December 15, 2012 – GT Factory Racing Brings on Next Generation of Talent Powerhouse Riders Taylor Vernon and Martin Maes Set to Ride with Beaumont and Athertons Bethel, CT – December 14, 2012 – GT Bicycles, a Dorel Industries (TSX: DII.B, DII.A) brand, announced today the signing of two of Europe’s most dominant young riders to expand its champion downhill and enduro race team GT Factory Racing. Taylor Vernon of South Wales will join the world’s fastest downhill race team to train alongside Gee Atherton, Rachel Atherton, and Marc Beaumont, while Martin Maes from Belgium will join Dan Atherton on the enduro team.
“Taylor was first brought to our attention last year and we’ve seen him post some solid results in the under 16 sections this past season,” said Dan Brown, Team Director. “The team is on a roll right now with Rachel’s World Cup win, fastest team overall title and Gee taking podiums in every race. It feels like the right time for us to start to bring on some new young riders and we think that Taylor has the potential to become a major force on the World Cup scene.”
16-year-old Vernon will be racing on a GT Fury as he works to dominate the Junior World Cups and World Championships.
“Words can’t describe how stoked I am to be joining Dan, Gee, Rachel, and Marc on GT Factory Racing,” said Vernon. “I’m so excited about racing at the International and World Cup level and know that I could not ask for a better or more experienced team of people to teach me all there is to know.”
On the enduro side, 15-year-old Martin Maes turned heads when he took 5th place overall at the Superenduro of Nations at Sauze d’Oulz. He will be riding a GT Force and focusing on the Enduro World
Series.
“Nobody could quite believe it,” said Dan Atherton. “There isn’t a junior category in superenduro so this 15-year-old boy is just wasting some of the toughest and most experienced adult riders on the circuit. We are really excited about the Enduro World Series in 2013 and I’m stoked to have a new teammate with this much potential.”
“This opportunity feels like a dream come true,” said Maes. “I have the greatest admiration for Rachel, Dan, Gee and Marc and will be so happy to ride with them.”
Follow the GT Factory Racing team HERE or on twitter @AthertonRacing for further developments. Follow GT at www.GTbicycles.com on facebook at or on twitter @GTBicycles.
Additional Info:
Taylor Vernon – 2012 results – U16
– British Downhill Series Round 1-Combe Sydenham 3rd place
– British Downhill Series Round 2-Fort William 6th place
– British Downhill Series round 3-Glencoe 2nd place
– British Downhill Series Round 4-Caersws 1st place
– British Downhill Series Round 5-Bringewood 1st place
– British Downhill Series Round 6-Llangollen 1st place
– British Downhill Series Overall 1st place
– Extreme DH Summer Series-Llangollen 1st place
– IXS Downhill Round 2-Innerleithen 1st place
– IXS Downhill Round 6-Chatel 4th Place
– Welsh Champs-Moelfre 2nd place
– National Champion-Moelfre 1st place
Martin Maes – 2012 Results
– Enduro “hautes vosges” – La Bresse 6th
– Mountain of Hell, Les Deux Alpes 13th
– Enduro of Nations, Saulx d’Oulx 5th
– Enduro of Nations, Valloire 4th
– Roc Enduro (Roc d’Azur) 3rd
– 4X European Race (15/17 years), Winterberg 1st
About GT Bicycles
GT is a premium brand of Cycling Sports Group, part of Dorel Industries (TSX: DII.B, DII.A), a world class bicycle and juvenile products company. Now in its 50th year, Dorel creates style and excitement in equal measure to safety, quality and value. Dorel has annual sales of US$2.4 billion and employs 5,000 people in facilities located in twenty-four countries worldwide. Since 1972, GT has provided riders of all ability levels with a trustworthy, reliable, rock-solid bike they need to push their own personal limits, and the limits of cycling. Their legacy is instilled in every GT design, be it a BMX, mountain, road, or pavement bike. For more information about GT Bicycles, please visit www.gtbicycles.com.
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