Brendan Fairclough Signs With Team Monster Energy/Iron Horse

[Squidly Didly]

Holbrook, New York, USA

19-year-old British downhill star Brendan Fairclough announced today that he has just signed a two-year deal with one of the most successful teams on the International Mountain Bike circuit, Team Monster Energy/Iron Horse. The signing of the former Honda Team G-Cross rider will see Brendan lining up alongside four time World Champion and defending World Cup Series Champion, Australian Sam Hill.

The team will have Brendan competing in all the World Cup races, as well as key major events such as Sea Otter Classic, US Open, Crankworx, and selected British NPS events. Brendan will be racing the dw-link equipped Iron Horse Sunday for all of his downhill competitions.

Brendan flew to the US over the Thanksgiving holiday to meet with the team and had this to say:

"Joining Team Monster Energy/Iron Horse is a major deal for me. I'm excited to be racing on a team that has a great image in the sport and is known for supporting its riders. I've been lucky to have had excellent team mates like Steve Peat, Greg Minnaar, and Matti Lehikoinen throughout my young career, and being part of Team Monster Energy/Iron Horse is a continuation of that. Next year I have some pretty specific goals, not the least of which is grabbing some crystal at the end of the World Cup season when the series finishes on a track that Sam and I love, Schladming. I can't wait to get racing next year!"

Iron Horse Marketing Manager Todd Seplavy was equally enthused:

"We're excited to have Brendan come fly the Monster Energy/Iron Horse colors for us and were really looking forward to having him grow with our program. We've been impressed with Brendan's riding skills, professionalism, and personality from the first time he blasted onto the World Cup scene. He'll be a perfect fit onto our program and a valuable asset to all of our sponsors."

Team Director Sean Heimdal added:

"This was a logical step for us in 2008. I wanted to put together a leading two-man team and when thinking of a rider that could come into our program and compliment Sam, as well as learn and grow, well Brendan was my first choice. Having him here over the past few days has been excellent and we can't wait to get him on a bike for testing."

Brendan's first race with Team Monster Energy/Iron Horse will be the Sea Otter Classic in April of 2008.

For images and more information of Team Monster Energy/Iron Horse visit: www.ironhorseraceteam.com

[nicho]

i'm loving all these transfers.
Now we know about minnaar, fairclough, all i want to know is where kovarik is going, and what team is fabiel barel going to.

exciting stuff 2008 is going to be sensational!

nicho

[S.]

So pretty well every race next year will be won by either a Syndicate or IH rider... fark.

[big ral]

Congrats to ironhorse and fairclough a good signing for both.

[faceplant666]

Ironhorse and Santa Cruz will definatly be the standout teams this year new powerhouses similar to the days of Global Orange?

[pinned--->]

Oh man another one to the dark side! I thought the syndicate team would be pretty tough but now that monster horse has Brendan I'm thinking differently.

2008 will definitely be exciting on the race side of things!!!

[GDonehue]

Does Sean's comments about a 'two man team' mean that Sabrina is NOT on Iron Horse this year? I have heard plenty of rumours that point to that being the case...

[Daver]

Ironhorse and Santa Cruz will definatly be the standout teams this year new powerhouses similar to the days of Global Orange?

You could say that Syndicate and Monster are the GT and Global of the current era. The question is, which one will fold first?

[toodles]

Hope they've got a good dental plan

[S.]

Hope they've got a good dental plan

Lisa needs braces.

[cjaty]

You could say that Syndicate and Monster are the GT and Global of the current era. The question is, which one will fold first?

Good point,but as we've all seen before theres all ways another team ready to step up to the plate.

[clockworked]

Hope they've got a good dental plan

yeah! that could have been the deciding factor for fairclough. he makes snaggletooth look like the orthodontist's poster boy..

[GDonehue]

Ironhorse and Santa Cruz will definatly be the standout teams this year new powerhouses similar to the days of Global Orange?

And don't forget the new Barel team. If the info I just got is correct he will have another french rider onboard to go along with Florent Payet. Flo raced with us all this year and really hit his form in the later part of the season (8th at the worlds, 6th at Maribor) and he is still very young. With the right support and a bullet proof bike he will be bloody quick in 2008.

There are a HEAP of rumours flying around about who the third French rider might be... Pascal is leaving Q-bikes, Sabrina has not signed to my knowledge yet, but they could target one of the two french juniors for 08.

[GDonehue]

i'm loving all these transfers.
Now we know about minnaar, fairclough, all i want to know is where kovarik is going, and what team is fabiel barel going to.

exciting stuff 2008 is going to be sensational!

nicho

Fabien is running his own team with Subaru France kicking in the dollars.

Kovarik is likewise running his own deal, but still on Intense with a deal that somehow involves Nigel Page...

[NH_]

this will be great for sam to get even better as brendan does, brendans going to be snapping at sams heels all the time so they will both start pushing faster

[casey79]

Does Sean's comments about a 'two man team' mean that Sabrina is NOT on Iron Horse this year? I have heard plenty of rumours that point to that being the case...

Last time I looked Sabrina was a female not a man. While sam was the onlu male on the team. Scarlet has been on the team for a while too.

[GDonehue]

Last time I looked Sabrina was a female not a man. While sam was the onlu male on the team. Scarlet has been on the team for a while too.

Sabrina is not a man???? you don't say (insert sarcasm)

My comment hinges from other rumours floating around regarding Sabrina and the fact that Sean mentions a two man team rather than the full team as it would be if she stayed. Todd Seplavy has said IH want to keep her, but it seems strange that there has not been anything concrete out yet and considering all is not rosy on the team...

Scarlett is riding for Ironhorse, but has not been part of the official team this year.

[chu]

So pretty well every race next year will be won by either a Syndicate or IH rider... fark.

thats about it...that is awsome as except i wish there were some of the riders from syndicate that rode for other brands because it would vary it up a bit...turning out a bit like formula one with ferrari (santacruz syndicate) vs. mclaren (iron horse)...ohhhhh well should be a sweet season next year can wait for the world cup round here next year. :)

[B1KR BOI]

Yewww! Brendan on a Sunday! Next year is going to be killer! Definitely going ot be tight match between Syndicate and Ironhorse/Madcatz, BUT Brenda and Sam are going to pin! :D:p Cant wait!!!

Greg

[ajay]

Kovarik is likewise running his own deal, but still on Intense with a deal that somehow involves Nigel Page...

Dirt team?:cool:


With Cedric and the Athertons on Commençal I dare say that the supremes will be making regular appearences in the mix of Sundays/V10's...
Should be a fantastic year ahead...

[BLAKE-2234]

Dirt team?:cool:


With Cedric and the Athertons on Commençal I dare say that the supremes will be making regular appearences in the mix of Sundays/V10's...
Should be a fantastic year ahead...

also at australian races now

[GDonehue]

Lapierre has just picked up David Vasquez and are driving a new team with Q-Bikes old sponsors... Now I am completely stuffed as to who is picking up Fabien Barel's team... unless Lapierre goes with two teams.

[Ham]

thats about it...that is awsome as except i wish there were some of the riders from syndicate that rode for other brands because it would vary it up a bit...turning out a bit like formula one with ferrari (santacruz syndicate) vs. mclaren (iron horse)...ohhhhh well should be a sweet season next year can wait for the world cup round here next year. :)

no then that would be like lewis hamilton driving a ferrari instead of his mclaren.

[Viv92]

no then that would be like lewis hamilton driving a ferrari instead of his mclaren.

Huh?

Can you please explain... :confused:

Interesting that Lapierre hasn't gone for the Subaru team yet. I'm still hoping the team gets Sunn Radicals. That'd be awesome.

[ajay]

Huh?

Can you please explain... :confused:

The syndicate is a Santa Cruz team that provide bikes and support etc, but enable the riders to keep all their other sponsors. You will notice that Rennie wears a TLD kit, whilst Peaty sports a Royal kit.

They both still have to a ride Santa cruz bikes.... Like Lewis Hamilton is contracted with Ferrari he cannot drive another car

[toodles]

The syndicate is a Santa Cruz team that provide bikes and support etc, but enable the riders to keep all their other sponsors. You will notice that Rennie wears a TLD kit, whilst Peaty sports a Royal kit.

They both still have to a ride Santa cruz bikes.... Like Lewis Hamilton is contracted with Ferrari he cannot drive another car

It's gonna wind up more like Indy where the bike/car is nearly out of the equation. Nothing sucks more than seeing a promising pro trying to win on an obviously sub-par piece of equipment.

[faceplant666]

So I wonder where this leaves sabrina Jonnier and what she will be doing, you dont think that they would just drop her considering shes won the Elite womens Worlds the last two years in a row...but so has sam hill so maybe they couldnt affored her too?