4x Team News And Rumours

It's now well into the off season and a crucial time for riders to sort their sponsorship deals for next season. There's been plenty of high profile and well publicised moves in the world of downhill so we thought we'd try and compile what's been happening in the 4x scene.

Firstly were a couple of big name departures with Cedric Gracia parting ways with Commencal and Roger Rinderknecht being released by GT. Cedric has decided to form his own team the CG Racing Brigade, it's sounds like he'll be the only rider on the team this year and it's rumoured he'll be using Santa Cruz bikes. Roger Rinderknecht will be keeping his long term sponsors but no news yet on what frame he'll be riding.

Across the pond eighteen year old Blake Carney (8th at this years worlds) will be teaming up with Melissa Buhl at KHS.

Closer to home and after a fantastic year where he became National junior DH and 4x champion as well as European junior DH champion, Bernard Kerr signed with Martin Whiteley's 23 Degrees Sports Management and was immediately placed on the Norco World Team alongside Fionn Griffiths.

Other snippets include David Graf and Quentin Derbier joining the Gates Nicolai Team. Oggy signing a two year extension with Haro. The R.S.P 4x Team of Joost Wichman, Tomas Slavik, Jurg Meir et al. on KTM frames next year having moved from Giant and finally occasional 4x racer Sam Willoughby moving to Redline from Yeti. Does that mean we'll see Redline bring out a 4x frame?

More as we get it!