Unheard of. The fastest racer on two wheels turning his back on big name support and striking out alone. Aaron Gwin rejected the Big S and instead sought something totally unique in the winter of 2014/2015.
For us there were unparalleled page views, every race fan ravenous to know where the living legend would finally plant his flag. Many predicted YT Industries but few truly believed it. What happened next would leave the world of downhill in a state of shock.
Looking back, it’s no real surprise that Gwin ended up where he did. Unhappy with Specialized offer, he needed up with a brand that prided themselves on doing things differently. He thought he was worth more than any racer for a decades, possibly ever. It turned out, he was right.
Similarly, YT were eager to put a cat among the pigeons. This was there chance to prove that the bike that was the recipient of so many media plaudits was a worthy contender on the World Cup circuit – the true test of any bike wanting to gain entry to downhill’s upper echelons.
