Ari Factory Racing Makes Big Moves: Cruz Signs, Fasthouse Partnership

Ari Factory Racing (AFR) is excited to welcome Tegan Cruz from Canada to its 2026 Factory Racing team. He joins returning star Kailey Skelton from the USA, a three-time U.S. Women’s National Champion. The team is also pleased to confirm that Nikolas Nestoroff will race the full season and take on the role of Team Manager. This move helps to make AFR’s competitive program even stronger, both on the track and in the pits.

“We are excited to continue supporting Ari Factory Racing. We are looking forward to the 2026 season and beyond, with a strengthened roster, expanded race calendar, and industry-leading partners,” says Chris Washburn, the CEO of Ari Bikes. “AFR has proven to be a valuable asset in our product development efforts and in the continued growth of the Ari brand.”

Alongside the expanded roster, Ari Factory Racing announces Fasthouse as its official gear and apparel partner for 2026. With a deep heritage and presence in both motocross and MTB, Fasthouse makes perfect sense for the team. Fasthouse now joins AFR’s long-time technical partners, SRAM, RockShox, Maxxis, and DT Swiss, who continue to be the team’s main sponsors for drivetrain, suspension, tires, and wheels, respectively.

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Tegan Cruz has his sights set high for 2026 and is looking forward to all the Crankworx stops, starting later this month in New Zealand. Cruz is taking a swing at chasing the prestigious King of Crankworx title, especially after earning a silver medal in 2025. For 2026, Cruz is looking at a pretty packed calendar that includes Downhill, Dual Slalom, Air DH, Pump Track, and select E-Enduro events. 

Looking ahead to 2026, Ari Factory Racing is slated to compete in over 20 events worldwide with this new roster. They'll be taking part in Crankworx stops, the Monster Pro Downhill Series, and the newest Hard MTB events, which we’re all stoked about. The racing calendar also includes important domestic races such as Sea Otter, TDS Enduro, and Hot Laps MTB in Washington State.

The team will primarily ride Ari Superior Peak in Downhill races and the Delano Peak in Slalom and Hard MTB events. AFR is also dedicated to continuous product development, and some Downhill rounds will serve as testing grounds for unreleased prototype bikes.