After five years with Kona, double World Champion, triple French National Champion and multiple World Cup winner Fabien Barel is moving to pastures new. Kona and Barel are clearly parting on good terms, however.

"Fabien exemplifies what it takes to be a championship rider," said Kona's Jacob Heilbron. "It has been a pleasure for all of us at Kona to observe his meticulous attention to detail in his training, pre-race preparation and equipment. More than any other Kona athlete, Fabien worked extremely closely with Kona product managers Paddy White and Dr. Dew to develop and refine a competition bike that met the standard of a world champion. When you see Fabien race in a World Cup event, you see a rider who's completely in tune with himself, his bike and the terrain. It is a standard of riding that very few cyclists achieve in their career."

Barel said, "We all know what racing is about and how every detail is important. Having the support of a company is a big part of it! For the last five years, Kona has been the reservoir of inspiration for my riding and my motivation. The Kona brand is very diverse, between freeride, cross country and gravity, and it has been a pleasure to be a part of the DH racing team and to help that image grow. I wish everyone were as fortunate to work as closely together as we have. I have worked with Kona longer than any other brand and the Kona groove will keep spreading for me, whatever I do. I intensely thank Kona for the support and for accepting me as part of their family."

And in recognition of Barel's "stellar Kona career and his consummate professionalism both on and off of the bike", Kona has developed a Special Edition Fabien Barel signature Stab Supreme. The special edition bike is ball burnished and highlighted with World Champion stripes and Fabien Barel's name on the top tube. There'll only be 178 of them worldwide.

Barel's 2008 plans are yet to be finalised - we'll keep you posted...