Brembo is the benchmark in motorsport, especially for motorbikes. Now the Italian brake specialist is entering into a partnership with Specialized. This means that for the first time in Brembo's history, the Italians are developing a mountain bike brake and have set themselves no less a goal than to redefine the limits of braking performance on downhill bikes. For the time being, the partnership is focussing exclusively on the racing sector.
Brembo: Experience from Moto GP and Formula 1
Ever faster routes, ever increasing demands: The Downhill World Cup continues to live up to its reputation as the Formula 1 of mountain biking. Specialized was therefore looking for a partner to find an answer to the ever-increasing challenges of racing. With Brembo's success in motorsport, especially in Moto GP and Formula 1, the Americans say they have found this partner. This makes Brembo the second motorsport specialist after Öhlins to enter into a cooperation with Specialized in the MTB World Cup.
Focus on racing performance and innovation
The partnership between Specialized and Brembo is initially explicitly aimed at the racing sector. The aim is to develop brakes specifically for the World Cup that not only offer outstanding braking performance, but also set new standards in terms of weight, reliability and response behaviour. It is reasonable to assume that Brembo will not limit its involvement to the World Cup in the long term.
Soon in series production?
The knowledge gained and technologies developed as part of the collaboration could also find their way into products for the broader mountain bike market in the future. Specialized and Brembo share the conviction that racing is a driver of innovation and that the progress made here can benefit all mountain bikers in the long term. The partnership is therefore not just seen as a short-term project to improve performance in the World Cup, but as the basis for the sustainable further development of braking technology in the mountain bike sector.
Assessment by BIKE
Similar to Öhlins a few years ago, Brembo, another component specialist with extensive motorsport laurels, is now entering the mountain bike sport. Both Öhlins and Brembo are regarded as the gold standard for motorbikes. With the Specialized Gravity racing team, Brembo will try to transfer this image to MTB. Can Brembo really set new standards in downhill racing? We are looking forward to the rest of the racing season and are already looking forward to the first tests with the new super stoppers. However, it will probably be some time before they are ready for series production. - Adrian Kaether, Editor Test & Technology
Adrian Kaether
Editor
