New Pro Season Stepping Off In Oldsmar

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.

Alienation Puts Up Cash For Juniors

Way back in the BMX stone age of the 1980s, the ABA promoted a rider contingency program for the pros of the day, which allowed anyone, sponsored or not, to grab contingency cash with a win.

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!

USAC BMX Elite Portraits

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

USAC Elite Camp Brings The Best to Chula V

A major contingent of Elite “Team USA” BMX Supercross talent flew in to the US Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA last week for the first Elite Development camp of 2012. BMXNEWS.COM was granted exclusive access to shoot some action during one of the training sessions.

We clipped the set down to the 49 best shots of the session, and are bringing them to you as soon as we got them dialed in. It was an amazing day for shooting in San Diego, and the riders were definitely in the zone.

The camp included 19 athletes in all, but Joey Bradford and David Herman had other commitments for the photo session timeframe. And Nic Long, Felicia Stancil and Tyler Brown posted early injuries and could not ride. We wish them a speedy recovery!

Other stars out of orbit this camp; Connor Fields and Alise Post were out of the country and Mike Day and Corben Sharrah were out of town on GT biz. We vowed to catch them on-course next time.

Click Here to View the Gallery

A big thanks to: Mike King, Andrea Smith and James Herrera at USA Cycling for letting us peek into their day. Team USA is readying some amazing talent for London, and this glimpse into their routine gives us a special kind of pride as Americans. Equal thanks goes to Amanda Carr, Amanda Geving, Arielle Martin, Barry Nobles, Brooke Crain, Dani George, Donny Robinson, Jared Garcia, Jason Rogers, Josh Meyers, Kory Cook, Tyler Faoro and Weston Pope for their style and willingness to “do that again!”

—Mike Carruth

Above: Barry Nobles gets it done on the second straight aboard his new DK scoot.

Pros Are a No-Go in Reno

Word hit the message boards and Twitterverse yesterday that the UCI/ABA Pro designation would be removed from the Reno and Guthrie races on the 2012 ABA schedule. No further information available as of this writing, but keep in touch with the topic via the Vintage thread (link below).

ABA did confirm on the Vintage thread that both races would have A-Pro and Vet Pro racing.

VintageBMX.com Thread on this Topic

Sam and Dom Dub’ in Derby City

It was a blazin hot weekend of Elite BMX Racing in Louisville Friday and Saturday, as 36 Elite Men and 18 Elite Women grabbed center stage at the hot-onfire Derby City BMX facility.

The Junior Women added some spice to the program with lead-changing-action between Shelby Stacy and weekend-first-timer, Felicia Stancil. Felicia ultimately took aces in every lap, but Shelby, Audrey Zuloaga and fellow “rookie” Shay Glynn kept the heat on.

Junior Men had some sizzle on Friday night, but four DNS-no-starts kept it to more of a low-grade conflict versus all out war. Maliek Byndloss copy-pasted his Friday first into the Saturday results page. Tyler Whitfield mounted some challenge on Friday, but he was ampin’ with the Ams on Saturday, so only a foursome in the gate.

The 34th-and-final NBL Grand Nationals is running alongside the UCI/ABA Pro Elite Program, and had its first two rounds on Saturday, as the Elites were weaved into the program to keep the excitement at full wick.

Sunday’s “AA Pro” (or whatever you call it in the former NBL) Racing was ho-hum, with a lot of boat ridin and non-racing for the fans. Don’t get us started on that topic, as the Internet doesn’t have enough ether. But suffice it to say we feel pretty strongly that if your workday is a sum total of 160 seconds…you know what…another time.

Day two racing started on time at 8AM, and ran completely in-the-dry til the 12 Cruiser main, when a steady sprinkle started up, and lasted until a few minutes after the final main crossed the line. Some asserted that it was the BMX Gods crying as the final passing of the NBL era was at hand.

Lots of good racing in the am ranks, which we will report tomorrow once the tires hit the driveway at HQ.

Photo Galleries (Includes Elite and Amateurs)

Friday Gallery

Saturday Gallery

Sunday Gallery

More words on the 2011 NBL Grands Tuesday Morn (traveling today)…Meanwhile here are some results for ya’

Saturday UCI Results

Junior Women
FELICIA STANCIL – Speed Bicycles
SHAY GLYNN – Profile Racing
AUDREY ZULOAGA

Junior Men
MALIEK BYNDLOSS – Ssquared/Troy Lee Designs
DAKOTA CODY
HEATH HART

Elite Women
DOMINIQUE DANIELS – Grand Canyon University/DFR
BROOKE CRAIN – Haro
AMANDA GEVING – MCS

Elite Men
SAM WILLOUGHBY – Factory Redline
NIC LONG – Haro
BARRY NOBLES – SE Bikes

Corben Says “No Way” to SX-Only Rumor

At the past few races, a rumor has been going around the pits, essentially saying that some of the top Olympic contenders would be staying home from nationals here at home, in favor of a “Supercross-only” strategy. One of the riders mentioned in the chatter was Corben Sharrah. Corben made the Elite funded team for the upcoming UCI BMX World Championships in Denmark later this month, and is on a trajectory that many believe will put him in the Olympic Village, next August.

BMX News caught up with Corben last week, to congratulate him on his piece in Sports Illustrated, and had a chance to ask him if there was any truth to the rumor. He said:

“Those weren’t my words. I fully plan on being a participant in the ABA series, and have no intention of just doing Supercross. I have just as much fun racing the ABA series, and will be at as many ABA races as I can make it to.”

Good to hear Corben! Looking forward to seeing you soon.

BMXers Not the Only Lot Facing Tough 2012 Course

Found this in The Telegraph today…seems BMXers are not the only ones getting stepped-up, more extreme courses for London 2012. Even the equestrian courses are getting amped up for the games. The current course at Greenwich Park has 19 jumps on it. That will be beefed up to 40 jumps for the final Olympic course. Their course is being compared to a BMX Track.

The article doesn’t quite reach the point of athletes openly criticizing the course, but Olympic hopeful, Pippa Funnell, was quoted in the piece as saying “It was quite nerve-racking. If it was Primmore’s Pride [her Athens 2004 ride] I would be dreading it, because he is so strong.”

On June 5, BMX News ran a feature story where 10 current BMX Supercross stars and Olympic hopefuls for the London games spoke out on their opinions on the Papendal SX track, they had raced on the week prior. When the final design for the London 2012 track was rather unceremoniously unveiled (we didn’t even receive a press release on it, and picked it up on an off-beat foriegn media website), it was clear that the Olympic track was a near-replica to the Papendal track, as had been rumored.

Just this weekend, in Salt Lake City, there was talk of riders organizing themselves to push back on the London course design (which will host the Olympic Test event next month), via a rider strike on the London event. The goal of such a move would be to get changes implemented on the London course that riders feel are necessary.

In email exchanges with some of the Elites who were in SLC, it seems this was more of a “what if” discussion among friends versus a formal “sign here” kind of thing. But the people we spoke to also said that their resolve is strong to get their grievances heard and acted upon.

BMX NEWS will be monitoring all developments on this important topic in the days and weeks ahead, and we will have coverage of the London Supercross next month, so stay tuned!

Here is a link to the article on The Telegraph website

Rockford Race Report, Part I: Power to the Pros

“The Rock,” as it is lovingly called, is one of those must-attend races each year. A geographically-desirable location (relatively close to both Chicago and Milwaukee’s airports), as well as a masterfully-groomed facility which is constantly, and meticulously maintained by Track Operators Jake and Candy Karau, plus the 60-acre park that the track sits in, are all ingredients in making the annual Midwest Nationals a deliciously-spicy BMX soup.

Jumping right in to the meat & potatoes, Elite Men/AA Pro was about as stacked as it gets, with 28 of the biggest names in the sport winging on into RFD from places as far-flung as South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and even Ohio. South African, Sifiso Nhlapo, was truckin both days, with wins in two of three motos both days, as well as a main event slot that did not quite come up roses (a fifth and a seventh)…still nothing to sneeze at.

Rockford 2010 served as the coming out party for Nic Long riding his new Haro hardware. Hard to tell them boys apart, as they are both way-fast and are equally decked out in TLD threads (Nic is the one with the white bike). No main spot for Nic on his first outing in the new duds, but Sunday would be different.

AA Pro main on Saturday had Strombergs coming out of lane 8, and immediately challenging Marc Willers and Denzel Stein for the lead. Willers got the first call from the tower, but Stein had been going fast all day, and got right to it. By the backside of the first set of doubles (formerly, the dropoff), Stein had the lead. Into the first turn, Strombergs held an impossibly high and tight line and railed the razor-thin real estate between glory and “goombye” to zoom past Denzel into the second straight. Denzel’s front wheel got as close to the lead as Maris’ bottom bracket in the last straight, but the results were written on this one as soon as they entered the second straight. Final order, Strombergs, Stein and Willers. And yes, Maris did pump his fist into the air, for those of you keeping score at home.

On Sunday, the deck was shuffled a bit, as Nic Long, Khalen Young and Jason Rogers took the place of David Herman, Denzel Stein and Randy Stumpfhauser in the Main. Stumpy had strong showings in the motos, with two second places and a first, but a sixth in the semi sat Stumpy on the sidelines for the big lap. Herman also made it to Sunday’s semi, after a third, a first and a fifth in the motos, but got sealed out of the main with a seventh in the semi. Denzel also made it happen in the motos, with a 2-1-2 on the sheets, but a snowman in the semi marked an end to the story for this go-round.

Sunday’s Main had Long and KY coming out of gate 1 and 2. The pack balled up early, and took out Marino and Rogers who were in lanes 3 and 4. Willoughby was out in six, and vectored out of the carnage in a hurry. Into the first turn, Willoughby had about a half a wheel on WIllers, but also had that cool and crisp inside line. Nic Long went into turn one a half a wheel behind Strombergs, who was in third…and lookd, for a nanosecond, like he might light the afterburners and swoop the whole pack. He came out of the turn in third, and Strombergs gave chase. Pretty much the end of the story where that main is concerned, except for KY running off the track out of turn two while battling with Nhlapo. The podium would go Willoughby, Willers and Long.

The Women.

On Saturday, the Jr. Elite Women class made, with five riders, including reigning National Numero Uno, Dominique Daniels. Not much to report that we could not copy and past from any number of other race reports where the Jr. Class was made…Dom won it handily. Alaina Henderson, Keely Kortman and Crystal Kalogris made up the balance of the main.

Elite Women…now that’s a different box of chocolates altogether. Oh sure, you had all the familiar faces of Post, Geving, Tomei and Lilly, but toss in Kiwi cutie and reigning world champ, Sarah Walker, into the mix, and you know it’s a gonna get good. Sara said that her and her Team New Zealand mates are here in the Nifty Fifty for some training at the OTC in advance of the worlds next month. “It’s miserable, cold and raining at home right now, so tough to train” she said in a pre-podium chat on Sunday (sounds way better with the accent, trust me).

On Saturday, Alise and Sarah were in the same moto for first round, and Sara got the win. She would ace the remaining two laps as well, as would Alise. So the stage was set for a showdown in the main, and the dames did not disappoint. From the gate to the first turn, Post and Walker were as close as peas & carrots. Alise had the inside, and glided into the turn, picking up a bike length on Sarah. She quickly made that up, and was back to buzzing the Redline decal off Alise’s chainstay by the middle of the second straight. All held their breath as the second turn unfolded. That turn can be tricky, as “a little high/low” often turns into a little “high-and-bye” as the high gal propels over it. Not to be this time, thankfully, as Sarah rails the outside and is back to near-even with Alise down the third straight. Nothing of note in the last turn, but Alise starts to stretch out a bit of a lead in the last straight, and hits the stripe a good bike and a half in front of Sarah. Courtney Tomei scooted her Supercross 20-year retro jersey in for the third.

The Jr. Women class did not make on Sunday, with the absence of Dom Daniels, so the rider count in Elite Women got a bump from 12 to 15 for day two. Four of the six sistahs in Saturday’s main made a second appearance on Sunday. We swapped out Kim Hayashi and Baylie Kortman for Aussie Redliner Ziggy Callan and Baylie’s little sis Keely (who got second behind Dom in Jr. the day before).

In a bit of “groundhog day” charm, Alise and Sarah were bar bangin and hard chargin for the lead. This time, it was Sarah on the inside, coming from gate three. Alise was in lane four, and busted out an impressive muscle move on the world champion at the mid-point in the first straight. That move made Sarah ride the white line for 10 feet or so, just long enough for Alise to settle in to the top spot coming into turn one. Amanda Geving gets some ups at this point for getting to turn one in third, from the way outside.
Alise lead the race down the third straight. But Sarah did on Sunday what she did not do on Saturday, which is set herself up early and often in the third straight for a last turn attack. As if there was a crew chief saying “get to the inside” Sarah zips to the inside, and immediately challenges Alise for the lead at the midpoint in the third straight. Sarah had the primo inside line going into the last turn, and that was the proverbial ballgame, as she scooped it low and deep and glided right into the lead. Alise put the ponies down to try and make up the lost ground, but she ran out of track. Final order: Walker, Post, Geving.

Jr. Men

Whoa…this class has quickly become one that you come to the fence to see. Every lap, it’s a battle royale between the Con Man and Corben. Either guy can win at any time, and these guys are so fast that you’d have to be on a controlled substance not to put them both squarely at the top of the US talent pool for London 2012. Both guys raced two classes (for Connor it was Jr. Men and 17-18x, for Corben, A Pro and Jr. Men). A Pro runs as the first main, and Jr. Men runs seventh. About an eight-minute recovery time from a wicked fast lap to prep for a hyperdrive lap. How DO they do it?

Saturday’s six-man main blasted off like a rocket sled on rails. Corben had a paper thin lead over the first jump, and into the first turn. Connor had the outside, so making the move for the lead might be a tough do. The race stayed Sharrah-Fields into the last turn, but Connor punched the nitrous button in the last straight, and came within a valve stem of the lead over the last table. A the stripe, it was Corben, Connor and Tommy Zula.

On Sunday, the class dropped four riders and it was down to seven, with a six-man main. This time, Connor had the inside gate, coming out of four (which, at Rockford, is preferable for most to either one or two, due to the dogleg to the outside in the first straight). Corben was way out in lane seven. All that really didn’t matter, because by the first obstacle, they were bar end to bar end and raging up the middle. Corben almost got a taste of the tar on turn one, as Austin Loebe came into the turn high and hard and almost took Colby Landon on a trip over “bermzilla.” No paint was traded though and Austin slid in to the third slot. Connor laid down about as perfect a lap as we had seen that day, and parlayed all that inertia into a two second lead (using the “one-one-thousand” method, not Swiss Timing) by the stripe. The podium mugs were Fields, Sharrah and Loebe.

—Mike Carruth

BMXNEWS will bring you highlights from the Amateur side on Thursday morning, so stay tuned!

Meanwhile, occupy the time by browsing our 200+ photo gallery from Sunday’s race.