March 15, 2007 – Hot on the heels of the finest race season in Kona history the Kona Factory Mountain Bike Team returns with its roster in tact. 2006 was a year filled with five national champions, a world cup overall victory and numerous podium finishes.

One of the few setbacks of the past season was multiple injuries to two-time World Champion Fabien Barel. Barel has completely recovered from injury and is ready to compete again at the top levels.

Canadian elite Cross Country racer Wendy Simms will join the Kona Factory Team for 2007. Simms rode for Kona during the 2006 cyclocross season and mountain bike for Velo Bella-Kona in 2006. Her strong performances in disciplines earned her a spot on the Kona Factory roster full time. Her mountain bike season was highlighted by a 4th place XC finish at Sea Otter and 16th place finishes at Spa-BEL and Madrid-ESP World Cups. Wendy will focus on the 2007 NMBS races and also attend select world cups in hopes of boosting her chances to attain a spot on the Canadian Olympic team roster for the 2008 games.

Two time world champion and current French National Elite Downhill Champion Fabien Barel is raring to go after spending much of the season and winter rehabilitating his broken foot. He has received a clean bill of health from the doctors. Now the task is to regain his handling, timing and mental edge. Barel is a true professional and is known for being able to perform under pressure packed situations. He relishes the opportunity to get back in competition and his goal this year is to be more consistent throughout the whole World Cup season. He also wants to also add another rainbow jersey to his and the Kona team’s collection.

Leading the charge for the Kona Factory Team women this year is Elite Women’s Downhill phenomenon Tracy Moseley. Moseley had the finest year of her stellar career in 2006. She won three World Cups and never finished off the podium on her way to the World Cup Overall victory. Along the way she took home a British National Championship to boot. Tracy’s focus this year is winning the World Championship title on what she considers her home track-Fort William, Scotland.

Current USA elite Cross Country National Champion Ryan Trebon heads up the charge for the Kona Factory Team Men’s squad. Trebon performed flawlessly at the big events last year. He took home the USA national championship title in both Cross County Mountain Bike and Cyclocross, the first rider in over 20 years to hold both elite men’s jerseys in the same year. Trebon will ride for the Kona Factory team full time and will make some select guest rider appearances with the Kodak Gallery-Sierra Nevada road team. He will focus his energies on the North American NMBS series and look to improve his consistency at those events and to also defend his national championship titles.

Barry Wicks is also coming off his best mountain bike season, highlighted by winning the USA Short Track National title and a 3rd place finish in the Cross Country event at the Fontana, CA NMBS. Wicks will also focus on the US National Mountain Bike Series events and look to crack the top five overall in the standing. Consistent finishes will also be the focus for Barry. With a slightly reduced race and travel schedule he is confident he will be contending for podium spots in the cross country and short track.

Kamil Tatarkovic will also return to the team after his finest season and will continue on as the Kona Factory Team 4X specialist. Tatarkovic finished out the World Cup season extremely strong. His first World Cup Victory and the World Cup finals sealed his 3rd place overall in the 4X standings for 2006. Kamil’s consistency paid off over the season and this year he looks to bump up a few podium spots. He will compete at the World Cups and select European events.

Canadian U-23/Espoir National Champion Neal Kindree appears to be in great form. Kindree also won the hotly contested 2006 Canada Cup overall and some other main events like Test of Metal in Squamish, BC. Neal will be racing the Canada Cups, the Canadian World Cup events and select NMBS events. Kindree is an up and coming rider and one to watch as he starts to pick his way through the ranks of the elite categories and riders.

The workingman’s hero, Erik Tonkin, will also continue with the team in between shifts at Sellwood Cycle Repair, the bike shop he co-owns. Tonkin will race locally in the Northwest Region, attend select NMBS races where he will be the voice of reason and motivation for the Twin Timbers (Trebon & Wicks). Tonkin seems to be in fine early season form. He recently turned the fastest day AND night laps at the Kona 24 Hours in Old Pueblo helping the Kona 24 hour team win the event and also set a course record.

Rounding out the squad is Canadian mainstay Kris Sneddon. Sneddon will attend the North American World Cups and NMBS races. He is looking to improve on his finishes of last season and crack the top ten at the NMBS races.

Mark Matson and Paul Walton will be the ace wrenches for the North American and European squads respectively. Both mechanics have been an integral part of the success of the Kona Teams and we are happy to have them back. Mark Peterson will continue on as the team manager.

All athlete and schedule inquiries can directed to him at mp@konaworld.com