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David Browne of Ford UK inked the deal gladly: It’s not just another
sponsorship. We became the Kona team sponsor because we were keen to broaden the appeal of Focus to a wider, and younger, audience. People that we don’t really talk to with our normal marketing activity.
The choice of partner was particularly important to us, since the last thing we wanted was to be a faceless corporate sponsor. We wanted a partnership, with a real rationale. Kona worked well for us because of the great similarities to Focus. Both Kona bikes and Focus are renowed for great ride and handling and we share a similar design ethos, funky and different).
It also helped that we get on really well at a personal level.
This years team keeps dual rider Scott Beaumont and DHer Tracy Moseley and they are joined by Canadian XC riders Geoff Kaboom Kabush, Peter Wedge and Marc Sontag and US XC riders Dale Knapp and Ann Grande.
Team management is split between Canada and the UK. Russell Carty is the UK manager and is in charge of the DH and dual side. Vancouver-based Richard Cox takes cares of the XC side.
Team Kona Ford Focus will take part in all Tissot/UCI World Cup rounds, the
Tissot/UCI World Championships, NORBA XC Events and all UK National Points Races and SAMS events in 2001, including the Redbull 24 Hour Race and the 2001 Cheddar Challenge.
Russell Carty
Tel: 01784 262502
