STAY ON YOUR (saracen) BIKE DANNY!! Danny Hart Joins Team Madison Saracen

After months of speculation, Danny Hart has signed for the Madison/Saracen team for 2018 and beyond, it was announced today – in one of the longest and loosest held secret transactions in the downhill racing world.

Danny has variously been spotted having lunch with Madison/Saracen’s team manager, Wil Longden and ‘popping in’ to the team pits for a chat during the previous season’s world cup races. And even the mystery rider in the mirror shades on a photoshoot late last year clearly had Danny’s eyebrows going on, not to mention a personalised neck brace.

However, all ribbing aside, a glance at any of the riding photos, or the launch video below, would show Danny’s impressively fast and loose style – and the reason that the Madison/Saracen team have their hopes pinned on Danny for the year ahead.

No word the exact spec of the Myst bikes that the team will be riding. We’re assuming that there’ll be a choice of the carbon Myst and a 29er prototype too, but we’ll see at the first World Cup, eh?

Here’s the full press release from Madison, who are obviously happy to have him aboard:

If you haven’t seen Danny’s 2011 World Champs run from Champéry, then you’ve probably spent the last six years without internet access (or you’re just not that into downhill racing). It’s one of the most iconic moments of the last decade, and the moment that really announced the then 20-year-old from Redcar as a major player on the world stage.

The repeat in 2016 was less of a shock, after Danny swept the final three races of the World Cup, nearly pipping Aaron Gwin to the overall title in the process, and following up with the ultimate encore by claiming his second World Championship in Val di Sole.
As well as his undoubted talents, bringing Danny to the team has given Madison Saracen a formidable final piece to a line-up rammed with talent for 2018. The Redcar Rocket joins exciting young talents Matt Walker and Alex Marin who’ll all be tasked with piloting the Saracen Myst in the World Cup next season.

The team will be under the stewardship of manager Will Longden again in 2018, and Will is equally excited with both the new signing and the team for 2018. “It’s fantastic to have Danny joining our team” he said. “Madison has worked hard to elevate the level of the team and the support we offer our riders, so this is an exciting next step on our journey. Danny is the man to watch on a World Cup weekend and his results speak for themselves. Along with our junior World Champion Matt Walker (moving up to elite) and Alex Marin, I think we have an awesome trio for 2018 and I can’t wait to get stuck in.”

Dominic Langan, CEO of Madison is also excited about the signing, and proud of the investment in the sport that the move represents for Madison. “The Madison Saracen Team has been no stranger to the podium over the years thanks mainly to the successes of Manon Carpenter” he said.

“But for the boys, podiums have been more elusive. Danny is a very important signing for the team and a significant step up in our ambitions. Supported by Junior World Champion, Matt Walker in his first year in Elites plus the talented Alex Marin, the 2018 Madison Saracen team is a formidable force to be reckoned with.”

And what of the man himself? Well Danny is as keen to get cracking with the new team and bike as you’d expect. “I’m really happy to be joining the Madison Saracen Factory Team, as I’ve watched the team grow and prosper over the last decade” he said. “The success they’ve had over the last few years shows that this team is in the top tier of DH racing teams. It’s going to be an exciting few years!”