Following the news that the Athertons will ride for GT Bicycles this season, Shimano have today confirmed that they’ll continue to support the team throughout 2012, in a three year signing.

They’ve been using Shimano components since 2008, and it’s clear the two have a very strong partnership that benefits both sides.

Dan Brown: “We are excited to extend our collaboration with SHIMANO. They have been an excellent partner over the last years. Their outstanding quality material had a great influence on our performances. We trust their material blindly so we can focus on what is most important for us, push the limits!”

Manabu Tatekawa, marketing manager SHIMANO Inc.: “Together with Atherton Racing we are able to make incredibly strong, innovative, supreme and ravishing designed products for the Down Hill and Gravity scene. They test the SHIMANO Saint and PRO products immediately in competition and provide us with very detailed feedback. Because the Atherton’s rule in extreme sports (with over 50 professional victories and multiple World titles) they make extreme demands on our material. Together we make sure that it is the maximum you can get out of it.”