Frameworks Announces 2024 Racing Team with Angel Suarez & Asa Vermette Joining Neko Mulally

Jan 16, 2024 at 8:48
by Neko Mulally  

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FRAMEWORKS RACING
TEAM LAUNCH

PRESS RELEASE: Frameworks Racing

Frameworks Racing welcomes Asa Vermette and Angel Suarez who join Neko Mulally for the 2024 season. The team will compete in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Series and World Championships, Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series, and Downhill Southeast Events. All three riders will race aboard the Frameworks DH bike developed over the past two seasons by Neko and Asa.


bigquotesI’m so proud of the way my Frameworks project has grown from a grassroots effort to the roster and staff we have this season. Both Asa and Angel are incredibly talented riders who are as much a pleasure to work with as they are to watch ride a bike. I believe that our race bike will be one of the most competitive this season and the sponsors we partnered with align with our vision for performance. I pioneered this program over the past two years, from bike development to team structure and partnerships, and I’m excited to see these guys take all that hard work to the next level.—Neko Mulally, Team Owner

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17-year-old Asa Vermette from Durango, Colorado is one of the top prospects coming into the junior category this year. With an outstanding resume of domestic results, we can’t wait to see what he can do on the world stage. Asa is contracted with Frameworks through 2025, including both of his seasons in the Junior Category.

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28-year-old Angel Suarez from Vigo, Spain has put in several World Cup podium rides over the past few seasons and is a huge asset to the team. Angel has a wealth of knowledge in bike set-up for racing and is off to a great start with testing this year.

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Martin Whiteley joins Frameworks as team manager and will bring on board the structure that he was able to implement into the successful programs he’s run in the past. Head mechanic, Anxo Perez, has been a huge part of the development process of the bike since day one and will continue to lead this process going forward.

Thank you to all of our sponsors who make this team possible:

Frameworks: Frames
Ride Rock Creek / Ride Kanuga: Bike Parks
5Dev: Cranks, Chainrings and Custom CNC Components
WD40: Cleaning and Lubricants
Continental: Tires
WorldWide Cyclery: Bike Shop
Fox Racing: Clothing
Fox Factory: Suspension
ENVE: Rims
Specialized: E-bikes and Dirt Jump Bikes
Spank: Cockpit
Hayes: Brakes
ODI: Grips
Kogel: Ceramic Bearings
Galfer: Brake Pads and Rotors
KMC: Chains
O-Chain: Active Spider
Crankbrothers: Pedals
Faction Bike Studio: Engineering Support
Atlas Ride Co.: Mountain Bike Tours and Accommodation


Photos by Mack Faint and Callie Horwath

Author Info:
Frameworks avatar

Member since Jan 13, 2024
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114 Comments
  • 530 2
 I will represent the entire MTB community and say that we are SO proud of you. Let’s go racin’!!!
  • 65 1
 I'll double down on this comment. So cool to watch the progression from Neko's idea to build his own frame all the way up to a WC team!
  • 15 1
 This is the team to beat!
  • 16 0
 Super rad team riders, bikes, and Neko.
  • 17 0
 Getting Asa is gold. Angel is no slouch if he keeps it rubber-side down. Neko either. Exciting team.
  • 5 1
 Let's go! I talked with Neko briefly about this years ago and it's so cool to see it happen. Way to stick with it Neko + Team!
  • 18 0
 Bagging Martin Whiteley as team manager for a team this size is some feat. They must have big plans
  • 8 0
 @blackpudding:


Yeah - great pull. I'm sure their time together with the YT Mob helped.
I saw this blurb a little while back: www.bikemag.com/news/martin-whitely-frameworks
  • 19 1
 Neko’s the peoples champ. His personality, frameworks and YouTube. He’s the best thing in America DH and will be a story all year. Only jealous people won’t be rooting for him.
  • 1 0
 Yes.
That is a VERY interesting team.
And I got a feelin' things are gonna happen, mark my words Big Grin
  • 105 0
 Wow they have a supplemental bike sponsor for e-bikes + dj. Impressive considering the market.
  • 121 1
 Props to Specialized for supporting the team!
  • 46 3
 Specialzied probably has enough e-bikes for years of inventory, sponsorship is a good tax write off
  • 4 1
 @avg-roadie: *Enough bikes for years of inventory
  • 11 0
 Specialized is the e-bike fleet at Kanuga so it makes sense. Rock Creek is also selling off all their Propain bikes so I wouldn't be surprised is Specialized filled their rental fleet as well.
  • 10 0
 Bikes /product is easy to get, it’s the cash that nobody is handing over right now.
  • 1 0
 Kanuga Bike Park probably helps a bit with this association. But yes, impressive.
  • 87 0
 Angel has always been right on the verge of greatness. It'd be awesome if this was his year. Lots of potential from this little team.
  • 83 0
 We are extremely excited to support such rad team! Let's get racing!
  • 4 38
flag Ewensteel (Jan 16, 2024 at 9:29) (Below Threshold)
 Do you support any Canadian teams OR riders.
  • 6 0
 @Ewensteel: I'm proudly Canadian and I'd proudly support this team!!!
  • 81 1
 We're so excited to be supporting the team this year. Asa and Angel have been spectacular athletes for us, and we know Neko will only elevate things. Let's go team Frameworks.
  • 79 0
 The easiest “pick a team to cheer for” lately and most probably in the following years.
  • 35 0
 Teams more stacked then Dak's bars
  • 34 0
 Now THIS is a racing team presentation MONDRAKER. Straight to the point.
  • 33 0
 I can get behind this crew!!!!
  • 15 0
 @freeridemafia420 If we were in front of them, we’d get run over.
  • 29 0
 The swap to continental tires and hayes brakes. Interested to see if we get a component update video!
  • 4 0
 You will.
  • 25 0
 Most hype team in World Cup racing for sure! Can't wait to see Asa smashing runs faster than the elites. Hoping Angel can put down a consistent season as well! Kudos to Neko as always for doing the hard work.
  • 29 0
 Asa is going to shock people who aren't already familiar with his riding. He could have a junior season like Jackson or Vali with podium level elite times.
  • 6 0
 @shredddr: throwing a backflip mid race maybe...
  • 25 0
 This is the most exciting team in 2024. Excited to see where frameworks goes with Asa in junior and Angel on board.
  • 18 0
 stoked for Angel to have landed in Neko's team, f yeah!
  • 11 1
 So stoked to see ENVE be part of this! Been talking to the employees around here when I bump into them on the trails and they are stoked to be involved with this team and see some more action on the MTB side of things. The new wheels look absolutely killer in person as well.
  • 12 0
 Indeed we are stoked. Thanks for the support, let's go ride again soon.
  • 13 0
 LFG!
  • 10 0
 Wishing them a successful and healthy 2024.
  • 7 2
 Safe to say that sponsor list is in the order of the amount of money (value) they're contributing...
A lot of the lower ones on the list are going to be product only and maybe a very small amount of cash. Meaning it's probably these 8 brands that are actually putting the capital into the team to make it happen. Surprised 5Dev is the top of the heap, given their size.
5Dev, WD40, Continental, WorldWide Cyclery, Fox Racing, Fox Factory, ENVE
On the note of the tire: Maxxis is lower on cash this year as their orders have shrunk massively (mainly bike glut related). Probably not willing/able to sponsor a 3-racer team cost wise. On the contrary Continental is a much better financial position and willing to spend on teams right now as their tires gain momentum. No pun intended.
  • 5 5
 On vital Neko says his budget is 400k. divide that by 10 and it's 40k a brand. Not that much money. Also Neko embraces the Influencer model not the Bro Marketing model. So his brands are probably seeing sales vs just dumping money in sites like this and freeriders who get no return on investment. Go look at surfing and snowboarding. the media and the pros are gone and it's influencer content and youtube. Bike is just a few years behind and shift is happening right now.
  • 2 2
 @BermSkid72: £130k per rider to do 9 races
  • 17 0
 WD40 helped fund the purchase of new F250's and outfitting them as shuttle trucks for Rock Creek. The uhaul's were a blast, but I welcome the new reliable trucks that you won't fall out of. The sponsorships Neko has been able to put together are nothing short of impressive.
  • 3 3
 @chrismac70: go watch the bernard kerr budget video on youtube. it will explain how it all works. youtu.be/u36GGbEePOw?si=Ytk_RZs2mm1HyJNZ
  • 4 0
 @BermSkid72: I have it was very funny. I wouldn’t run my business that way that’s for sure. There isn’t enough profit in it to be that relaxed about costs
  • 6 0
 @pisgahgnar: Personally I liked the risk of falling out the back of a Uhaul; made the ride up more adventurous
  • 1 0
 @FMHUM @pisgahgnar: how is Rock Creek? Haven’t made my way out there yet but it looks fun from what I’ve seen on the online.
  • 4 0
 @tomfoolerybackground: if I could go anywhere in the states to ride right now it would be rock creek. It’s perfect for every skill level, A gnarly dh trail + fast,fun flowy trails, with a few big jumps mixed In.
  • 3 0
 @tomfoolerybackground: its good enough its very worth the 17hr drive down from upper Canadia for laps


RIP the UHauls...
  • 2 0
 @BermSkid72: It literally explains nothing and he just says "we spend what we need to spend, as long as we don't go into the negative(AKA over budget) and my income is whatever money we don't spend, and I don't take a salary and don't care if it's only $5 at the end of the year" do some of the brands(Pivot) give him a blank check/corporate CC or does he have a budget he needs to stay within to keep the team going? Also, how does he pay his bills if he's not taking a salary as a rider or TM?
  • 2 0
 @tomfoolerybackground: dark and loomy and always fresh tracks. except for the DH trail, it doesn't have too many mean rock gardens. But has a unique steep and rooty blend that makes it sick for enduro racing.

The slolom course looks like someone picked up parts of hell track from Rad and set it down in NC.

the stands area make it easy and beautful for spectators to see a sick ending to racing.

Neko and the crew constantly change the trails...such a unique factor.

They host tons of racing, which is rare.

The Pit is now close to the race area and there is plenty of parking for large races.

Jeez Luise, that is some list.
  • 1 1
 @pizzaiolo: I was so confused by this. As someone who manages budgets for my job this sounds crazy, and sounds like he has unlimited personal funds to tap into for his own expenses.
  • 3 0
 @pizzaiolo: 28k on food... travel costs... Neko isn't just handing out 33% of his budget to Angel and Asa someone above implied. It's a budget team on running on the bear minimum to make it work. Classic david vs goliath. He's going up against Specialized, Trek, Santa Cruz and other major brands with big rigs and full factory support.
  • 1 0
 @BermSkid72: Ya, I know that 400k is the nut Neko's working from, just saying DK didn't really say much except "we don't keep a budget" but he must either be bankrolled by a blank check, or have an insane amount of money to be working with in order to not give a f*ck and say "I don't care how much I make at the end of the year." and also not build a rough ballpark budget. Maybe he doesn't have a spreadsheet, but he does have a budget built in his head based on his IP of running a Word Cup team and most of the expenses probably don't vary to greatly year over year.

400k for a crew of 3 riders (+ mechanic + coach + physio) seems like an insanely tight budget and Neko is playing money ball by funding a Jr and Angel who has had a rough couple seasons.
  • 3 1
 @pizzaiolo: Im guessing Kerr is just saying that to be "cool" on youtube so he seems core. I'm sure he's actually doing some accounting behind the scenes. He's got an image to keep up. I don't buy that he doesn't monitor his budget and just lets it fly. Or he's dumb and running up CC debt. Wouldn't be the first time someone did that in pro sports.
  • 5 0
 With how easy (free) it was to watch the juniors last year, I knew more about them than the pros.
If that continues, it’ll be amazing to see Asa light up that category along with the other strong (but more importantly, loose) juniors.
  • 7 0
 I think with the right bike, team, vibe....Suarez could be able to put together a solid year. Would love to see him on top of the podium. Insane!!! So rad
  • 7 0
 Neko the only guy who could make me sign up for hbo max
  • 3 0
 Hope to catch a glimpse of these rad racers in live action this year. The very definition of grass roots racing; nice to see the results of hard work and dedication have paid off.
  • 6 0
 Already my favourite team, by far..
  • 6 1
 Nice... Cheese and baked bean toastie jersey.
  • 3 0
 Hope to see some sweet edits with this team. Logan kills the videography and Angel was a blast to watch on the YT Mob vids a few years back.
  • 2 0
 I always have high hopes when Angel takes the course.

However, this is my most fave moment of his. 20-21 years old in this video and doesn't let the seasoned veteran take it to him.
youtu.be/qRzWT-kd-kI?t=702
  • 6 1
 This comment section is filled with MURICA
  • 5 0
 That was such a great team announcement video! Well done all.
  • 2 0
 So Fox is their clothing sponsor, but who is their skinsuit sponsor? They wanna go fast right? Fox is great if you want to look casual athletic. It's like the lululemon of mountain biking.
  • 2 0
 Video speaks for itself. Decent music (finally!), clean kits, shots that make you wanna ride your bike. Totally unpretentious, like the dudes on this team. It’s gonna be a great year for Frameworks!!
  • 1 0
 Great team!
It would be incredible if Neko added the Vieira brothers (Roger and Douglas) to the team!

both have great potential, they just need a team for them to be at the top!
  • 4 0
 Now that is a stacked team!
  • 3 0
 I can't wait to see how Asa does. Such a talented and down to earth individual. Fits perfectly with Neko.
  • 4 1
 pretty sick to see them on Hayes after Neko tested everything under the sun. +1 for the best brakes out there
  • 4 0
 Hayes Brakes? Stop it…
  • 3 0
 honestly, these dominions are the business. Atherton team ran them last year too
  • 1 0
 It makes sense if they want to go fast....
  • 1 0
 @whitetux: also took 2/3rds of the podium (including the top step) at worlds last year...
  • 1 0
 @whitetux: I bought a set. At $500, they are overpriced, like any good brake. Yes, they work awesome tho!
  • 2 0
 Most stoked about seeing Frameworks prototypes under Neko at the races. A gear box bike and other new ideas! Keep the dream alive guys. Ill be rooting for ya's!
  • 1 0
 Please stop trying to make gear boxes trying to happen, the mech is best
  • 3 0
 Orange Creamsicle Factory Racing™️ is looking stacked
  • 3 0
 Yesssss!! Most exciting team this year. LFG!!!
  • 3 0
 Ah yes! Some rad news! Stoked for them!
  • 2 0
 They wont be wearing that kit to MSA. No white after Labour day.
  • 3 0
 Logan kills it
  • 3 0
 Always has the best soundtracks
  • 1 0
 I’m surprised there not making their own headsets and other parts as well
  • 3 0
 looks like a stinky
  • 1 0
 I thought the Fox and Fox combo was interesting and then the Specialized addition topped it.
  • 2 0
 Awesome news! Good luck Frameworks racing! I’ll be watching!
  • 2 0
 Yes guys! This is awesome!!
  • 2 0
 Frameworks is the most interesting team this season!
  • 2 0
 Great that angel is picked up! Such an underrated rider.
  • 2 0
 LETS GOOO!!!
  • 2 0
 Nice!
  • 2 0
 awesome!
  • 2 0
 Awesome team! Congrats!
  • 2 0
 very nice!
  • 1 0
 Back on the FTW? Didn’t end up using the steel Cotic frames in the end?
  • 2 0
 Asa is the Max V of DH
  • 2 0
 Rock'n'roll!
  • 2 0
 Let's Gooooo!!
  • 2 0
 Yes, Lets goooo.
  • 2 0
 New favourite team!!
  • 3 2
 Glad the see the 2010 Kona Stinky is still alive and doing well.
  • 1 0
 WD40 on your chain, like when I was a kid
  • 2 0
 so sick!!
  • 2 0
 Already a huge fan!
  • 1 0
 ORANGE CREAMSICLES
  • 1 2
 Press release neglects to mention that all team members must be the same relative height.
  • 2 1
 I like Kona bikes
  • 1 4
 They struggle to make enough dh frames for neko last year ! Now they got another 2 riders to provide for never mind pumping out some DJ frames.
  • 5 0
 There was a lot of development happening, and they were using tubing that FTW had in the shop. After their frame design was finalized, 5DEV got the links etc. dialed, they offered a run of production frames. With that, the team now announced, and sponsors on board, making DH frames shouldn't be a problem. Now, there's just no benefit to building DJ bikes when they can find a sponsor that makes perfectly serviceable ones.
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