Team Decca Ghost bids Farewell to Knox

[Matt]

Max Knox, one of South Africa’s top mountain bike marathon racers, will no longer be a member of Team Decca Ghost after opting not to renew his contract with Ballistic Bike Trading, the company that owns the South African-based racing team.

 

Ballistic Bike Trading threw Knox a lifeline early last year when the professional team folded that he was racing for.

 

“Max had a one year contract with us and decided that his goals and our goals were too different, hence his decision not to renew,” said Jason Theunissen of Ballistic Bike Trading.

 

 

Max Knox and Team Decca Ghost have parted ways.

 

“At a time of uncertainty in his career, we were able to bring stability, allowing him to focus on his training and racing. Max was a good brand ambassador for us, we shared a great working relationship and he achieved some fantastic victories in 2011. He is young and talented and has a bright future. We wish him the very best.”

 

Ghost bikes, a leading German bicycle manufacturer, has invested heavily in top-end racing teams for 2012, with UCI World Cup registered Cross-country and Downhill racing teams, both of which will be in action next month at the opening round of the 2012 UCI World Cup in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

 

Click here to view the article

[Vinnydabutcher]

I take it he has been picked up by an international team - any ideas who?

 

The article seems to lean to the idea that Max owes them but I think it was a very simbiotic relationship - he won almost everything for them giving them great exposure - but in the same breath, maybe they expeted some more loyalty after he was "man overboard" and they picked him up? Truth be told - If I had a team I would also like him to stay longer. maybe the contract should have been 3 years?

 

Any inside info?

Edited February 24, 2012 by Vinnydabutcher

[Danger Dassie]

Nothing new here, the team is quite new but also has put a lot of support in a short space of time, especially when they picked up with Max.

Having Jock Green and Max Knox it's probably good for him to grow and take the next step to a bigger team/sponsor, he has had some solid performances.

All in all, just seems to the normal changes that come about with teams and sponsorships, like any other sport.

Generally speaking, glad to see that locally the sport is looking as healthy as this, must be a lot of naysayers from the past chewing their teeth.

[Aurora]

I see he is racing an S-works today in Sabie

[Tiny K]

There may be the thought that he owes the team after bailing him out, but at the same time, if you give me a one year contract, it shows me that you are not confident in my abilities....... It leaves a bit of subtle tension between team and rider I think.

[Shebeen]

There may be the thought that he owes the team after bailing him out, but at the same time, if you give me a one year contract, it shows me that you are not confident in my abilities....... It leaves a bit of subtle tension between team and rider I think.

Did they bail him out, or get a bargain?

Who is Ghost bikes? We all know now.

 

If Max has got a new ride with another team that Ghost couldn't match, then it really means that they got a good deal for the last year and Max over delivered on expectations. win win.

[Tiny K]

Did they bail him out, or get a bargain?

Who is Ghost bikes? We all know now.

 

If Max has got a new ride with another team that Ghost couldn't match, then it really means that they got a good deal for the last year and Max over delivered on expectations. win win.

 

Kinda what I was getting at..... I have seen Ghost bikes before but, still at this point, don't know much about the brand. I am sure Max put them on the map in a big way.

 

I think the team would have liked Max to stay on longer, but as contracts go, it is exit-able from both ends once it reaches full term.

 

But as you say, maybe the package wasn't as good as what other teams were offering - and as life goes - it's all about the money.

Edited February 25, 2012 by Tiny K

[ZOINCS]

http://<a href="http://twitpic.com/8of5vf" title=" top15 results elite men on Twitpic"><img src="http://twitpic.com/show/thumb/8of5vf.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt=" top15 results elite men on Twitpic"></a>

 

 

Second place for him today at Sabie, after Evans and in front of George, well done.

Edited February 25, 2012 by etiennes

[Weight Weenie]

Sworks ? Hmm... Hopefully no wheel switching dramas again this year

[Aggies]

Sworks ? Hmm... Hopefully no wheel switching dramas again this year

 

 

Jip, but team support is now fine and in the rules. Kevin Vermaak definately mentioned that Specialized will have an official second team at the Epic in support of the first team. Can this be it? He did confirm that the one rider will be Specialized US racer, Todd Wells. Max Knox the other team member?

[Grebel]

Damn and I though this would be interesting reading...

[Gerhardc]

huh?