GT Goes Grass Roots: No Factory Race Team in 2024

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Confirming what has long been considered a firm rumour, GT has announced the termination of its Factory Race Team programme for 2024. GT has a long history with racing, and has had some great results over the last eight years with the GT Factory Racing Team. Enjoy this video looking back on the good times, before you get to the official PR. After all that, Singletrack Subscribers can read an additional Q&A we did with Clive Gosling, GT’s new Head of Marketing.

GT – Switching Gears for 2024 In MTB Racing

Few brands are born into racing, but when Gary Turner welded the first GT BMX frame in his SoCal garage for his son in 1972, that’s exactly how GT came to exist. 

In the last fifty years, GT has raced everything and everywhere; from BMX to XC, Slalom to Downhill, Enduro to road. Heck, GT even created the ‘96 Atlanta Superbike project for the USA National Track team. On this journey, we’ve won Olympic medals, World titles, World Cups, National and European Championships all in a style unique to our brand.

For the last eight years, our GT Factory Racing Team (GTFR) has competed at the highest level in the UCI Downhill World Cup series and EDR races, with an extended family of riders including: Wyn Masters, Rachel Strait, Anneke Beerten, Martin Maes, Sam Dale, Brook McDonald, Jackson Frew, George Brannigan, Joey Foresta, Johannes ‘Denim Destroyer’ Vonklebelsberg, Noga Korem, Ethan Craik, Katy Winton, Jess Blewitt and Ryan ‘Pinky’ Pinkerton. 

The team has achieved an incredible forty-one WC/EDR podiums, eleven WC/EDR wins, two World Cup overall titles and two World Championship podiums. We couldn’t be prouder of these talented athletes and to have the opportunity to support Wyn’s Privateer Project and our Junior Development teams, all helping the next generation to reach the top.

During this time, GTFR has been supported by some of the World’s leading brands, including Continental, Shimano, FSA, Fox Suspension, Alpinestars, Stans, Krush, Rimpact, EThirteen, Prologo, GoPro, ODI, Bell, Sombrio, FiveTen, WTB, Skullcandy, Schwalbe, Michelin and Vittoria

The GTFR team finished this season on a huge high as Ethan stood on his first World Cup podium in MSA and Pinky won the World Cup Junior title overall, but 2023 marks the last season of the current edition of the GTFR program. It may be the end of the chapter, but this is not the end of the story. For 2024, our race presence will come in the form of bolstering regional teams and grass roots programs – where future champions are born. 

See you at the races in 2024 and beyond.

The Trail Rippers Nathan and Ruben, part of GT’s new grass roots focus. Credit: Nils Bussink

Bonus content for Singletrack Subscribers: Q&A with Clive Gosling, GT Head of Marketing

Sorry, you can't read this Q&A because it's for Subscribers only. Join us today for bonus content, access to our magazine, and a range of Member Perks. Sorry, you can't read this Q&A because it's for Subscribers only. Join us today for bonus content, access to our magazine, and a range of Member Perks. Sorry, you can't read this Q&A because it's for Subscribers only. Join us today for bonus content, access to our magazine, and a range of Member Perks. Sorry, you can't read this Q&A because it's for Subscribers only. Join us today for bonus content, access to our magazine, and a range of Member Perks. Sorry, you can't read this Q&A because it's for Subscribers only. Join us today for bonus content, access to our magazine, and a range of Member Perks. Sorry, you can't read this Q&A because it's for Subscribers only. Join us today for bonus content, access to our magazine, and a range of Member Perks. Sorry, you can't read this Q&A because it's for Subscribers only. Join us today for bonus content, access to our magazine, and a range of Member Perks.
GT’s future looks more like this, at least for 2024 Credit: Nils Bussink
Sorry, you can't read this Q&A because it's for Subscribers only. Join us today for bonus content, access to our magazine, and a range of Member Perks. Sorry, you can't read this Q&A because it's for Subscribers only. Join us today for bonus content, access to our magazine, and a range of Member Perks.
What will bike racing look like by the time the Trail Rippers are old enough to be Elite? Credit: Nils Bussink
Sorry, you can't read this Q&A because it's for Subscribers only. Join us today for bonus content, access to our magazine, and a range of Member Perks. Sorry, you can't read this Q&A because it's for Subscribers only. Join us today for bonus content, access to our magazine, and a range of Member Perks.

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Viewing 14 posts - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
  • GT Goes Grass Roots: No Factory Race Team in 2024
  • pmurden
    Full Member

    Sad times unfortunately, but I guess accountants are there for a reason and companies need to make tough decisions. Hard facts are always a swine to accept. I wish everyone involved and affected by this all the best.

    Posted 5 months ago
    weeksy
    Full Member

    Yeah it’s tough for sure and a sad loss for the sport, but racing is expensive and it seems they don’t see the value in it. I do find it somewhat weird considering they’ve just recently launched a new DH bike, new Enduro/Trail bikes etc, to then pull out of racing (mostly).
    There are teams that will benefit like Wyns Privateer project, the GT Viris development squad etc. The riders will get other rides for sure… So it’s not a complete disaster for some.

    It’s the longer term effects/knock-on from it and other teams being canned though, that’s somewhat of a worry.

    Posted 5 months ago
    BoardinBob
    Full Member

    Despite the prominence of the team, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a modern GT enduro or DH bike on the trails. No one I ride with has ever turned up with a GT bike. So despite all the investment in the race teams and the resultant advertising, I’m not seeing it convert into sales unless its one of those brands that’s really popular outside the UK?

    Posted 5 months ago
    weeksy
    Full Member

    You get a fair few at DH races and not all of them are mine 😀

    But they’ve been very good in terms of DH value bikes, you can get a 2020 for <£2000 with decent enough spec and ready to race, so with people getting into DH they’re seen as quite a purchase option. I do see Enduros with GT racers but i’d say a decent chunk of them are indeed ‘team’ racers..

    Posted 5 months ago
    Rubber_Buccaneer
    Full Member

    unless its one of those brands that’s really popular outside the UK?

    Back in the day they were massive in the UK but I don’t think they’ve ever recovered from Halfords.

    Posted 5 months ago
    clubby
    Full Member

    Back in the day they were massive in the UK but I don’t think they’ve ever recovered from Halfords. I Drive.

    Posted 5 months ago
    misteralz
    Free Member

    I used to be a proper committed fanboy – I still desperately miss the 2004 Zaskar I built that got stolen last year – but the Zaskar 29er they brought out in the early teens was one of the worst bikes I’ve ever ridden and I’ve never quite been able to forgive them for it.

    Posted 5 months ago
    Andy_Sweet
    Free Member

    Ditto. I’ve never forgiven them for the easily snappable BMXs i grew up riding.

    Posted 5 months ago
    hijodeputa
    Free Member

    Just bought my 1st GT. Had a carbon Force pro delivered last night. 2 grand off the RRP is what swayed it but I’ve always been soft on the looks of the Force. It looks proper tank in the flesh, pedaled round the block very well though, considering the type of bike it is. Looking forward to taking it out this weekend.

    Posted 5 months ago
    Rubber_Buccaneer
    Full Member

    Halfords. I Drive

    Fair point, I think both happened about he same time

    Posted 5 months ago
    sharkattack
    Full Member

    I do find it somewhat weird considering they’ve just recently launched a new DH bike, new Enduro/Trail bikes etc, to then pull out of racing (mostly).

    Those bikes will have been in development for years. The decision to quit racing was probably made when 2023 turned into a failed experiment.

    Posted 5 months ago
    sharkattack
    Full Member

    I do find it somewhat weird considering they’ve just recently launched a new DH bike, new Enduro/Trail bikes etc, to then pull out of racing (mostly).

    Those bikes will have been in development for years.

    The decision to quit racing was probably made during the failed experiment that was the 2023 season.

    I have to admit I’ve never lusted after a GT since around 1996 when Peaty had an LTS-DH. Even that was ruined for me when a mate bought one and it was garbage. Then i-drive happened. And continued to happen.

    Posted 5 months ago
    hardupdad
    Free Member

    Having a DH team didn’t sway me when I got myself the new GT Sensor and I’m absolutely loving it. I am a bit of a fan of the brand from bmx and MTB. The sensor though is one of the best all round trail bikes I’ve had in recent years. It’s kinda nice having something bit different too.
    glad to see privateer is still a thing

    Posted 5 months ago
    ocrider
    Full Member

    There’s a fair amount of speculation that the Continental ex-Nukeproof team and Danny Hart will be on GT frames next season. Maybe there’s no more factory team, but there will be presence on the WC circuit.

    Posted 5 months ago
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