March 21, 2009 (Huntington Beach, CA) – The Sho-Air / Specialized cross-country team has just announced the latest addition to its 2009 team. The “˜06 U23 MTB Worlds bronze medalist, Max Plaxton, will don the team’s colors for 2009 and beyond. Plaxton now rounds out a powerhouse group for the Sho-Air/Specialized squad, which includes five time Australian national champion and Athens Olympian Sid Taberlay, former U-23 U.S. National Champion Sammy Jurekovic and endurance specialist Manuel Prado.

Plaxton will ride a select schedule with the team for 2009, including the U.S. Cup series and two Canadian World Cup rounds before hitting it hard for 2010.

“The guys at Sho-Air have been unbelievable” beams Plaxton. “2008 was a hard year in terms of getting the door slammed in my face by the industry. I really considered going back to school and hanging my cleats up until Scott Tedro threw me a life line. From what I have seen, this team is like family and I look forward to racing and hanging with a great group of people.”

Team Sho-Air manager Ty Kady reflects Plaxton’s sentiments. “It’s our goal to provide our riders with a healthy environment so they can focus on riding and racing. It’s all about family for Scott and he wouldn’t have it any other way. To see a rider of Max’s caliber become of victim of the industry and left out to dry isn’t something new to us, so we were glad to lend a helping hand. We’re hoping for some big things from our younger riders in the next few years. Max and Sammy J are only 23 and we think in the right environment they can be Olympic level riders”, continues Kady.

“I had a long conversation with Max, and I liked the feedback I got from Sid and Sam,” said Scott Tedro, owner of the Sho Air-Specialized team. “He’s a phenomenal talent and has a lot of potential, so were excited to have him onboard.”

Plaxton’s debut with the Sho-Air/Specialized team will be at the opening PRO XCT round at Fontana on March 29th.

Max Plaxton’s Career Highlights:

– 2006 Bronze Medal U-23 World Championships
– 2 X Pan-American Champion
– 2 X World Relay Champion
– 5 X National Champion
– 8 X Norba Pro Podium including 1 win