MBUK has a new strategy for the 2001 race team according to a press release we received this afternoon…

Interesting stuff:


The team have moved away from Jamis in favour of Intense bikes, Manitou (forks presumably) and Intense Tires. ‘Elite rider Will Longden will head up the new team including Dave Wardell, Team MBUK rider for the past two seasons, plus one youth rider and one junior rider.’ They’re also co-sponsorshing former full time dh rider Helen Mortimer.

Obvious stuff:


‘Will Longden will compete in all the UK rounds’, the NPS presumably, ‘and on the World Cup circuit. Dave Wardell will ride the UK and European World Cups. The development riders will ride the UK series including local races. Riders who prove themselves will be taken to some European races to gain experience on the international circuit’.

The yoof rider selection process is going to be documented in MBUK: ‘We will be looking at their 2000 season race results, and we want riders who can also dirt jump and perform at our events such as The Bike Show, Bike Live and the Summer Tours. There’s more to riding for Team MBUK than just racing’ said Will.

Amusing bit that makes no sense:


Agreeing with Will, MBUK editor Tym Manley went on: ‘MBUK is about young riders having extreme fun on mountain bikes. Team MBUK leads by example. They’re our military wing, if you like. And General Longden has set his sights on bringing on a new batch of UK riders in year one.’ Ouch.

Unfortunately no-one at MBUK could tell us when the camo’ team kit would be on the shelves.

This story’s so hot it’s not even up on MBUK.com yet.