Joe Smith has today announced he will be leaving Team CRC Paypal for 2017.

Smith has been with the team since 2011 and has picked up a number of World Cup top tens while riding in their colours. He also won the British Downhill Series overall and grabbed second place at Hardline for the team.

Team Manager Nigel Page said: “Six years is a long time to ride for one team in a rider’s career and it has been an absolute pleasure having Joe on the team. He has become a great friend and we feel very privileged to have spent six years supporting one of the best bike riders in the world. Joe’s skills on a bike are up there with a very select few – he makes things look super easy when you know they are not and can do things on a bike that most of us can only dream of. He is also one of the most stylish riders in the world to go with it.

“He has also become like part of my family over the years and is always a great pleasure to have at our home and will always be very welcome.”

Joe has apparently picked up a seat on another “World class” team. We’ll wait with bated breath to see who that might be. With Sam Hill now moving his focus to enduro, that leaves just young Mike Jones to carry the CRC Nukeproof team into next year.

We wish both Joe and the Team CRC Paypal gang the best of luck in the future.