It was announced last week that double US National Champion Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski will race with the Subaru-Gary Fisher MTB Team for the 2005 race season. Now final arrangements have been made for the complete factory team roster. The factory team has three essential categories: National Team, Endurance Team, and International Team.
The National Team will race largely in North America with a focus on the NORBA NCS, domestic World Cups, and premium domestic events with select international travel. Four athletes make up the National Team.
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski
JHK is the most prolific American mountain bike racer of the last decade. In 2004 alone he was an Olympian, won the National Championships in both cross-country and short-track and won the Pan-American Championships. Jeremy considers Subaru-Gary Fisher the most professional team on the circuit and looks forward to carrying last season’s momentum into a successful 2005.
Willow Koerber
2004 was a breakthrough season for the already experienced Koerber. She earned her first NORBA NCS win at Mt. Snow with a commanding performance, and then followed up with another win in Idaho. She also proved herself as a top contender in World Cups with a bronze medal finish at Mont Sainte-Anne. Willow brings to the program her proven abilities as an athlete and the star-power of one of the race circuit’s most recognizable personalities.
Kerry Barnholt
The 2004 season was the first in which Barnholt was able to focus exclusively on her racing career. This additional focus proved very productive as Kerry burst into the upper ranks of the domestic racing scene. She scored several podium finishes throughout the season, becoming a regular favorite in the short track. Kerry is the only returning member of the 2004 factory team, her experience and steady leadership is highly valued by both the staff and athletes.
Trent Lowe
Subaru-Gary Fisher has a history of supporting aspiring young athletes. Recent graduates of the SGF program include Ryder Hesjedal and Liam Killeen, who both started with the team before their 20 th birthday. Trent Lowe continues this development tradition; the U23 Australian National Champion is one of the world’s top young prospects. He was a regular top-10 finisher throughout the NORBA NCS season, at Snow Summit finishing a season best second in the cross country and third in the short track. Trent expects to major improvements in 2005, and sees the move to Subaru-Gary Fisher as a major step in the right direction.
Subaru-Gary Fisher fields the industries most elite Endurance Team competing at premium 24 Hour races and regional one day endurance races.
Nat Ross
Ross has one of the most impressive endurance racing resumes in the industry. The 2004 24 Hours of Moab champion is the most consistent podium finisher in 24 hour races of the last 5 years. For 2005 Nat focuses on select 24 Hour races with his primary goal being the US National Championship for 24 Hour Solo. In preparation for this event he will travel the Rocky Mountain and Western region of the US and Canada to compete in other endurance events and festivals.
Cameron Chambers
Cameron surprised the world in 2003 by nearly winning the 24 Hours of Moab. This breakout performance earned the young Kansas native a grassroots sponsorship with Subaru-Gary Fisher in 2004. Cameron had an ambitious 24 hour race schedule last season, competing in a total of eight events, winning three, scoring forth at the World Championships and second at Snowshoe. Cameron joins the team with full factory sponsorship in 2005 and will focus on 24 Hour races and endurance events in the Midwest and Eastern regions.
Continuing a tradition of finding and supporting rising stars from around the world, Subaru-Gary Fisher brings into the team two athletes for the International Team.
Jenny Copnall
Jenny returns to Subaru-Gary Fisher for her second season. She is a former UK National Champion and remains one of Britain’s top female athletes, winning the 2004 National Points Series and finishing second in the 2004 national championships. She has raced bikes since 1996 and has steadily progressed to her current place on one of the World’s top trade teams. Jenny will continue to race an aggressive schedule in her native UK and compete in select World Cup events.
Takahiro Ogasawara
Known as Oga to his friends, Takahiro Ogasawara rejoins Subaru-Gary Fisher for 2005. Racing out of his native Japan, he has represented Fisher extremely well as one of that nation’s top ranked professional riders. Winning the Chiangrai International Challenge in 2004 was a high point on the season for this former U23 Japanese National Champion. In 2005 he will work more closely with the factory team to continue his progression as an athlete.
The Subaru- Gary Fisher MTB Team is proud to be sponsored by:
Subaru of America, IncGary Fisher BicyclesSRAM drivetrain componentsRock Shox front and rear suspensionPeak BarBontrager Wheelworks and ComponentsAvid BrakesNike ACG shoes, performance and casual apparelIRC tiresCane Creek headsetsCrank Bros PedalsEndurox R4Wrench Force tools.
Subaru and Gary Fisher also support the International Mountain Bike Association. IMBA creates, enhances and preserves trail opportunities for mountain bikers worldwide.
