Fresh off the his success in the 2015 UK Gravity Enduro series, Sam Shucksmith has joined the Whyte family for 2016.

In a slightly unusual move he joins the Cotswolds-based company not only as a racer but also as an engineer at its R&D centre. To celebrate the move Whyte has released this video of Sam shredding some luscious British singletrack. it just goes to show that no matter how cold or wet it gets, you can still have an awesome time on your bike.

We love the current crop of Whyte bikes and recently the 802 hardtail and T130-S Yari have taken top honours in our bike tests.

Sam said: “I feel really fortunate to be working for Whyte both on and off the bike. Whyte have a rich history of progressive and innovative bike design as well as being committed to testing and quick to adapt. As a racer and an engineer, being in a position to work with bikes and on the design of your own racing machine, is one to relish.

“On the racing side of things, moving to Whyte for 2016 was a no-brainer. The most important aspect of a sponsorship deal is the equipment you’ll be using, that it’s functional and reliable, providing all the tools necessary to fulfil your potential.

“I’ve never felt faster or safer than on my G-160. It’s a great bike for long rides in the rolling South Wales hills amongst the mud and roots. With some great sponsors backing the team I’m confident the bike will be running sweet all year, even with me riding it!”

Guy Farrant, MD at ATB Sales Ltd, the company behind Whyte, said “We are looking forward to great things from Sam, both in the design studio and on the trails. He’s a welcome addition to our team, joining us at a particularly busy and exciting time for Whyte.”