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Becerine Bests 55 Elites In Full Workday

BMXNEWS.COM Editors — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 07:02:31 +0000

Today’s race could best be described as “sharp.” Not only were the motos ticked off at a healthy 100-105 moto per hour clip, but the race began and ended “on the sharps.” At no earlier, no later, than 11:30 AM, the first gate was dropped…and the final main crossed the line at, literally 7:59PM…so yes, it was a full workday (including a regulation-though imaginary-30-minute lunch) for 274 motos worth of riders.

View the Saturday Photo Gallery

Use #10WinterNats For Twitter Updates From PHX

BMXNEWS.COM Editors — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:58:13 +0000

Hash codes allow all the tweets from one event to be searched by simply slicking on the code. Use #10WinterNats on your tweets so we can all read them.

Interview: Mike Day’s Back

BMXNEWS.COM Editors — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:54:43 +0000

We have not seen nor heard from Mike Day since the ABA Grands in November. Well, not exactly true. We have seen some twitter updates giving us a peek into what is happening with him. Car stereos being ripped from their enclosures and, most recently, a Vimeo link to a quick-cut of some footage that video impresario Clay Porter shot with Mike in SoCal recently (which is way cool, by the way). We knew he was suffering debilitating back pain, and was undergoing rigorous physical therapy for it. But, aside from that, not so much until now. So, leading up to this weekend’s ABA Winternationals, where Mike will, indeed, be back, we sat down with him for our weekly Announcers Tower Podcast.

Mike is admittedly a little over-anxious to get back on his bike. He is here in Phoenix, and was practicing in Friday’s Pro Practice…but any kind of customary results are very much up in the air. In the interview, Mike also talks about his London 2012 ambitions, his preference for Twitter over Facebook, and his advice for first-time Medalists bringing home hardware from Vancouver.

Listen Now link

ABA Winternats: Talent Zooms as Storms Loom

BMXNEWS.COM Editors — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:30:15 +0000

On the heels of yesterdays post, where we talked about the events leading up to the big day, today was akin to the moments just after the Space Shuttle lights ‘em up and begins to shake, rattle and roll up the tower. Not quite calling “Liftoff” just yet, the 2010 ABA Winternationals held its organized practice and pre-race today. And not unlike the stars arriving 300 miles away in Hollywood, a constellation of BMX stars unlike any other this year has turned out to uphold the long-standing tradition that holds “it ain’t a season until the Winters.”

In addition to top-hand American elites, Phoenix is playing host to contingents from the Netherlands, the UK, South Africa, France, Japan and even a Canadian or three. Mike Fields made a great point in his Vintage post earlier this evening when he noted that the pro turnout was thick enough to cause a 15-minute delay in getting through staging to get another gate in practice. Granted, it was mingled in with JR. Devo types, but still… Also on hand are a slew of dirt jumper stars who trekked down in the Vans rig. .

Mike Day and Khalen Young are in town—two blokes we have not yet seen in the new decade. Check out the newest episode of the Announcers Tower Podcast where Mike talks about his ongoing back injury, and long-term plans for London 2012.

GT and Free Agent are suited up in new jerseys, making it extra fun to try and pick them out of the crowd. Known no-shows thus far include Injured-reservists David Herman (nursing a hip fracture), and Jason Rogers.

A healthy 97 motos in the pre-race today, which Mike Fields says foretells a 280+ moto Saturday (I think the formula is suspended for this race, due to “special circumstances” of added foriegn participation and everyone wanting to escape colder days in their zip code (present company included).

No GO211 this weekend in Phoenix, so you’re going to have to kick it mid-school and get your news from us. We will be posting nightly updates here, as well as photo galleries on BMXNOW.COM. Also, follow BMXNOW on twitter for as-they-happen-updates from the infield. Speaking of the infield, there is an 80% chance of rain Sunday, so providing there IS an infield and a place to stand, we’ll be reporting from there Sunday as well. There was talk of the weather, but it did nothing to dampen spirits in the pits.

Photos will be posted by lights out both days. Speaking of photos, here is an appetizer course of photo-ala-moto from Friday’s pit stroll and pro practice. Enjoy!

Curtain Up on Winter Nats as Sun Goes Down

BMXNEWS.COM Editors — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:13:29 +0000

If you have never rolled into town for a big national on Thursday, you need to do that sometime. The energy of roadies readying a rock concert, crossed with the circus being in town, coupled with a tent revival would just about equal the vibe around Black Mountain BMX today. A steady, red-carpet-like arrival of wrapped rigs filed in, tents were hoisted, and the rare Olympian from a foriegn land walked the track during the obligatory pre-race grooming. Arriving on Wednesday evening, hotels are as they are any other day of the year, a revolving door of corporate folk coming back from one meeting, and on the way to the next. But Thursday…Thursday evening you start to see groms zipping about in the parking lot, and the license plates in the lot start to take on a “national” flavor (British Columbia was the furthest tonight, but not confirmed to be BMX).

Standing on the starting hill this evening at sunset, everything was possible, nothing assured, and the spread between the two is where the magic lives. Reading that back, it sounds incredibly corny, we realize. But if you were there, you’d understand.

BMXNEWS will be reporting from Phoenix all weekend long, with photos posted nightly on BMXNOW.COM. Follow BMXNOW on Twitter for as-they-happen updates on race day.

Geving, Martin, Crain, Verhagen Jumping for Joy After First WDP Camp

BMXNEWS.COM Editors — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:17:05 +0000

USA Cycling held the first in a series of Womens Development Camps this week at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista. Part of the business being done was to bring eight of the top Elite Women to Chula Vista, and allow new Womens Coach Sean Dwight and BMX Program Director, Mike King evaluate the field. Of eight “rostered” riders (Amanda Geving, Amanda Carr, Dominique Daniels, Alise Post, Taylor Wolcott, Brooke Crain, Ashley Verhagen and Arielle Martin), four would be selected as the USAC “Funded” Team for the Madrid Supercross race later this month, based on rigorous testing and observation both on and off the track. Seven of the eight (all of the above, minus Dom, who had school commitments) attended the camp and rode hard for the ten days. In the end, the selection came down in a group meeting this afternoon: Amanda Geving, Arielle Martin, Brook Crain and Ashley Verhagen were the choices for this round. The USAC funded team will be selected for future SX races on a race-by-race basis, based on future camps. All four will be going on to the ABA Winternationals this weekend, so we will be watching for them in the first turn and at the finish line.

Hit Frejus, Then Double Down in Monte Carlo

BMXNEWS.COM Editors — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:44:58 +0000

If you are racing the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup this year, you can add “International (wo)Man of Mystery” to your business cards. Two weeks after the Fréjus France Supecross event, UCI and the world’s top BMX racers will be moving into the Jet Set Principality of Monaco to get down, Grimaldi style. The Monte Carlo Supercross will be held October 15 and 16, 2010, providing two weeks of fun in the sun in the South of France between races. Nothing like Summering (ok “Autumning”) on the French Riviera to make those other poor sots in staging jealous at the Disney Cup.

The Monte Carlo race was originally scheduled against the North American Championships in Utah this July. For those of you filling out a scorecard, it means there will be no Class 4 UCI race in Phoenix this weekend, and the Class 3 race in Utah will go off unchallenged.

To get to Monte Carlo, fly into Nice Côte d’Azur (Airport Code: NCE), which is about a 30 minute drive. If you are so inclined, bring a tux so you can kick it, James Bond style, in the Grand Casino. At the very least, men need to wear coat and tie— clip shoes and leathers are “interdit”.

Music City BMX Families Lend Their Voice to Help One Of Their Own

BMXNEWS.COM Editors — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:43:48 +0000

The Music City BMX riders and parents’ group, in conjunction with the NBL, will be taking donations this weekend in Morristown for Neva Gronowski, a Music City BMX mom who was recently diagnosed with ALS (otherwise known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease”). Neva, 43, from Smyrna, TN, and her family, have been instrumental in the growth of Music City BMX and how great the BMX program is today.

ALS is a disorder of the motor neurons, nerve cells in the brain and spine that control voluntary muscles. For people with ALS these nerve cells gradually die and the muscles they control can no longer function, leading to total paralysis and eventually death. There is no known cure for ALS at this time and life expectancy is 2-5 years.

The Gronowskis are a great BMX family and have always been willing to help Music City and any BMX family with whom they have come into contact. As we all know, BMX is a true family sport, who always stands together as a community.

The goal of Neva’s friends is to try and get everyone at Morristown to donate 1 dollar, 4 quarters, 10 dimes, 20 nickels or even 100 pennies. As we all know a dollar doesn’t buy much these days, but I promise if you are willing to give a dollar for this cause we will show you how far it will go to help a great family in their time of need. 100% of all monies raised will be donated to the Gronowski family.

These funds will be used to help retrofit the Gronowski home to make it more accessible and comfortable for Neva as she battles this illness. For example, a downstairs bedroom and bathroom are needed, because Neva is no longer able to climb stairs. We are also hoping to help the family in having their van equipped with a wheelchair lift and ramps into the house. it is our own version of “Extreme Makeover, BMX Edition” and your help is greatly needed and appreciated.

If you aren’t planning on attending Morristown this weekend, but would still like to help, donations will still be accepted and appreciated. Please contact Bobby at (615) 267-0742 or email him at bobbyg629@aol.com

Local Lions Club Roars to Help New BMX Track

BMXNEWS.COM Editors — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:04:44 +0000

Received this story from a BMXNEWS tipster in Ontario, Canada. Seems the city government in Orangeville, ON is teaming up with local residents and the Orangeville chapter of Lions Clubs International to build a local BMX Track in town—and all three entities are joining together to pony up cash to make it happen. The article, posted on the online edition of the “Orangeville (Ontario) Citizen” stated: “The Town will contribute $5,000 through the Community Matching Fund Park Improvements Program and the Lions Club will contribute an estimated $10,000 to $15,000.”

From the Lions Clubs Website: “Lions clubs make communities better places to live. And we matter locally, because people know that they can count on us to pitch in.”

It is great to see stalwart community organizations like the Lions Club step up to grow the sport of BMX Racing in their communities. BMX Racing is a great sport, which represents what most of these organizations are all about: community, sportsmanship and quality family time.

Read the full article

Snow-X Popularity in Vancouver Gives PR Jolt to BMX for London 2012

BMXNEWS.COM Editors — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:40:25 +0000

A BMXNEWS Tipster in the UK sent us this post from “The Guardian.” It talks about how, with Vancouver now in the history books, the attention is turning to London 2010—and that lessons learned from promotion and “staging” of certain events last month can be applied to the London games. The article says, in part:

There are also great hopes for increasing interest in the BMX races, the closest event in the summer programme to ski cross, where Team GB has a gold medal hope in world champion Shanaze Reade.

“The popularity of the ski and snow cross events in Vancouver, confirms that the way sports are staged can help them to capture the public’s imagination,” a spokeswoman said as Lord Coe accepted the Olympic torch from his Canadian counterpart, John Furlong.

“We are drawing up detailed marketing and sport presentation plans for 2012 for each sport to ensure that they engage and inspire the widest possible audience. We want to connect young people to sport, and this is top of mind when we look at the sports which do not historically have a mainstream following in the UK.”

Check out the Guardian article in full