From Formula 1 and Moto GP to MTB, this is how Brembo brakes are being used by Specialized in competition

For weeks, all rumors pointed to Brembo as the manufacturer behind the brakes being tested by the Specialized Gravity team. Something that has just been confirmed by this legendary Italian brand that has been dedicated to braking the fastest motorcycles and cars on the planet for years.

Specialized and Brembo seal a revolutionary alliance for MTB

Brembo and Specialized, one of the most influential brands in the cycling industry, have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at enhancing brake performance in the world of downhill Mountain Biking. The alliance, focused on the Specialized Gravity team, marks a decisive step for Brembo's entry into top-level mountain biking.

The collaboration will result in the joint development of a specific braking system for downhill MTB, which is already being tested by the team riders during the 2025 DH World Cup. With this agreement, both brands aim to maximize their experience in innovation, design, and competition.

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Brembo, known for its successes in disciplines such as Formula 1, MotoGP, or the World Superbike Championship, is now applying that same philosophy of precision and extreme performance to cycling. For Specialized, this collaboration reinforces its commitment to innovation and its dedication to providing its athletes with the best tools to compete at the highest level.

“This partnership represents a significant milestone for Brembo, as we are bringing our braking expertise to the pinnacle of competitive mountain biking for the first time. Specialized shares our vision for performance, innovation, and design, and we couldn't ask for a better partner for this journey”, stated Andrea Poggi, Chief Marketing Officer of Brembo.

Armin Landgraf, CEO of Specialized, noted: “We firmly believe that competition is the best testing ground for innovation. This collaboration with Brembo will allow us to develop cutting-edge technology that will benefit not only our riders but also the entire cycling community in the long term”.

The collaboration will include intensive R&D work to create a completely new braking system that meets the extreme demands of professional downhill riding. It is expected that this technology will evolve over time and that some of that development will reach consumer products. For now, the focus is on giving the Specialized Gravity riders a real competitive advantage on every descent.

With this alliance, Brembo also celebrates its 50 years of participation in motor competitions, making the leap to a discipline to which it already dedicated a project in 2008 with specific models for DH, but it did not continue.

It is worth remembering that earlier this year Brembo acquired the suspension brand Ohlins, so it would not be surprising to see more official Ohlins teams using Brembo brakes in the future.