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.
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?