Back on January 20, BMX News gave some heads up about the Free Agent Clinic scheduled at Bellflower BMX.

Last weekend, the full battalion of the 2012 Free Agent team turned up to teach the skills that come as absolute reflex to them, to a bursting group of Bellflower locals.

As luck would have it, ace photographer, Justin Kosman was on-scene as well, to capture the tutelage with a sharp video edit. Justin is one of our favorite photographers, and the chance to post a BMX racing edit by him is newsworthy, in its own right.

Check it!

BMX News is gearing up for the Elite Season Opener this weekend at the USA BMX Gator Nationals in Oldsmar, FL.

All signs point to a massive Elite turn out for the Gators, and as part of Saturday’s race, the UCI North American Continental Championships (Class 3…the most points outside the World Cup series or the World Championships).

We have been getting “we’ll be there” responses from teams and rider from as far North as Maine, and as far West as Washington State on the Amateur side, so we look forward to bringing you two days of rock-solid racing, with awesome action photos and a complete story on both days’ first straight pulls, and last-turn lead changes.

Keep it right here each night for how it all went down, and if you just can’t wait…follow @bmxnow on Twitter for as-they-happen updates from the infield.

Knowing the dudes behind BMX Racing Group, and its Elevn product line, it’s not hard to imagine Christophe Leveque drawing upon his racing experience to create a portfolio of goodies that he wishes HE had during his reign in the pro class. We’re sure there was a lot of “No, no, no…not good enough yet” going on between CL and the factory, before what you see above finally emerged.

The Elevn headset is a free-and-easy spinning sensation, which also does some solid work to accent your frame with a splash of color, or to put some bling on the thing. Designed for 1 1/8″ headtubes, the press-in cups have machined cutouts to save weight, and have the Elevn brand etched in them for added cred when n00bs are scopin out your scoot.

In the box, you get: 6061 aluminum cups, sealed bearings, aluminum fork race, dust covers, star nut, top cap and bolt

Available in Black, Blue, Red, Silver and White.

MSRP is $59.95, but BMX News Readers can avail themselves of the handy discount code below from J&R Bicycles for 15% off until February 29

J&R Bicycles Discount Code: BMXNEWSELEVN

Click here for more info on the Elevn Headset

Product Spotlight is Presented by:

Last week, the newly-created Texas BMX Hall Of Fame announced their first class of inductees.

The Lone Star State has an incredibly rich history in the sport, with guys like Gene Roden (ABA Co-Founder), Bernie Anderson (current ABA owner), BA Anderson (ABA CEO), and scores of top riders calling it home.

After a nomination process in October and November, seven riders have been selected as the first inductees:

Albert Delgado – Amarillo Region
Kevin Hull – Austin Region
Don Johle – Dallas Region
Rusty Roberts – Dallas Region
Dee Chipps – Fort Worth Region
Jeff Osmus – Fort Worth Region
Steve Haynes – Lufkin Region

These riders will be officially inducted into Texas Bicycle Motocross Hall of Fame on Saturday, March 17th, 2012 at a ceremony Desoto, Texas. More details regarding the induction ceremony can be found on the organization’s web site, www.texasbmxhof.org.

Congratulations to these most deserving Texans.

The way the program worked, companies would sign up for the program, and riders would fill out a sheet at sign-ups stating what they were running.

Riders were checked at the gate, just before the gate dropped on the pro main (there was only one pro main back then, as opposed to the six you may find at today’s nationals).

We still remember standing on the infield at the ABA Midwest Nationals in Elkhart, IN, and ABA Founder Merl Mennenga calling out “Greg Hill…A’ME Grips…Zap Pads…GT Frame, BMX Action Magazine…Bell Helmets.”

It was an excellent way for companies to get some added exposure, and riders to sometimes double their prize money haul with a win.

Under the leadership of Toby Henderson (who filled out more than his share of contingency slips in that era, and cashed his share of checks for the trouble), VSI launched a similar program for Elites in the 2011 season. The program is still in place for 2012, though in a slightly different form.

This week, Alienation announced they are launching a program for the Junior Elites which is similar in scope to the 1980s program–but they are going it two steps better. They’re paying all podium places for Junior Men and Women running their rims…and the best part is there is no official sign up for the program. Riders just have to follow four simple steps:

1 – Each qualifying rider must be using Alienation BMX rims (Front & Back) on their bike.
 
2 – Send Alienation BMX a photo by email or Facebook of their bike and/or themselves at the race in question, preferably a podium shot. The photo should have the track, podium or a track sign with USA BMX signage visible in the photo, confirming that the photo was taken during the national in question.
 
3 – They also should have an Alienation sticker on their bike in the following order of preference. (1 – On their Number Plate; 2 – On their helmet, or prominently displayed on their bike frame.)
 
4 – Payments will be verified by way of the official USA BMX race results. Payments will be made quarterly by company check, in U.S. funds.

The program will take place at 13 USA BMX Pro Series/UCI races across the United States from Oldsmar to the Grands.
 
Per-event prize money will be awarded as follows:
Junior Men (1-3): $50, $40, $30
Junior Women (1-3): $30, $20, $10

Here are the races:

 
The official release said, in part:

The Junior Elite Contingency Program was selected because the staff at Alienation BMX want to invest in the future of BMX and reward deserving BMX racers who are making a commitment to achieving at a level that will prepare them for a great future in BMX racing.

For stickers, email Jerry Landrum at Alienation BMX … jerryl@alienationbmx.com

Props to Zach and Jerry at Alienation for looking back to go forward!

Just got the word that Marc Willers will be on a DK Frame in 2012. The freshly-crowned (well, as of November, anyway) ABA National Number One Pro, who will debut his #1 at next week’s USA BMX Gator Nationals (and UCI North American Continental Championship), was previously committed to riding the frame of his former sponsor, Speedco, after a jersey change to Toby Henderson’s new “Box Components” line.

The official press release from Cycle Group, Inc. (parent to Box Components) tells it as such:

Last week, the staff of Cycle Group Inc. (CGI) and DK Bicycles spent the day in a rented meeting room in Fullerton (CA) finalizing the details of a one-year deal that makes DK the official frame sponsor of Marc Willers and the BOX Components Test Team.

Negotiations with DK started last year, when the company was among a half dozen frame suppliers that approached CGI about sponsorship.

“We’re excited and really looking forward to working with DK. The company has a long history in BMX going back to 1979 and a very strong presence in the sport,” said Toby Henderson, CGI’s founder.

“We were very fortunate to get several offers to sponsor Marc and BOX Components. But in DK we found a strategic partner not only willing, but ready to work with BOX Components as we develop new and innovative BMX products,” he added.

The day after Toby and Bill Danishek, DK Bicycles’ director, agreed in good faith to work together, DK product managers started the process to build Marc a frame.

“All of us are really excited about all the possibilities of working with BOX Components. Toby’s successes as a product designer and innovator are a big part of why we wanted to team up with the brand. It’s also great to have a rider like Marc Willers on a DK frame. We’re looking forward to a long-term relationship,” Bill said.

As it turns out, both companies were on the same product development path. DK began working on a 20-millimeter frame last fall. With BOX, Toby plans to continue developing 20-mil BMX components, which he successfully introduced some 18 months ago. Marc Willers won the 2011 ABA National Number 1 Pro title, 10 ABA Nationals and two UCI World Cup races using Toby’s 20-mil products.

Coincidentally, Marc’s good friend and fellow New Zealander Corey Stafford is DK’s rep in Australia. It was him who urged DK to develop 20-mil frames and components. The deal means DK can focus on building frames and bikes while BOX supplies the 20-mil parts.

“We’re working on a lot of new products and technologies for BMX. We’re very lucky to have a partner like DK that is willing to work with us as we develop our line,” Toby said.

BOX Components also will provide support to the members of DK’s factory team, including Barry Nobles and Tommy Zula, whenever possible.

Marc and the BOX Components team’s other sponsors include Promax, Fly Racing and ODI.

It bears noting that the bike in the above photo is a DK-stickered Speedco frame, which Marc will ride in Oldsmar, and until the 20mm DK frame is ready, which is expected March(ish).

Submitted by George Costa

Answer/Rennen rolled into Reno for the first time as a New Factory team for the 2012 USABMX season opener. Even though the much of the team is familiar with one another it was still a great opportunity for some team bonding and breaking in a few new riders…..Literally!

Nine riders made the trip from the all over the USA to Reno to show off our new FLY/Crit Uniform kits while aboard our SSquared frames and Answer Dagger Forks. For many (7/9) riders only six weeks prior were riding totally different frame/fork/parts combos. All adjusted quickly to the ultra stiff/responsive setups that they now are on.

Here is how your favorite riders finished on the weekend

9X/Cru Nate Coyman This freshly turned nine year old was determined more than ever to come to Reno and show everyone what hes got. Back to back main cruiser appearances shows that hes got what it takes to beat most of the older kids that he doesn’t even race at the grands. 

10G/cru Bailey Brannen Bailey wins the toughest Answer/Rennen rider award for crashing in her 10 girls main on Saturday while going for the lead on the second straight, then getting run over by a few other girls…Literally. On Sunday she came came back with a pair of podium finishes in class/cruiser. She never even hinted at being hurt back in the pits. Shes 10 and probably weighs 50lbs soaking wet but shes tough as nails.

12G Abbie Macleod This was Abbies first big west coast race and making 4 out 4 mains I’d say she handled it perfectly fine despite having some personal mechanic issues we’ll see in Oldsmar if she keeps him under contract.

16X Cody Simson Cody was our first casualty of  the season. Coming up from sunny Daytona FL he was ready to handle the 16X class before a unfortunate crash in practice resulted in two broken vertebrae. Hes now on the road to recovery and will be ready in a few months to redeem himself. 

17-27G Shelby Stacy Reno fever struck Shelby quickly as we could see in the pits her losing her voice and getting sick. This didnt stop her from two podium finishes on the weekend.

17-18X Austin Loebe Austin was looking faster than ever on this season opener (hmmm…..Is his IT wheel training working? Or is it cause of his trainer Shawn Diprete? Probably both). Lap after lap on the weekend Austin was out at the front of the pack and in Saturdays main he went from the holeshot to 6th back to 3rd all in two straights. 

28-35X Justin Wike Wikeout was demolishing his class all weekend long in the races which he actually participated in. In 17 and over open Justin showed the youngins whats up when a 29yr old podiums both days.

36-40X/Cru Shawn Diprete Shawn went on to score the only double-double for the team on the weekend, never losing a lap even after his near main miss on Saturday check it out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNhy81e28zg  (video credit Rob Riofrio). Diprete and Wikeout were out in the parking lot attempting to dead lift parked cars trying to peak before their mains when the new USABMX run format caught them by surprise and Shawn nearly missed his.

A-Pro Max Egdorf Max impressed us all on the weekend in his rookie pro debut. His confidence and ability to get the job done on the track is amazing he’s calm and collected and even found time to mentor many of the new riders on the team throughout the weekend. He finished with a 2nd on Friday and 6th on Sunday but could be found all weekend leading many laps from gate 8. 

With six weeks off between the Grands and the first races of the year, it’s easy to forget how long a workday can be, when a 12-hour commute is tacked on to the end of it. The final gate dropped at 1:54PM today, and here it is 3:33AM, and we’re already home (after sampling the truck stop board of fare in three states).

Tales from the road notwithstanding, News used the time wisely–to edit and prep the photos from Sunday’s ABA Sooner Nationals. A total of 94 shots from today, adding to the 214 we posted yesterday, makes for a well-rounded weekend of gettin around.

KJ Romero (above) was the BMOC this weekend, acing all six A Pro motos, and both main event laps with carefree care (if that makes any sense at 3:40AM). OK, enough writing tonight…before we are tempted to go “all the way” and write the story in a language which tomorrow will reveal itself as a cross between Aramaic and Hood Latin.

Check Out the Saturday Photos

Check Out the Sunday Photos

Download the above image as a 1980×1020 wallpaper for your computer desktop

A great day of racing in Guthrie, Oklahoma today, as Day One of the USA BMX Sooner Nationals took the focus. An even 200 motos, run with high precision, and a track layout that was given the thumbs-up by top stars and novies alike.

Though this year’s installment is not a Pro Series race, we have some names in the house this weekend that will make an awesome AA main in a year or two.

A full race report will be coming your way on Monday, with the Sunday Photo Gallery. But before lights out tonight, we wanted to get you the Saturday photo gallery, which has some awesome shots inside, if we do say so ourselves.

Check Out the Saturday Gallery Now

Don’t forget to check back Monday afternoon for the weekend’s report, and our Sunday Gallery.

During our trip to the US Olympic Training Center/Chula Vista earlier this month, we were privileged to shoot individual headshots of all the riders taking part in the Elite Camp. We thought you’d enjoy seeing some of your favorite riders suited up in their Team USA Jerseys.

We are saving the goof-around outtakes for a more opportune time

Check Out The Photo Gallery Now