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BEND, Ore. (January 22, 2026) - In a move no one saw coming, professional freeride mountain biker Carson Storch's new bike sponsor isn't a bike brand at all. Instead of following the traditional route of joining a team and being committed to a finite set of frames, the freeride athlete has signed with Kubota Tractor Corporation as his title sponsor beginning in 2026. This unique level of sponsorship will allow Carson to ride any brand's frame of his choosing, wrapped in the signature Kubota Orange color, instead of being locked into one brand for a season.
“I am beyond excited to announce that my partnership with Kubota is going to the next level, as they are coming on as my title sponsor for the 2026 season,” said Storch, who is an experienced trail builder. “I will be running any frame I choose to ride, branded Kubota. This is definitely a different path than the norm, and I can't thank Kubota enough for having my back going into this next season. For my primary bike, I will be riding the prototype Zink Bikes DH frame, and I will be competing at NST New Zealand on it, as well as filming projects throughout the year. As for my other bikes, I am choosing to continue riding the Propain E-Bikes and Rage because they are amazing and I’m stoked to get back on a slopestyle frame.”
The partnership with Kubota aligns well with Carson's passion as both a rider and trail builder. Using Kubota equipment, Carson will be working with multiple Oregon local trail alliances, including Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) and Tillamook Off-Road Trail Alliance (TORTA) in building progressive and fun trails and jump lines for the next generation of riders.
“The equipment I am operating for the year is a Kubota U55-5 compact excavator with a tiltrotator and an SVL97-3 compact track loader,” Storch continued. “They have already been so beneficial in further progressing my training compound at home in Bend, as well as creating the Wanoga trail system on the way up to Mt. Bachelor, last summer. My passion is moving dirt and riding bikes, and this partnership completely embodies that. I couldn't be more proud to run the Kubota flag at full mast!"
This partnership with Kubota sets a new dynamic for the industry and allows Carson to experiment with bikes in ways most professional riders are not able. It also allows brands to approach and work with Carson in new ways they wouldn't have been able to if he was exclusive with a singular bike brand. Among those brands is Zink Bikes, owned and operated by his personal friend and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame inductee, Cam Zink.
“The opportunity to have an A-List, all-time great rider like Carson Storch is unbelievable, especially for a new brand like ours,” said Zink. “Carson has always forged his own path, so it is fitting to see him capitalize on a non-endemic title sponsor, such as Kubota, and get to ride whatever frame he chooses. What makes this an honor for Zink Bikes is that he has the freedom to choose whatever bike he wants, regardless of a paycheck, and he is choosing to ride our bikes! Carson is already loving the bikes, but I am really eager to see how they can add that little bit of extra capabilities to his riding.”
For Kubota, working with Carson is an authentic and natural fit not just because of his visibility as a rider in a sport that needs commercial-grade construction equipment, but also because of his prowess as a trail builder.
“Carson’s backroads upbringing, digging dirt and building jumps for freeride mountain biking, makes this partnership a natural fit for Kubota,” said Theresa Duncan, Associate Marketing and Advertising Director, Kubota Tractor Corporation. “He’s spent his life carving new trails into mountains, and we build durable, reliable equipment for people who take on tough terrain and big jobs with that same passion. Through partnerships like this, we’re proud to celebrate real world Kubota customers who value hard working equipment and stay true to our mission of empowering our customers to blaze new trails, tackle tough jobs, and push past boundaries.”
To see more of what, and where, Carson is riding and building, follow him on Instagram (www.instagram.com/carsonstorch/), YouTube (www.youtube.com/c/CarsonStorch) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/carsonstorch/). To learn more about Kubota Tractor Corporation, visit www.KubotaUSA.com.
For inquires please contact:
Ryan Runke
Evolution Management + Marketing LLC
runke@emmllc.com
Photos by Tyler Roemer @tylerroemer
About Kubota Tractor Corporation
Kubota Tractor Corporation, Grapevine, Texas, is the U.S. marketer and distributor of Kubota-engineered and manufactured machinery and equipment, including a complete line of tractors of up to 200 Gross hp, performance-matched implements, compact construction equipment, consumer lawn and garden equipment, hay tools, commercial turf products and utility vehicles. For product literature or dealer locations, contact: Kubota Tractor Corporation, 1000 Kubota Drive, Grapevine, TX 76051, (888) 4-KUBOTA [(888) 458-2682], Ext. 900, or visit KubotaUSA.com.