BlackCrown Gets Down in Mo-Town
While others were out shopping on Black Friday… the BlackCrown crew rolled into Morristown, TN for the start of the 2011 NBL National season on a chilly Thanksgiving weekend. What an impressive performance for our new team!!
With a new factory team roster and the new NBL structure, we weren’t sure what to expect. For starters, the national factory team was created this year after a fun and successful year the BlackCrown/Bizarro team had in the Team NBL division last year. BlackCrown was ready to step it up a notch with our group of expert riders and go to the National Team Division. The new set-up didn’t hold our riders back! We came out in full force finishing second both days!
As for the New NBL, the season opener seemed to be a success with 195 motos on Saturday and 196 motos on Sunday. Several classes had quarters and semi events.
Elite Masters rider Tommy Board returned to the BlackCrown squad with “A” Elite Pro riders Matt Beatty and Chris Murphy (pictured above). These three standouts all made it to the main event and battled out impressive finishes with Beatty finishing 3rd, Murphy 4th and Board 5th on Saturday. Then on Sunday Tommy headed home, and the tight first turn was not kind to the BlackCrown riders with Murphy finishing 5th and Beatty taking an 8th.
The Motley Crew from Florida, Drew and Lisa, both raced two classes and had some strong finishes. Drew came out with two 2nd place finishes in 35-40 Expert and then in the 40-44 Crusier finished with 3rd place finishes both days. Lisa won both 20” and Cruiser on Saturday and got two 3rd place finishes on Sunday.
19-25 Expert, RJ Livesay, above, won most of his motos and semi’s but slammed to the ground both main events, jumped up, grabbed his bike and fought for a 5th place finish Saturday and Sunday.
The Robinson family from Peachtree City showed up ready to race! Ty Robinson, 16-Expert, finished well in his tough class with a 3rd on Saturday and got pinched to the back of the pack on Sunday and had a 7th place finish. Mom and Dad Robinson didnt hold back all weekend, Anthony finished 1st in the 50-54 cruiser class on Saturday and 2nd on Sunday and Shayne perfected her 50-54 women’s cruiser class winning both days.
12-Expert, Nick Connelly (above), grabbed everyone’s attention with his sick track skills, leading his class of 17 racers for the win in class and a 4th on his cruiser on Saturday.Then grabbed 2 perfect scores on Sunday.
Getting old is tough! Ask our youngest rider Andrew Sperano, National #1 6-Expert . He just had his 7th birthday and had to move into the 7 Expert class where he had a tough weekend racing the older guys. Andrew ended the weekend with a respectful 5th and 6th place finish. This kid has the desire to race, he will start easing his was back to the podium as the season goes on.
Cheyenne Grant made her presence known in the 15 Girls class finishing 2nd on Saturday and 5th Sunday. The new girls classes will be interesting to watch this season.
The man behind the BlackCrown name and team, Rob McAllister rode strong all weekend in 40-44 Cruiser finishing 4th and Saturday and a 2nd on Sunday.
Most of the BlackCrown crew will be heading to Ohio for the NBL Christmas Classic later this month showin’ some style. See you there!
Thanks to everyone that helps make the new BlackCrown Factory Team possible. Hyper BMX frames (www.hyperbicycles.com
Rob McAllister
BlackCrownBMX.com
423.762.5367
