Yeti & Shimano Launch EP Racing eMTB Team with Mick Hannah & Keegan Wright

May 26, 2022 at 5:03
by Ed Spratt  
photo

Yeti has announced the formation of its new Yeti Shimano EP Racing team to take part in the EWS-E Series.

The new team consists of Mick Hannah and Keegan Wright who had previously announced signing with Yeti but now it has been revealed that they will be racing the EWS-E stories in 2022. Last season Yeti fielded Jared Graves, Shawn Neer and Jubal Davis onboard the 160e at a few EWS-E event with this year seeing a full factory setup for the eMTB race season.

bigquotesWe’ve raced nearly every mountain bike discipline over the years and the timing is right to compete in e-MTB racing. Our launch of the 160e established the foundation for making the best e-MTB race bike on the market and having raced with Shimano for over thirty years, we know they can deliver products that make our racers go faster. Yeti CEO, Chris Conroy

bigquotesWe found out last year that Enduro e-MTB racing isn’t just Enduro with a motor. The new e-MTB team program has been built to compete for wins, so it was key that we partner with Shimano so we can provide racing-based feedback to push the development forward. Damion Smith, Sports Marketing Manager for Yeti Cycles

bigquotesYeti’s history of racing success and top end rider feedback is critical for us to develop the best e-MTB drive-unit in the world. There was no question that a Yeti / Shimano team would provide the best of both worlds. Joe Lawwill, Shimano MTB Sports Marketing Manager

bigquotesI’m excited and feeling a fresh boost of motivation to be learning something new and getting involved in the development of e-bikes and e-bike racing! It's also a great honour to be representing Yeti Cycles. They have such a rich history in MTB and I'm excited to become a part of that story. Mick Hannah
photo

bigquotesI’m absolutely stoked to be joining the Yeti family and going into the 2022 season with a solid crew and amazing team. I’m looking forward to being a part of such a sick set up and can’t wait to get it going. Yewwww! Keegan Wright
photo

The team kicks off the season at the first round of the EWS-E next week in the Tweed Valley with longtime Yeti mechanic Mark Hild assisting the team alongside Shimano’s engineering team.

Author Info:
edspratt avatar

Member since Mar 16, 2017
3,021 articles

60 Comments
  • 59 8
 Does anyone care about E-EWS ? This isn’t an anti e-bike thing but I just don’t see the appeal . I follow World Cup DH and EWS pretty closely and have even started watching the XC again but I just can’t see people being bothered by e bike racing
  • 14 49
flag lowejw (May 26, 2022 at 10:38) (Below Threshold)
 E bike racing really? A E bike I don't think is really a bike for one, ask Webster's or Brittanica what a bike is, it's states they are propelled by pedals and pedalling, pushing a button for some boost just isn't the same because at that point fitness doesn't matter.
  • 23 1
 I'd be a lot more interested in it if it had a bunch of f*ck-you climbs mixed in to the middle of the stages.

Alternately, I'd be very interested in a moto "hard enduro" style race where athletes must do some navigation, ride mixed terrain, and breathe out their eyeballs for several hours to keep the bikes close to the 32 km/hr limit.
  • 7 6
 I actually kinda do. Given that this is a fringe sport of a fringe sport. Not many people care. As an ebike owner/rider and former mtb racer, I do find it interesting how they adopt to this new technology, especially from a racing perspective. The E-EWS is not easy, take a look at any of their race-day schedules. We're talking multiple battery changes. I could handle that, but I'd need a beer between battery changes! Big Grin Cuz that meant I was working my ass off! Smile
  • 1 0
 @j-t-g: I'm pretty sure they do have those "f-you" climbs which are timed and are a stage. I'm happy to just clean a techy up hill trail, let alone have the best time.
  • 14 3
 @lowejw: this is completely untrue. There’s no point in me telling you this though, get two or more people together, each of you on e bikes and see who gets to the top of the mountain the fastest. That is a race and it will feel like your heart is going to explode during the process. Race down afterwards and then tell me, but more importantly, tell yourself that No fitness was involved and that you weren’t racing.
  • 12 1
 I ride e bikes And love DH, EWS and EWS-E.
  • 7 2
 @lowejw: Sorry, I forgot to add that in addition To this being unequivocally a race and unequivocally involving fitness, you will also have a complete laugh riot! (Yes, I’m fully aware that in no way will you ever attempt what I’m saying.)
  • 3 2
 People will probably care about it a lot more now that two stand up riders are competing in it.
  • 3 0
 @j-t-g: bingo! It’s gonna make racing gnarlier and I think that’s a good thing! Now if only they can make them a bit jibbier…..
  • 3 1
 If Yeti wants some racing exposure why don't they have a WC DH team?
  • 8 0
 @MT36: they'll sell 10x the emtbs over dh bikes
  • 2 0
 @b-rider: sounds very true
  • 2 0
 E-bikes would seem to be at their best on climbs, but that's not really the part of EWS that we watch. We watch the decants. So it's hard to know how what would be distinctly interesting about E-EWS. This is not to say that E-bikes aren't a great thing, but so are chairlifts, and other than gondola shenanigans, we don't really watch that part of DH racing.
  • 34 3
 I'd like to give Shimano some low end rider feedback. Your e8000 motors have have a 100% failure rate amongst everyone I know that has bought an emtb with one fitted. Your welcome.
  • 17 5
 100% failure rate? More like 100% capitalist success rate.
  • 7 3
 Sorry no. The 8000 motor was pretty damn bombproof. I had almost 6,000 miles on mine before selling it. The EP8, well my ears work and there's no way I wanted my bike to sound like a shopping cart. Have heard of many failures of those as well beyond audible.
  • 7 0
 I have two e-8000s and one Ep 8 and they both of been bombproof.
  • 3 1
 @johnmakie same here. Mine was a nightmare. In the shop for 50% of the time I owned it. Have EP8 now and happy, No issues.

I suppose like anything new to market there will be bugs to work out.
  • 18 23
flag Cerealmike (May 26, 2022 at 12:07) (Below Threshold)
 Weird I have zero motor trouble with my bike….oh wait that’s because the motor is my legs…
  • 11 3
 @Cerealmike: Hello, are you a cyborg? Did it hurt having the motor installed in your legs? Are you in fact, Steve Austin? Did you get a telephoto eyeball too?
  • 2 1
 @cgreaseman: What is are you and your friends average riding conditions and trails, seems like there could be a link there.
  • 6 2
 @Cerealmike: Same, have not experienced motor failure on my bike.
  • 2 0
 @PHX77: so it can survive bombs - but can it survive 3 seasons providing pedal assist
  • 2 0
 I think you mean the ep8? The e8000 is pretty good. The ep8 is the worst ebike motor ever to be produced. I’m on motor 4 and can not get over 500kms without a failure. I’m not alone. Everyone in my riding group is the same. I seriously can’t believe this is allowed to be sold
  • 2 0
 @Johnmackie: My e8000 has been working since august 2019, covered over 5500 Miles of Andean enduro tracks in Santiago and has been completlely faultless, pretty much everything is f*cked up on my bike except the engine, wanted an ep8 but everything i've heard from it leads me to get something else.
Maybe is the Scottish muck that's destroying them over there, Cheers!!
  • 1 2
 @handynzl: Nope just a vegan, so I though I would tell you I’m a vegan because I’m worried you could tell through the internet. When you become vegan you become better than others so basically your description of me is pretty accurate. Less cyborg more vegan………...vegan
  • 2 1
 @cgreaseman: and your non Ebike are cheap then? Only ridden by non capitalists.? don’t think so. Just more anti Ebike piss
  • 1 1
 @tcmtnbikr: Not in my experience. I wish I had your good fortune and dryer climate. We suspect its mainly a water ingress issue from riding in west off Scotland every week regardless of weather. Out of 5 mates and myself we have all without exception had E8000 motors fail with the same error codes presented - E010 /W013. In some cases we have had the replacement motor fail also. All motors have failed between 1500-2000miles use. I cant vouch for EP8 as I have no experience of it.
  • 1 1
 @Denyer: You're right there. Cheers
  • 2 0
 @Cerealmike: To coin another 80s throwback... That's incredible!
  • 24 0
 Real missed opportunity not calling it, Yet-E Factory Racing
  • 8 0
 E-bikes were just ahead of Juniors at the BME in Ironton. Since I was there watching my kid, I got to see a lot of the E-bikes. Unbelievable how fast Sick Mick was in comparison to everyone else in that class. It kind of sucked not getting to see the rest of the pros but was crazy seeing how fast Mick ripped.
  • 6 0
 I met Mick at a race a few weeks ago! By far the nicest and coolest "pro" I've ever met. Super down to earth and has an actual conversation with you. Most professional athletes have this vibe of "are you done asking me questions yet" and rarely ask you questions back. Granted I've only met a few and I'm sure there are many like him out there. I'll know follow the e-ews cause of him and can't wait to watch those big-ass calves drag that shitty Shimano around. Good luck Mick and team, you'll need it on the climbs when competing with that bosch!
  • 8 0
 I’m happy to see Mik on a yeti.
  • 7 1
 After morewood, polygon, ns bikes, finally something correct lol
  • 5 0
 Mark Hild is the sexiest man alive!!!
  • 1 0
 Sick Mick makes anything better. Class act and a beast on the bike. I suddenly care about e-bike racing (even though I still have no interest in an e-bike - not anti but not interested). Suicide no-hander FTW!
  • 4 0
 mick is a dang legend.
  • 1 0
 The last episode of the EWS podcast explains the ebike races well. Sick Mick racing the bikes definitely adds credibility. Hopefully, Discovery will show the full races.
  • 3 0
 Sick!
  • 4 2
 I enjoy riding ebikes sometimes, but I still don’t get ebike races.
  • 1 0
 Exactly. What's the point? Nothing against Mick, he is a great athlete and deserves his place in the industry, but give the ebike-money to kids racing bikes without motors.
  • 1 1
 Pretty cool to so Mick in a sick combination of e-bike , racing and Yeti. The future is here and what a great time to see E-volution
  • 1 2
 Isn’t Mick 90kg? Good luck in e-bike racing weighing that much
And on Shimano. Good luck.
You need lightweight riders for the advantage
  • 1 0
 Sui-E-cide no handers and ke-E-gan, right?
  • 2 5
 Moped races! Christ Almighty this is some dumb shit. I don't care if in 15 years Amaury picks up the bastardization. It's not going to make it anything other than a moped race being run by a once great DH beast. Mick should have just rolled off into the sunset.
  • 6 9
 Yeti have failed to grasp the concept here. Hiring two bigger/heavier riders is not the way to go. You need a 160lbs rider if you want to win an E-EWS.
Also, no one is going to win anything on a Shimano motor.
  • 3 0
 Mick won TDS overall on the E bike which was mainly gravity fed and anything worth pedaling was past the point of the motor capabilities. If anything the motor is holding them back. I believe he would of placed 2nd or 3rd in Ironton as well. They are not doing E bike races, they are staged downhill runs with some pedaling involved basically
  • 2 1
 @Obeh: you must have forgotten about the timed uphill runs
  • 1 0
 @Obeh: You're missing the power stage of EWS-E. Climbing is always power to weight ratio, even more so when motor output is fixed.
  • 1 1
 Dude, do you know how is it here with commenting rider's weight? Haven't you seen the carnage at XC short cup?
Who cares it could be important, just don't crush the snowflakes
  • 3 1
 Totally agree there. The ep8 is……weak in comparison to other power units currently out. Nearly every single review out there says it just dosent provide the punch of the Bosch. Just take a look at what bikes/motors are winning the EWS-E races…..Bosch by a considerable margin. I don’t care so much that the ep8 rattles like a tin can with a rock in it when coasting…..but as a racer….I want power. I think the e160 is a super cool bike (should be for the price) but I ain’t buyin an Ebike that has a shimano motor. Only my 2cents
  • 1 0
 Suicide no hander
  • 1 1
 E should just be the only EWS, longer and more stages
  • 2 2
 Cool?
  • 1 4
 I wonder if you can get a DUI on a Ebike
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv65 0.037408
Mobile Version of Website