| 01/02/2002 |
| After months of negotiations and coordination with
sponsors, athletes, agents, etc., the newest and most comprehensive
professional Freestyle and BMX bicycle sports team program will be
completely launched in Columbus, Ohio on December 27th at the NBL
Christmas Classic. The Freestyle Team made its debut in Sacramento on
December 4th performing during the Sacramento Kings and Philadelphia
76ers NBA game. Composed almost entirely from management and athletes of
the former GT Bicycle's juvenile programs, this new team promises to be
the elite Freestyle and BMX bicycle team and marketing program in the
world. The team will be sponsored by top bicycle industry and corporate companies many who were sponsors of the team before. The co-title sponsor for the team will be Giant Bicycles of Newbury Park, CA and the team will be known as the "Giant Bicycles Team". Giant Bicycles will share the entitlement of the team in the future with another corporate partner which has yet to be named. Other sponsors include Hot Wheels, WD-40, JanSport, Troy Lee Designs, and ACS. The Giant Bicycles Team’s BMX Roster includes Thomas Allier (FRA), Danny Nelson (USA), and Robert deWilde (NED). The Giant Bicycles Freestyle Team includes Dave Voelker (USA), John Parker (USA) Matt Wilhelm (USA) Rob Nolli (USA), Mike Parenti (USA), Tom Haugen (USA), Gabe Weed (USA), Brian Blyther (USA) Ben Snowden (USA), and Kevin Gutierrez (USA). Team management will be overseen by Todd Corbitt, Director of BMX Team Operations and Woody Itson, Director of Freestyle Team Operations. Robert Castillo will be the Freestyle Team Manager. Working as a "motorsports model for juvenile bicycles", the Giant Bicycles Team will offer marketing partners a variety of branding and exposure opportunities. These will include competitions at national BMX races (ABA, NBL nationals) and Freestyle events (X-Games, Gravity Games, etc.) as well as freestyle demonstrations as the "Giant Bicycles Stunt Team" at professional sports events (NBA, NFL) and state fairs. The team will also have a web site offering team schedules, athlete bios, sponsor information and team merchandise. (Article originally published at: http://www.totalbike.com/news/article/601/) |