For 2018 the SCOTT-Velosolutions MTB team continues with Brendan Fairclough, Gaetan Vigé and team owner Claudio Caluori. In a shift of componentry this season, the SCOTT Gambler bike is ‘coming out fighting with a host of new components to get the job done’ as SCOTT-Velosolutions welcomes BOS Suspension, TRP Cycling, DMR Bikes and LEATT accessories.
“After over 9 years with Shimano and Fox suspension, moving away from these partners was no easy decision and we are grateful for all their support,” said team owner Claudio Caluori. “But when races are decided by fractions of a second, every team has to try to find their own winning formula and we believe we have done just that.”
As soon as the 2017 season was over, Brendog and Vigé were out in Switzerland and the South of France testing new products to try and find the optimum set up. With an impressive back catalogue of results and a product portfolio that has ‘always challenged the industry’, BOS suspension will be the official suspension partner of SCOTT-Velosolutions moving forwards.
As the only team running the newly developed OBSYS inverted fork, BOS will be found alongside the SCOTT-Velosolutions pits providing the team with dedicated suspension tech at each event round.
“Any change to a bike can take time and suspension is so important but there is something special about the new OBSYS fork and I believe it can deliver,” explained pro rider Gaetan Vigé. “I have worked with BOS Suspension before and I am confident they can help me and Bren [Fairclough] get on the podium in 2018.”
Over the past few years SCOTT-Velosolutions has witnessed a rise of companies producing individual components; and the team believes that through a combination of partners they can build a race winning formula.
Brendan Fairclough’s partnership with DMR has successful with the Brendog Vault and more recently the Deathgrip bike accessories. In 2018, the entire SCOTT-Velosolutions team will be running DMR Deathgrips, Brendog remains on his signature Vault pedals whilst Gaetan and Claudio will opt for the new V-Twin clipless pedal. The team will also be running the DMR AXE crank and Blade chain ring which has been designed to ‘handle the biggest DH hits with the race ready weight of an enduro crank.’
“DMR are like family to me and to have them join my other family, SCOTT-Velosolutions is amazing,” said Brendan Fairclough. “I am so excited to have Gaetan and Claudio running the Deathgrips. Switching to new products is always a challenge but with DMR I have complete faith in their products.”
TRP Cycling will also join the SCOTT-Velosolutions team in a move that will see them be the second team to run the product on the UCI World Cup Circuit. The team adds that, given the development and testing that TRP brakes have been put through, ‘there was no doubt in the team’s mind that TRP and the G-spec break is the product of choice’.
“The opportunity to work with a collective of brands of this calibre is an incredible one for any mechanic,” added Gavin Black Head, Mechanic at SCOTT-Velosolutions. “TRP have proven themselves as winning brakes and I am beyond confident that this partnership is going to help drive the team forwards.”
SCOTT-Velosolutions welcomes new Head Mechanic Gavin Black in 2018, who joins the team from Radon Factory Racing. He replaces Benoit Vergnaud who worked with the team for over 7 years.
In a final twist for 2018, the SCOTT-Velosolutions team has joined forces with LEATT as the official kit and protection partner of the team. Gaetan and Claudio will be riding in a full range of DBX gear and helmets.
2018 is seen as a big year for the SCOTT-Velosolutions team. The team is continuing to partner with industry leading brands such as Schwalbe, Syncros, Deity and E-Thirteen. SCOTT-Sports and Velosolutions remain the driving force behind the team. SCOTT adds that its commitment to the team is ‘stronger than ever and with the combined passion of Velosolutions, 2018 is set to be their strongest year to date’.
“SCOTT-Sports is committed more than ever to downhill racing and we are working as close as possible with the riders across the board to ensure that 2018 is a year to remember,” said Ben Walker of SCOTT-Sports.
