New Rider, Sponsors and Budgets - FRAMEWORKS 2024 Inside Line Podcast 19

Neko Mulally remains transparent as a new downhill season begins.

sspomer
1/16/2024 8:59am
Frameworks2024a

In a sea of slashed budgets, folding teams and riders struggling to find a way to race downhill mountain bikes in 2024, Neko Mulally has expanded his Frameworks team with the addition of Spanish rider, Angel Suarez for 2024. In this Inside Line MTB podcast, we ask Neko how he was able to expand his team, increase budget and roll into the season with two podium contenders - Angel in Elites and first-year Junior, Asa Vermette. Neko candidly talks budget, bike development, the future of Frameworks and what the UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup may look like.

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Interview Contents

  • 0:00 - Intro, Angel Suarez on Frameworks
  • 5:45 - UNNO to Frameworks, Already a FOX Rider
  • 9:39 - Sponsor Changes, Wheels and Tires
  • 13:09 - Neko, Asa and Angel are the Same Height - Intentional?
  • 18:20 - Increased Team Size, Not Budget Cuts. How?
  • 21:24 - Frameworks with a GEARBOX?!
  • 24:38 - Why Aren't Other Brands as Transparent as Frameworks?
  • 28:15 - Outside Industry Sponsors?
  • 29:34 - What is Frameworks' Budget?
  • 34:15 - Aaron Gwin and Frameworks?
  • 35:39 - What's Frameworks' 5-Year Plan?
  • 39:42 - Did Neko Start Frameworks to Extend His Racing Career?
  • 43:45 - Success with Berm Peak Video on Frameworks
  • 47:36 - Why Are Frames Raw and Not Painted?
  • 49:09 - Biggest Single Surprise During Bike Development?
  • 51:07 - Anti-Rise Experiences and Setup
  • 54:52 - Any Insight into 2024 World Cup Race Format?

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Official Press Release from Frameworks

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2024 Frameworks Racing team from L to R: Asa Vermette (Junior), Neko Mulally, Angel Suarez

January 16, 2023 (USA) Frameworks Racing welcomes Asa Vermette and Angel Suarez who will join Neko Mulally for the 2024 season. The team will compete in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Series and World Championships, Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series, and

Downhill Southeast Events. All three riders will race aboard the Frameworks DH bike developed over the past two seasons by Neko and Asa.

17-year-old Asa Vermette from Durango, Colorado is one of the top prospects coming into the junior category this year. With an outstanding resume of domestic results, we can’t wait to see what he can do on the world stage. Asa is contracted with Frameworks through 2025, including both seasons in the Junior Category.

28-year-old Angel Suarez from Vigo, Spain has put in several World Cup podium rides over the past few seasons and is a huge asset to the team. Angel has a wealth of knowledge in bike setup for racing and is off to a great start with testing this year.

Team Owner Neko Mulally says: “I’m so proud of the way my Frameworks project has grown from a grassroots effort to the roster and staff we have this season. Both Asa and Angel are incredibly talented riders who are as much a pleasure to work with as they are to watch ride a bike. I believe that our race bike will be one of the most competitive this season and the sponsors we partnered with align with our vision for performance. I pioneered this program over the past two years, from bike development to team structure and partnerships, and I’m excited to see these guys take all that hard work to the next level.”

Martin Whiteley joins Frameworks as the team manager and will bring on board the structure that he was able to implement into the successful programs he’s run in the past. Head Mechanic Anxo Perez has been a huge part of the development process of the bike since day one and will continue to lead this process moving forward.

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Related:
Neko Mulally
Angel Suarez
Asa Vermette
Frameworks
#USDH
Podcast
The Inside Line
19 comments

View replies to: New Rider, Sponsors and Budgets - FRAMEWORKS 2024 Inside Line Podcast

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smelly
4 months ago

Glad my comments are getting mentioned in Inside Line. Amazing you guys are doing this on $400k. Those white pants are gonna kill your laundry budget, man.

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Mint
4 months ago

Let’s go! This is great and insightful content. We be rooting for FrameWorks fo sure. 

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Yuroshek
4 months ago

Congrats Neko and Logan for putting in the hard work! But to be honest I’m really bummed you didn’t put out teaser videos for weeks on end. 🤣 for real though unreal job so pumped for ya’s. 

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jeff.brines
4 months ago

I love how honest and "first principles" Neko is. Also, this is the architype of setting yourself up for success as a team goes. Small, no waste, one big outside sponsor fronting the bill. Awesome stuff.

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hamncheez2003
4 months ago

I find it notable that both the Goat Greg and Neko (in the podcast) have said they have ridden everything and chose Fox, but specifically mention the fork and not the rear shock. I always put more value on the fork performance and setup than the rear shock too, but I always figured it was because I'm an average rider and I don't have a professional mechanic to set up my suspension for me. 

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chamaedorea.elegans
4 months ago

Neko out here proving speed is simplicity. Lets see it. 
5dev, Big S and Enve...bit surprised to see those blemishes getting any sponsorship air-time on this project. Not even running Big S tires/clothing/frames. Enve over WeAreOne? 5Dev 'kooka' cranks that have the poorest trackrecord of any (modern) MTB manufacturing outfit in recent years? Not even running the full strength DH 'Devs either. 
Hope they go consistently top 20, show those V10 and idler pansies who's 4-bar boss 

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TRex
4 months ago

Pretty harsh to call those companies 'blemishes'. I for one would support those companies just because they support Neko and the team. 5Dev seems to have supported Neko on many, many frame parts, aside from cranks. That development alone is very valuable. Specialized supports so many racing projects and cool stuff too. To call one of the more technically advanced companies a blemish is just beyond me, especially when Specialized supports a lot of privateers, their own factory team, this team and Rooted/others that are trying to make it. And ENVE? I've run their stuff in the past and as high end as it was, I didn't love the feel. Now the rims ENVE makes are more like the Zipp and Cranksbrothers wheels that have good feel and traction, and companies like Specialized are moving in that direction too. So I totally get the ENVE partnership, and I'm stoked they have good support. 

Seems to me that Neko is partnering with what he deems is the best thing for a perfect race bike. Other companies might have deeper pockets than 5Dev or something like that, but who wants to see just another Shimano or SRAM sponsored team? I think every component he's chosen is going towards trail feel. Be it the suspension, the frame itself, or wheel/tire combo. 

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StudBeefpile
4 months ago

Dude, Neko, fuckin killing it as always.  So stoked for the new changes this year.  Thank you for all the insight into racing!

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Mtbwonder2022
4 months ago

Neko never stops! Bike parks, bike frames, and now an elite race team?! What a legend! Go frameworks!!

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boaz
4 months ago

Asa is an immense talent.  Fingers crossed he’s able to develop well with this team.  

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TEAMROBOT
4 months ago

SO GOOD! Congrats on the new sponsors, bringing on Angel and Martin, and thanks for going so in depth on my questions at the end. Super interesting stuff from start to finish. Loved the part in the middle about "Why aren't other brands as transparent as Frameworks?" Transparency absolutely builds trust, and trust is rare and precious these days. Appreciate everything you're doing.

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ENVEComposites
4 months ago

So excited to be supporting the team this year. The Rim Strip was developed for racing, and has continued to prove its worth on the circuit. Asa actually broke a rim at Nationals last year during qualifying, but the tire held air, so he didn’t notice. He qualified first, then raced on the rim to a win the next day. After the race he looked closer at the rim and saw the small crack. As a privateer who didn’t have a full race truck to support him, this was huge. That’s what the Rim Strip is all about – finishing runs and being a reliable system for riders, whether fully supported or on their own. 

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phillemaistre
4 months ago

Still the most interesting/fun/awesome thing in the sport, and getting better by leaps and bounds. Go Frameworks!

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