Building the Future of SCOTT-SRAM

SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team announces young talents Emilly Johnston and US National Champion Bjorn Riley as new arrivals for 2025. 10-time World Champion Nino Schurter, Swiss National Champion Filippo Colombo and Andri Frischknecht extend their contracts until 2026 with SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing, as do SRAM and RockShox.

Givisiez, Switzerland. The world’s most successful MTB XC team, SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing is paving the way for their future success after renewing contracts with key partners and adding upcoming talents.

Nino Schurter will head with the team into the 2025 racing season alongside fellow Swiss Nationals Filippo Colombo and Andri Frischknecht. Colombo, Schurter and Frischknecht have renewed and extended their contracts until 2026.

Furthermore, starting in 2025, the SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team is gaining further reinforcement, announcing that young talents Emilly Johnston and current US National Champion Bjorn Riley will join the team roster for the future.

Building the future of SCOTT-SRAM with established athletes and young talents, the team has also renewed contracts with its key partners SRAM and RockShox until the year 2026, alongside further long term partners MAXXIS, Syncros and Cornercard.

Nino Schurter winning his 36th World Cup in Val di Sole (top) / Swiss National Champion Filippo Colombo (middle left) / US National Champion Bjorn Riley (middle right) / Andri Frischknecht in team training camp Stellenbosch (bottom left) / Canadian Emilly Johnston (bottom right)
Imagery: Michal Cerveny, Nick Muzik, Piper Albrecht

Nino Schurter: “I don’t want to change anything in this winning formula.”

After 20 seasons of Elite World Cup racing, the greatest mountain bike athlete of all time extends his contract with SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing for a further two years. The 2025 World Cup season will mark the 23rd year that Nino Schurter races in the colours of the same team.

Looking ahead, the 2025 season is sure to be one to remember as World Cup racing returns to Nino Schurter’s home venue Lenzerheide alongside a special home-side World Championships in Crans Montana. After winning his 36th World Cup in 2024, Nino has proven that he still has what it takes to race at the highest level for 2025 and beyond.

“I’m incredibly proud to be entering my 23rd season with SCOTT-SRAM. This team is much more than just a team to me – it’s a family. Together we have already celebrated many unforgettable experiences and I look forward to many more adventures with my team mates.”

Nino Schurter
10x World Champion
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing

Filippo Colombo: “We’re creating something special here with the team.”

Swiss National Champion Filippo Colombo has also confirmed a contract extension, and will therefore race the next two years with the SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team. Following a long recovery from injury, 2024 was a comeback year for Filippo – one where he exceeded all expectations, and showed the world what he is capable of. Multiple podiums and a consistently high level of racing saw Filippo finish the season in 3rd in the Overall Standings. With such a strong season behind him, all eyes are on Filippo’s big goal for 2025: his first Elite World Cup win.

“I am super happy to continue my journey with the SCOTT-SRAM team. The past two years, the support and professionalism have been amazing. Deciding to stay with this incredible organization is an easy one. I am eager to give my all in the upcoming seasons and excited to welcome the new athletes. I am confident that we will create a winning formula.”

Filippo Colombo
2024 Swiss National Champion
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing

Young stars join SCOTT-SRAM Roster

The SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team will become even stronger for 2025, with the signing of young talents Emilly Johnston and US National Champion Bjorn Riley. As both young riders move into their first year racing at the Elite level, the future is looking bright for MTB’s most successful racing team.

“I am very excited about the future of the SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team. We started out in 2002 as a development team, and today we want to pay more attention to young talent again,” comments Thomas Frischknecht, Team Director, SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing

“With Emilly & Bjorn we now have young blood in the team who show our future prospects. However, this is without losing the proven guarantors of success who have built up the team’s legacy over the past two decades. Another important part of the team’s consistency are our strong partners from the MTB industry, with whom we have already realized great innovations and will continue to do so in the future.”

Thomas Frischknecht
Team Director
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing

Strong partnerships are the building blocks for future success

The strength of the team’s partnerships also continues into 2025, with the reinforcement of SRAM’s and RockShox’s commitment as key partners. The SRAM and RockShox relationship with the team goes back many years, with SCOTT-SRAM athletes racing and winning on SRAM’s most iconic products. 2024 marked another milestone with the introduction of Flight Attendant to the team’s equipment, with which Nino claimed his 36th World Cup win.

Alongside SRAM’s contract extension, SCOTT has also reinforced its commitment to the team, continuing a partnership that has been in place since the very beginning.

For the 2025 season, SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing will therefore be supported by SCOTT, SRAM, Rockshox, Syncros, Maxxis and Cornercard.

“Together, SRAM, RockShox, and SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing have set world records and claimed World Championships, proving what’s possible when performance meets innovation. With new riders learning from the sport’s greatest, the future is limitless, and we’re excited for where the next chapter take us.”

Josh Kendrick
VP Marketing
SRAM

“SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing has shaped the sport of MTB and SCOTT is proud to be part of this legacy. Today, we are excited to see the next generation join the team as we build to a successful future together.”

Reto Aeschbacher
CMO
SCOTT Sports

SCOTT-SRAM doesn’t only have the most successful riders on their team. At races, where every second counts and every detail matters, a team also needs the most capable mechanics and support team. With Yanick-the-mechanic Gyger, Kurt Gross, Fabian Bonderer and Julia Hegar, Schurter & Co. are able to rely on the scene’s top-notch bike handlers and team support.

Johnston and Riley will race their first Elite year in SCOTT-SRAM colors

SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team announces young talents Emilly Johnston and US National Champion Bjorn Riley as new arrivals for 2025.

Givisiez, Switzerland. Since 20 years, SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing has been a team that has worked with top talents as well as nurturing some of the sport’s future stars. As the team comes off another memorable race season, the preparation for future success begins. For the 2025 season, SRAM MTB Racing team announces top-class newcomers and promising young talents, who will reinforce the team and will make their debut into Elite racing in 2025.

The Team proudly welcomes Emilly Johnston (22) and Bjorn Riley (22) as part of the team roster for the 2025 MTB racing season and beyond. Both riders will join the Elite class, following a successful U23 racing career as part of the Trek Future Racing Team based in Austria, where they have already attracted attention on the MTB circuit. Both riders have already demonstrated their strong performances in recent years. Now, as they step into Elite racing with the full support of the SCOTT-SRAM team, it’s time for Emilly and Bjorn to showcase their potential.

“With Emilly and Bjorn we have two great talents as part of the team for the future. Both of them are very talented and ready to take the next step in their careers. The whole team is keen to support them in their further professional development in MTB racing. And I’m sure there is one or the other things we can learn from them as well”, comments Thomas Frischknecht, Team Manager, SCOTT-SRAM Racing Team.

Bjorn Riley

The young American from Boulder, Colorado has already made a name for himself in the past season and demonstrated his class. In the past MTB XCO U23 season, in a field packed with rising top talents, he managed to walk away with two World Cup victories Les Gets in both the XCC and XCO category, as well as multiple podium finishes within the 2024 World Cup season. But that’s not all, the U23 rider shook the US MTB Elite scene by winning the US National titles in XCO and XCC in Macungie, PA in July 2024. As the reigning US MTB Champion, he is now strengthening the SCOTT-SRAM team and gaining his first experience in the Elite World Cup.

“I’m excited to learn from my incredible new teammates, soak up their experience, and push myself to new limits. Competing at this level has always been a dream, and I can’t wait to see what I’m capable of achieving with such a supportive and inspiring team by my side”, comments Bjorn Riley.

“I’m beyond thrilled to join the SCOTT-SRAM Racing Team and take this next big step in my career! Moving from a U23 team to racing in the Elite field is a huge leap, but it’s one I’m eager to embrace.”

Bjorn Riley
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing

Anyone who follows Bjorn on his social channels quickly realizes that he is much more than an extremely talented XCO racer. He demonstrates his technical skill on two wheels, whether he’s jumping drops in the Utah desert or doing wheelies on his road bike. However he would probably describe himself as both a cyclist and an artist at the same time, and once he’s off the bike, it’s easy to see why. A talented painter, he brings as much creativity to his art as he does to his life on two wheels. Beyond racing, he hopes to combine his love of bikes and art in the future… watch this space.

Emilly Johnston

With the young Canadian from Vancouver Island, SCOTT-SRAM is bringing female reinforcement into the team. Emilly Johnston is another name that was on everyone’s lips last U23 season, winning the U23 XCC World Cup race in Crans Montana, a race that was physically and technically one of the most challenging of the past season. Emilly had a total of 9 podium finishes in the U23 World Cup season, which earned her an outstanding 2nd place in the overall standings. She was also able to underline her strong form with a bronze medal at the U23 World Championships.

“I’m really looking forward to working with everyone to get the best out of myself and make that next step into the Elite category”, comments Emilly Johnston.

“I’m beyond excited to be joining my dream team in my first year as an Elite. I have such an incredible opportunity to learn from the best riders and staff in the world and can’t wait to make the most of every moment.”

Emilly Johnston
SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing

In the past years Emilly has lived in Austria during the racing season, where she found ideal conditions to enjoy her passion for the outdoors and in particular her love for fly fishing. Joining SCOTT-SRAM not only means opening the door to world-class racing, but also more time with the team in Switzerland – a mecca for outdoor activities! The team can’t wait to welcome Emilly onto the local MTB trails, skiing slopes and hiking trails… and fishing spots.