Morphine Adds Sebesta to Already-Stacked Lineup

One sure way to get noticed by a high-profile, on-the-rise factory team is to podium at big races. Tanner Sebesta took the fight to the 17-18 Expert class at last week’s NBL grands, and scored a 1-1-1-2 (KJ Romero got the win). Jonathan Reeves and his sharp-eyed lieutenant, Doran Bradshaw had a Morphine jersey on the Texan faster than a mink on Paris Hilton. Doran sent over the following release, first on News.

Morphine Industries inked a deal at the NBL Grands with 17-18 expert, Tanner Sebesta. Tanner is currently ranked NAG 6 in the ABA and tested the NBL waters by attending the 2010 Grands. In Louisville, he ended up with a second in class, and took home the win in Saturday night’s 16-29 money open.

“We’ve been watching Tanner for a while and he continues to step it up at every race. When he won Saturday night at the Grands, we knew it was time to seal the deal. Tanner not only brings it on the track but he’s a cool cat off the bike too so we know he will be a great rep for us and our sponsors”, said Doran Bradshaw, team manager for Morphine.

Asked about his new gig, Tanner said, “I’ve been workin’ hard for this chance to ride in pink and black. I would like to thank Jonathan and Doran for this opportunity. It means a lot to have Morphine Industries factory support.”

Looking forward to seeing Tanner suited up at Chula Vista and Disney!

Morphine Industries laying it down, baby! – ABA Dixieland Nationals

By Jonathan Reeves, Photos: Mike Carruth/bmxnews.com

THE ABA DIXIELAND NATIONALS— what comes to mind when you hear that? RAIN, rain, and more rain. But, for the first time in about 8 years, we had absolutely perfect weather, sun shining and highs in the 70′s, we couldn’t have asked for anything more. So with the weather finally on our side, and the track being better than at any time in the history of Powder Springs BMX, we knew this weekend was gonna be a good one.

Morphine Industries hit the Dixieland Nationals with only 3 riders, while the rest of the team was in Florida and Cali taking the weekend off from a gnarly spring racing schedule, DB100, OD, and J-Rev took it to the mean streets, the Burbs of Atlanta, to handle business.

A PRO – Jason LaRev made the 30-minute journey to the race track, still a little sore from Saturday nights activities down in Tampa the previous weekend. Jason didn’t know if he was going to be able to race or not. But after taping up the hand, he got his TCB on and topped the podium with a first place finish in A Pro on Saturday. Sunday, he hoped to follow it up with another victory, but a solid bonk down the first straight kept him off the box with a fourth place finish.

36-40X – Doran Bradshaw had a killer weekend of racing by getting two third place finishes in one of the hardest classes of the weekend, 36-40 cruiser, then pulling a fourth place finish Saturday in the super stacked 36-40X. Unfortunately Sunday in 36-40X he wanted to get his freestyle on by doing a Front-Flip in the rhythm section, mid race. It didn’t turn out as planned, and ended up with the snowman, 8th place.

19-27X – Olijuwon Davis made the long trek down from Chicago to show some of these East coast boys what Midwest pull is all about. And, in typical OD fashion, he didn’t disappoint. OD horsed the comp on his Haro race LT, and rode across the finish line victorious both days in 19-27x, bumping him up a few more spots in the 19-27x NAG standings. If you haven’t seen OD in action get to a track and check it out.

Put Your Bars in a Choke Hold

At last month’s ABA Gator Nationals, we spied Morphine honcho Jonathan Reeves carrying a plain brown box. Under a Masonic-like vow of secrecy, he showed us what was inside. The box contained the yet-unnamed Morphine Industries pro stem, which we found most pleasing to the eye. That bit of proto product has now been dubbed the “Choke Hold.” Here is the official release:

We are stoked about the release and introduction of the CHOKE HOLD stem. Its immediate impact and demand has been exciting. Morphine Industries is broadening our line of quality products this year, with many new introductions in the race and street markets. The CHOKE HOLD is only the start.

The CHOKE HOLD STEM – Front-load aggression for street, park and track.
MADE IN THE USA – THIS AIN’T MADE IN CHINA
Front-load with 2 piece top plate
CNC’d from 6061 T6 heat-treated aluminum
Made for 1 1/8” steer tube
8mm bolts
Reach: 53mm
Weight: 9.15 oz
Colors: Black, Red, Gold
Retail $69.95
Come on, get a grip!

BE SURE TO ASK FOR THEM AT YOUR LOCAL BMX RETAILER

www.morphineindustries.com

*No Vet Pros were harmed in the making of this press release.

Interview: The Return of Mike Kapes

It started blowing up the forums on August 28, 2008. Most of the BMX universe was in, or headed to, Louisville for the NBL Grands. As people hit their hotels, news was breaking that the then-20-year old Floridian had accepted a suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, for testing positive for anabolic steroids. The suspension would effectively take Mike out of BMX racing til July 2010, as it would be recognized by the USAC and, by extension, their affiliates, the NBL and ABA.

This turned into an 80-post thread on Vintage, to be surpassed only by a bare-your-soul reply by Mike, himself (which got 151 replies). It’s a good read, so definitely check it out when you get a chance. Things are not always as they seem. Still, July 2010 seemed so far away.

Fast forward 20 months. The BMX world has marched on. 2012 Olympic fever is starting to gain tempo, and the caboose is in sight for Mike’s suspension—due to lapse on July 7. As part of his comeback, Mike has been training to get himself back up to AA form, and has brought on a brand new sponsor in Morphine Industries.

BMXNEWS sat down with Mike just before pro Practice (which he is permitted to ride in…yet he cannot compete) at the ABA Gator Nationals. Despite all that’s happened to him (the full story behind that is in the Vintage post made by him on September 2, 2008), Mike has a positive outlook, and is looking ahead to July 8 and beyond.

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