Trek Factory Racing Signs Charlie Hatton For 2018 Season – Video

Jan 12, 2018 at 6:58
by Pinkbike Staff  
PRESS RELEASE: Trek Factory Racing


The Trek Factory Racing team are pleased to welcome an Elite rider with enormous potential – 19-year-old Brit, Charlie Hatton.

Charlie’s 2017 was packed with great performances; two National wins, the overall British Downhill Series title and three World Cup top 20 results, the highlight 11th place at the World Cup Finals where he was just tenths of seconds off the top ten. We’ve been keeping a close eye on Charlie since he was a Youth rider and his performance last year was one of the breakthroughs of the 2017 season," said Dan Brown, Team Director. "It’s exciting to be heading into the season with such a strong roster."

Trek Factory Racing

Charlie will join Gee, Rachel and Junior Kade Edwards on board the Trek Sessions as the team sets its sights on regaining the title of “World’s Fastest Downhill Team” which they held for both 2012 and 2013.

Trek Factory Racing
bigquotesHaving Charlie on board with us is going to be awesome, we’ve already got to know him pretty well and I think he’ll be a massive asset to the team. Personally, I’m coming in the strongest I have for some years, not having to rehab this past offseason has allowed me much more bike time which means I’m feeling super comfortable on the Session.Gee Atherton

bigquotesI’m stoked to be joining one of the very best teams out there. Growing up I used to always see the team on films and now it’s crazy to think I’ll be riding with them, I can’t wait for the season to kick off.Charlie Hatton
Charlie Hatton Trek Factory Racing

Trek Factory Racing
bigquotesI can’t wait to go racing. Last year’s podiums were okay, a start, but I want to win… it’s gunna be a hell of a year with some good people.Kade Edwards

Eldest sibling Dan Atherton will continue to hold a pivotal role guiding the team. Dan will concentrate on progressing mountain-biking in the UK through his work on Dyfi Bike Park, designing the fifth Red Bull Hardline and mentoring the Atherton Academy which continues to support young riders including Mille Johnset and Luke Williamson.

bigquotesMy life is all about pushing boundaries, whether it's a day on the mountain digging or a day on the bikes. With Endura onboard it's good to know I have a company behind me that is willing to push as hard as I am. We are all stoked to be working with a company whose products can stand up to our lifestyle!Dan Atherton
Trek Factory Racing

Trek Factory Racing
bigquotesFirst day on my new bike and it feels amazing, I’m not renowned for liking change but when I jumped on the bike yesterday for the first time since breaking my collarbone I felt totally at home, the set up feels really square, and attacking which I love, I can't wait to take it to the races.Rachel Atherton

There are some significant changes to the team’s equipment line up for 2018 with Endura supplying apparel, Hope Technology moving up to be the key component supplier and Renthal supplying bars, grips and stems.

Pamela Barclay, Endura’s Brand Director said “Dan, Gee and Rachel offer something more and embody the Endura mantra of Renegade Progress. Sometimes, you have a hunch that a group of people share your outlook on life, and we’ve always liked the way that they go racing: with commitment and dedication, but an unmistakable sense of fun. It already feels like a good fit.”

Trek Factory Racing
Trek Factory Racing

Trek Factory Racing
Trek Factory Racing

Trek Factory Racing
Trek Factory Racing

On the bike, Barnoldswick based Hope Technologies become lead component partner, they will supply everything from headsets to hubs and brakes to seat posts.

Head Technician Joe Krejbich said “We’ve run Hope for many seasons but for 2018 that relationship has deepened so that we are finally representing them in true fashion! It goes without saying that they have a fantastic reputation of making great bombproof products.”

“Hope has worked with the Athertons for a long time, since 2012, with the supply of seat clamps and headsets," Rachael Walker of Hope Technologies said. "Now that partnership will expand to brakes, drivetrain components, carbon seat posts and hubs. The Athertons have been at the peak of our sport for so long, achieving what many other teams and riders can only aspire to. To build on our relationship with Atherton Racing seems like a natural step. Having some of the best riders in the world using what we feel are some of the best components produced can only mean there are some exciting times ahead.”

Trek Factory Racing

Renthal will provide bars, grips and stems, while chain devices will come from MRP and seats from Wilderness Trail Bikes (WTB).

Ian Collins, Renthal’s Cycle Product Manager said “We’re super excited to collaborate with Trek Factory Racing DH and the Athertons. Renthal chooses to work with the very best riders in the World and Trek Factory Racing DH has two distinct facets which we can draw from. Gee, Rach and Dan are legends of the sport, all still at the top of their game. Their depth of knowledge and racing experience is vital. Added to this, Kade Edwards and Charlie Hatton are young, exciting, up and coming riders, who are the next talent to push the sport forwards. This is a great combination for Renthal to continue to develop cutting-edge products with ultimate reliability.”

In other partnership news, long-term supporters Silverline Tools, Red Bull, Oakley. Fox, Muc-Off and Bell also remain in the mix.

Trek Factory Racing

Look out for further news very shortly.

All Images credit: Moonhead Media and Endura.


MENTIONS: @trek



Author Info:
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Member since Jul 22, 2013
3,460 articles

35 Comments
  • 17 3
 They passed on me again...guess there is always next season
  • 15 3
 Can't wait to hear about the other team announcements...
  • 12 3
 Psyched to see Rachael and Gee healthy.
  • 10 3
 Such a strong team! wouldn't be surprised to see Rachael dominate again this year!
  • 16 5
 nobody would be surprised, her brothers are really fast
  • 6 1
 I tell you what, I'm partial to a bit of cheese given my genetics, but that vid was off the scale. Who was responsible for this?
  • 5 0
 That was the awesome filmsmith Media!
  • 4 3
 They should have cut Rachel casing the jumps
  • 3 0
 @Bigernmcracken: You should see the size of the jump, believe me... it's not a case.
  • 2 4
 @FilmSmith: 31 seconds in she cased the jump. Not saying I wouldn't and I am not trying badmouth one of the greatest female riders of all time. Trail looks slow and she didn't have the speed, Whoever edited this ( guessing you) should have cut it sooner. Always make the rider look their best
  • 2 2
 @Bigernmcracken: Maybe the lips were also made of cheese. Crumbly Cheshire has never been good for making kickers. Come to think of it, those bikes are suspiciously close to Edam in colour. And some of those jumps resemble the crust of our local Tomme. CHEESE.
  • 3 1
 @Bigernmcracken: Oh you're talking about the drone shot. No theres two landings, if you look at the GoPro shot after Dan does exactly the same thing.
  • 2 0
 I just love watching Dans face on the "arty" section, its like , right , am i done now ? I'll be off in my digger to build some fekkin huge shit then .
  • 2 0
 I wanna see Rachel back on top of the podium, but not every race Wink
The rest of the top girls are amazing too and I hope to se a bloody fight for the overall!!
  • 3 1
 A little off topic, but these videos of the UK where the riding is happening in a tree farm always freak me out. Nailing a stump would SUCK!!!!
  • 1 0
 Braided hoses ,haven’t seen them for a while in the racing scene,I still have them the Goodrich ones ,they are bomb proof ,and good luck to the team ????
  • 5 2
 Graeme Mudd still on the team?
  • 3 1
 nope
  • 2 0
 I had a feeling he would be gone after just 1 season. Pity really, he just didn't capitalise on that lucky break he'd got.
  • 1 0
 @Scottybike36: I thought he was on a 2 year deal?
  • 5 3
 All I can say Charlie is bloody awesome mate !
  • 3 2
 Shimano, Jeep and IXS off!
  • 1 0
 Who would be doing their body armour then? I didn't see a sponsor mentioned and obviously couldn't see the knee pads in the video. They usually do have some car sponsor. Or they're just happy with what they have but don't need a new car yet. But if they have new car sponsor, my guess is Mitsubishi.

Really need a closer look on those bikes. But indeed appears as if they did all they could to stay clear from Shimano and PRO.
  • 1 0
 @vinay: endura make armour
  • 1 0
 @vinay: Looks like Shimano have pulled a lot of their team sponsorship now they don't have the UCI title sponsorship.
  • 1 0
 @Demoguy: In the case of the UCI, Mercedes-Bens has fully sponsored the World Cup, so we will not see Shimano as the main sponsor.
  • 2 0
 @Demoguy: Yeah, maybe Shimano likes to put their sponsored riders on Di2 stuff and found that there is no use for these in DH. They did jump in with Cannondale and Alchemy.

@savmeister : Thanks, I only knew them from the clothes so was just really happy for Dan for all the digging he does Smile .
  • 1 0
 I can’t wait to see the badass paint jobs they link up with hopes colors
  • 1 1
 Looks like a Session press release.
  • 2 2
 SRAM shifter and derailleur.
  • 1 1
 @2:20 you can see hope brakes and crank
  • 7 0
 ...there's three written paragraphs about the new Hope sponsorship too
  • 2 3
 looks like they are running hope brakes!!
  • 6 1
 They are, it's in the right up!
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