After 11 months with the Athertons, Graeme Mudd is leaving the trek Factory Racing set up.

Muddy joined the team in January this year on the back of a strong 2016 season as a privateer that included a top ten Cairns. Unfortunately he couldn’t quite live up to that season under the Trek banner as he only once broke into the World Cup top 40 at Mont Sainte Anne.

Muddy did however pick up some BDS top tens and finished the season strongly with a sixth at Hardline.

Dan Brown, team director,  said “It was a fun year with Muddy on board, he fitted into the family with ease. Full credit to him for embracing the Welsh weather and pushing so hard in his quest for top performances. We wish him all the best in his future racing endeavours and welcome him in the pits at any time for nice cup of tea!”

Muddy is currently at home with his family in Newcastle Australia from where he’s sending his freezing team-mates lots of scorching beach pictures!

Muddy said “These guys did so much for me this year, At the beginning of 2017 I said it was a dream come true and that stands, I’ve had a fantastic time and learnt a  lot  but for all kinds of reasons things just didn’t line up in terms of results. It was rad racing this year in a team environment, sharing the experience,

“I loved hanging out at the finish watching the other TFRDH amigos come down and seeing what they could do. And then have  a beer and talk about the week at “work”. I’ll definitely be paying them some visits.”

There’s no word yet on Muddy’s team for next year but he does now leave a hole for another rider to step up and take his place. Some news coming later today on who that might be.