March 21/09 10:28 am - Plaxton Signs with Sho-Air/Specialized

Posted by Editor on 03/21/09
 

Canadian Max Plaxton is a late signing with the Specialized sponsored US squad Sho-Air/Specialized, joining Costa Rican Manny Prado, American Sam Jurekovic and Australian Sid Taberlay. Plaxton is currently in Chile to contest the Pan Am Championships on Sunday. Below is the release from Specialized:

The Sho-Air/Specialized cross-country team has just announced its newest addition to their 2009 team roster. The '06 U-23 World Championship bronze medalist Max Plaxton will don the team's colors for 2009 and beyond.

Plaxton now rounds out a powerhouse group for the Sho-Air/Specialized squad, which includes five time Australian national champion and Athens Olympian Sid Taberlay, former U-23 U.S. National Champion Sammy Jurekovic and endurance specialist Manuel Prado.

Plaxton will ride a select schedule with the team for 2009, including the U.S. Cup series and two Canadian World Cup rounds before hitting it hard for 2010.

"The guys at Sho-Air have been unbelievable" beams Plaxton. "2008 was a hard year in terms of getting the door slammed in my face by the industry. I really considered going back to school and hanging my cleats up until Scott Tedro threw me a life line. From what I have seen, this team is like family and I look forward to racing and hanging with a great group of people."

Team Sho-Air manager Ty Kady reflects Plaxton's sentiments. "It's our goal to provide our riders with a healthy environment so they can focus on riding and racing. It's all about family for Scott and he wouldn't have it any other way. To see a rider of Max's caliber become of victim of the industry and left out to dry isn't something new to us, so we were glad to lend a helping hand. We're hoping for some big things from our younger riders in the next few years. Max and Sammy J are only 23 and we think in the right environment they can be Olympic level riders", continues Kady.

"I had a long conversation with Max, and I liked the feedback I got from Sid and Sam," said Scott Tedro, owner of the Sho Air-Specialized team. "He's a phenomenal talent and has a lot of potential, so were excited to have him onboard."

Plaxton's debut with the Sho-Air/Specialized team will be at the opening PRO XCT round at Fontana on March 29th.