Following an extremely successful 2022 season it comes as a big shock to see the Norco team close its ranks for at least the next season. Norco has said that it is helping the teams’ athletes and staff find roles for next season and development will continue on its next-generation DH and XC platforms.
The pausing of the team does mean that Sam Blenkinsop, Henry Fitzgerald, Lucas Cruz, Elliot Jamieson, Gracey Hemstreet, Peter Disera, Sean Fincham, Gwendalyn Gibson, Emilly Johnston and Carter Woods could be looking for teams next year. With some big names in the mix and some great results achieved this year we hope they will find a new home for next season.
In its press release, Norco states the decision was made to “confidently navigate the industry’s pandemic recovery” allowing the company to continue to offer riders and dealers what they want from the brand.
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Since we started building mountain bikes, Norco has been driven by the energy and spirit that competition has brought to our work. 2022, in fact, has been the Norco Factory Team’s most successful year in its over 30 years of racing – results that we continue to celebrate as the season winds down; which makes this announcement even more heartbreaking:
At the end of the race season, we will temporarily pause the Norco Factory DH and XC team programs. We understand this decision drastically affects the lives and careers of so many talented people who have contributed to the program’s success. To ensure that all our 2022 team athletes and staff can stay on-track for 2023, we’re advocating on their behalf with our industry partners and colleagues to help secure support for all of them. This pause will allow Norco to confidently navigate the industry’s pandemic recovery. It’s a pragmatic, but excruciating sacrifice we’ve had to make to ensure that Norco will continue to meet the needs of riders and our dealers long into the future. We’ll continue to ride, engage with our communities, and forge forward as we develop and build innovative mountain bikes, including our next generation of DH and XC platforms. Thanks to all our riders, support staff, sponsors, and fans for your decades of inspiration. It means the world to us. |
