Pole Enduro team launch

Video – The Loam Ranger | Photos – Beth Kelly | Words – Leo Kokkonen

Pole’s year of 2018 has been a blast. Pole invented and launched a new production method, set up a factory in Finland, launched two entirely new bikes and now presents a professional Enduro race team of two up-and-coming riders lead by a lot of experience and talent. Since the company was founded, Pole has been introducing new stuff every year. Now Pole’s long and slack geometry is little by little being adapted to big brands and most of the companies are following our 29″ example as well. The biggest of it all has been the shift away from traditional carbon fiber route and inventing a groundbreaking new production method and building the whole bikes in Finland. Leo Kokkonen says: “It’s again, time to put our money yet again where our mouth is. Our goal is to climb to the podiums on Enduro World Series and prove our concept in the top level against the other top riders and teams.”

The team

Leigh “lee” Johnson

Leigh finished in position 25 after a full season of 2018 Enduro World series. Pole started supporting Leigh professionally on the season 2018. Pole sponsored Leigh with full support without a team. This year we go full support for him. Leigh is a solid rider who makes not too many mistakes. On season 2018 Leigh kept improving his secret sauce of performance and for 2019 we have a good receipt for new top results. Leigh is refrigerator size shy guy with a big warm heart and a humble attitude towards the sport and other riders. Nevertheless, he’s speeding up to the podium with no mercy to the other racers.

Height: 188cm
Weight: 86kg
Bike: Large Pole Stamina
Age: 22 (born 1996)
Nation: Wales (United Kingdom)
Favourite food: Pizza

Joseph “Joe” Nation

Joe is a biker to the core. He’s been roaming the world of bikes since he was a teenager and raced everything there is to be raced on bikes. Joe calls his early downhill years in Europe as his “Mowgli days.” Joe is a very stylish rider but exits every turn with more speed than he entered the corner. Joe is a cornerstone of a good team spirit who is willing to help anyone to get better at what they do. Joe knows a lot about dirt, as he is a geologist but loves more riding than analyzing the soil.

Height: 178cm
Weight: 81kg
Bike: Medium Pole Stamina
Age: 29 (born 1989)
Nation: New Zealand
Favorite food: Madeirian steak sandwich

Matti Lehikoinen

Matti is one of the most legendary world cup winning downhill racers who keep on bouncing back from after another severe injury. All doctors have said multiple times that his career is over. Matti though thinks otherwise. He has just been going and going and still lands amazing results. Matti could be racing as well, but the old dog wants to pass on what he has learned on his rocky road. Matti is very clever. You might remember him stopping at Champery world cup timed runs to avoid the rain on the race run. Matti’s brain will help our team to choose the right strategy for each race. Matti’s racebook is already fat on tricks so these guys will learn everything from the best.

The bike

The Pole Enduro Race team is racing the Stamina. The whole team was very excited about the bike, and the team believes that they can go faster than ever with Stamina. The feedback was positive, and we heard a lot of words like: “huge grip,” “playful,” “consistent,” “fast”…

For more info and to pre-order your own Stamina, clink here.

Pole ENDURO RACE team sponsors