Ford MTB team continues as Team Ford-Basis shuts down

Edited by Steve Medcroft

After three years sponsoring the Ford-Basis Women's cycling team, Ford is leaving women's road cycling. Team Ford-Basis was founded in 2002 as a developmental team aimed at helping up-and-coming riders progress towards the 2008 Olympics. The shut down of the road team means racers Katharine Carroll and Chrissy Ruiter will be riding for Victory Brewing, Alisha Lion has moved to Germany and is looking to race full-time in Europe. Freedman and Kele Hulser are still seeking teams in the U.S. and teammate Lauren Gaffney will be working to start a career in law. 2005 Kristin Johnson, meanwhile, will focus on mountain biking and finishing school.

David Myers, Director of Ford Cycling, said that although it was necessary for Ford to consolidate its position in women's cycling this year - unfortunately ending it's sponsorship of the Ford-Basis Team - "the Ford Cycling Women's Mountain Bike Team will be back racing in 2006." It is important that we make this distinction clear to our sponsors, the media, our fans and friends. We look forward to another great season of World Cup, NORBA, and regional racing with Ford 100 percent behind the athletes in their pursuit of athletic excellence."

The 2005 Ford-sponsored mountain-bike team consisted of Dara Marks-Marino of Flagstaff, Arizona, Kelli Emmett of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Sara Bresnick-Zocchi of Boston, MA and Jay Henry of Avon, Colorado. Marks-Marino won her first NORBA event in 2005 (the short track race in Snowmass, Colorado) and Henry not only won two NORBA marathons in 2005 but repeated with partner Mike Janelle to put up the most overall laps of any competetive unit (solo, or any type of team) at the 24 Hours of Moab.