteley said that he would fund the team himself this
year.
"We gave our potential sponsor until today to decide if they would be in a
position to go ahead for 2003, but it's clear that the world wide economic
situation has made it difficult to secure this funding. I've decided that in
the best interests of the Global Racing brand, which will be better off in
the long term if it remains active in 2003, and due to the overwhelming
support from our Official Suppliers, and most importantly the fans, the
least that could be done was to personally commit to the program financially
for this year. Sure the team is reduced in size, and we will be going about
things differently behind the scenes, but it still fully represents the GRT
philosophy of developing riders from various continents around the globe,
and I know that these four riders will be giving it all at the races."
In relation to the Japanese investors who played a critical role in the team
's success in 2001 and 2002, Whiteley had this to say.
"While it has become obvious that financial circumstances, especially in
Japan, have prevented the team having the much needed funding in 2003, team
owners 23 Degrees Sports Management and its main investors, including Mr Joe
Morita, remain committed to ensuring that funding levels will resume when
the financial situation is more conducive to support the team on the scale
that is considered necessary. With this commitment received for the future,
we will be continuing to carry the Arai Resort name with our team".
For further information:
Martin Whiteley
Director
23 Degrees Sports Management
www.23degrees-sports.com
