The mountain bike message boards are on fire this week with the news of Brendan Fairclough’s departure from the Specialized/Monster Energy Team. The internet’s armchair downhill racing experts are commenting away, trying to guess which team Fairclough will be signing with.

Fairclough is currently recovering from knee surgery, and should enter next season fully rehabbed and hungry for a win. His fourth place finish at World Champs with a bum knee shows he still has the skills required to reach the podium. There hasn’t been an official announcement yet, but word on the web is Fairclough will be going to Scott.

Racing for Scott could be a good move for Fairclough, and for Scott. On the women’s side, Scott already has Floriane Pugin, the “Flying Banana,” who has proven herself to be a fierce competitor on the World Cup circuit. Fairclough would give Scott the big name they’re looking for, and if he throws down the necessary results it could be a winning combo for both parties.

In other downhill racing rumors, the Athertons are supposedly close to announcing GT as their new bike sponsor. Update: The Atherton’s have officially parted ways with Commencal. They will be letting their contract expire at the end of the year. It’s strange to imagine the Athertons on anything other than a Commencal, but GT has been struggling to reclaim their credibility, and the Athertons might be the ticket.