The 2016 race season is fast approaching – we’re stoked to announce the 2016 Team Wideopenmag line up.
With a 5 rider line up covering DH and Enduro we’re shooting big for 2016!
Racing is in our blood at Wideopenmag. We don’t just cover the UK mountain bike scene – we’re right in the thick of it. We’re racing, we’re winning, we’re helping to make the UK race scene strong. We love it!
Team Wideopenmag is a huge part of what we do here. It’s our way of connecting with the UK race scene and our way of helping talented people grow into professionals. We’ve helped Laurie Greenland (now World Champ), Jay Williamson (now SPSyndicate team Elite), Mark Scott (now Santa Cruz factory back-wheeler), Joe Parfitt (now on Transition Factory Racing) and Chaz Curry (now MS Mondraker mechanic).
The 2016 Team Wideopenmag line up is …
Charlie Hatton @charlie_hatton1
Now on his 2nd year on team Wideopenmag, Charlie will take on the junior World Cups and British Downhill Series. He’s got his eyes firmly set on a career racing elite downhill. Charlie scored some amazing results at the 2015 World Cups and has just got faster and faster over the winter. With the help of the legendary Les Hatton (his old man) Charlie will be travelling the World in 2016 to move up to the next level.
Kye Forte @kyeforte
A legend of BMX and MTB – Kye has already had a career to be proud of on a 20″. At twice the age of our youngest team rider he’s showing no sign of slowing down. He’s now turned his sights to big wheels and is taking on the British Downhill Series expert field and a heap of big, gnarly video projects. He’s still rocking the Red Bull helmet, he’s built some massive jumps in his field and he’s ready to make it happen. 2016 is going to be a huge year for Kye.
Chris Hutchens @mentalaboutbikes
A brand, spanking new rider for Team Wideopenmag! Chris has been racing since 2001 and has already had a full career as a World Cup downhill racer. He’s now turned his sights to enduro and is training harder than ever.
Chris will be racing the Scottish Enduro Series, British Enduro Series and the World Enduro Series. He’s also diving into a heap of media projects for Wideopenmag to share his adventures with us. We’re stoked to have someone with Chris’ huge pedigree in British mountain biking on board.
Chris would like to thank The Cycle Jersey and Basecamp for their support in 2015.
Morgan Tyrell @morgantyrrell_62
And our second new rider and brand new young gun. Morgan took the Juvenile national champs title in 2015 and scored 2nd overall at the British Downhill Series. He’s joining us to start his 1st Youth year – a mega competitive field. He’ll have no problems though, he’s absolutely pinned and crazily smooth. We can’t wait to help him get fitter and faster. Oh – and he’s really, really, really Welsh.
Morgan would like to thank BikeIT and Sinclair Finance and Leasing for their support in 2015.
Rich Thomas @richthomas24
Last but not least it’s our longest running fixture and team captain – Rich Thomas. Rich has been with us since 2012 and racing since 2002. He’s a genuine legend of British mountain biking! He’ll be racing the British Downhill Series and using his massive experience to help the other guys get quicker. Â Rich’s first race of the year was ironically an enduro event out in Madeira – which he scored 8th against some big guns. Top job RT!
#TEAMWIDEOPENMAG
 Team Wideopenmag will ride Nukeproof Pulse and Mega frames with Conti tyres, DMR components, Stans NoTubes wheels and Mudhugger mud guards. They’ll be kitted out in Fox Head Europe gear and protection with Giro footwear and Camelback hydration packs. Abus locks will take care of security, Fenwicks will keep us clean and Widget components will look after the fine details. Clip-in pedals will come from Crank Brothers. Last but not least, Ti-Springs will keep our bikes light and fast.
And behind the scenes …
Ben @ MTB Strength Factory
Ben is the main man at MTB Strength Factory and is our official team coach. Ben has setup personalised training plans for every one of our racers and is working personally with all of the guys to make them fitter and faster. So far, the results are awesome.
Ryan Stiling
Ryan joined us in 2015 and steps up to the big dog position as chief mechanic for 2016, taking over from Chaz Curry. He’ll be tuning the team’s Nukeproof bikes to perfection.
Ian Lean
Team Photographer – Ian will be stealing the souls of the team with his magical photo box. Look out for his images here on Wideopenmag after every race.
Luke Hough
Team Videographer – Luke will be shooting for us at every British Downhill Series race and building on a great season of Trackside vids for us on 2015. Look out for more action straight from the races in 2015!
Dave Konstanz
Deputy Team Manager – Big Dave was Deputy Jet Wash Assistant in 2015 and has had a promotion to Management for 2016. He’s helping to the run the show and is working his ass off to get the guys all of their kit and equipment together in time for race season. If we need something doing, Dave is the guy to do it!
Jamie Edwards
Last and very much least, Jamie  is the team manager / tea boy / spreadsheet monkey. He’s your man if you need anything putting on the internet or taking off the internet (it happens!).
Look out for Team Wideopenmag at the British Downhill Series, British Enduro Series, Downhill World Cup and Enduro World Series.
Good luck guys!
Thanks to Ian Lean, Trev Worsey and Jacob Gibbins for the images in this story and to Callum Philpott for the video.
