Global SX Pronounces The UCI World's Track Good To Go, After a Hard Danish Winter!

Psykopath Picks up CHRIS MIRELES from MEXICO

Psykopath has sponsored Chris Mireles from Mexico one of the top riders to come out of this country with lots of skills.

Chris will be racing select UCI Supercross events, Panamerican Games, All Mexico Nationals, and select ABA Nationals in the U.S.

Chris has also been at the Chula Vista OTC training with his coach and Red Bull athlete Coach Greg Romero getting his training on.

Chris Mireles is only 17 years of age but shows great potential and very capable of having a great future in BMX.

His main goal is to train for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Welcome to the Psykopath Family. Chris's personal sponsors are Vans, Oakley and Redbull.

Strombergs to miss UCI BMX Supercross World Cup

AROUND THE TRACK WITH DALE HOLMES

BMX Media Mogul, Dale Holmes hits up the stars at the ABA Winternationals for some good stuff. "Masa" translation from Sam, some not late night racing with Eric Rupe, a bit of Down Under Philosophizing with Wade Bootes and a bunch of other good stuff brought to you by the Free Agent/Rockstar Team Manager hisself.

This weekend from Wittman, Arizona it's the ABA Winternationals, one of the classic races on the U.S. BMX Circuit.

BMX MANIA RACE REPORT POSTED! CLIC ON PANORAMA ABOVE & GOOOO!

Pro Legend, Eric Rupe Says Goodbye To The Pro Class!

After 34 years of holding a professional BMX racing license, “Big Daddy” Eric Rupe has decided to move on and put an end to his pro racing career.

Turning pro in 1977 at the tender age of 14, Eric went on to accomplish what no other rider in the sport of BMX has done.

He won 17 national championship plates with the ABA, NBL and USBA, and two UCI world championships.

He’s a member of the BMX Hall of Fame for both the ABA and the NBL. Eric was quoted as saying, “I’ve been amazingly blessed to have not only been a pro BMX’er, but to have been a pretty good one as well. I hope I’ve been able to touch the lives of many riders both young and old and help make their BMX experience that much better. I’ve had my ups and downs as a racer, but through it all, I always tried to keep my attitude right and keep BMX fun. I’m stepping away from pro racing with zero regrets and with a great feeling of accomplishment. I’ll still keep racing, but as time has finally caught up with me, I’ll now be competing on a level more suited for my attempt to keep it fun. It’s been a blast being a BMX Pro, and to all the pro racers I’ve ever done battle with in the last 34 years, to them I say, NICE RACE DUDE.”

Pro BMX racing will miss the Big Daddy, but he’ll still be around. Good luck in 41 and over expert Big Daddy.

Here is a list of Eric’s sponsors and some of his accomplishments as a pro BMX’er.

SPONSORS Schwinn (Factory 1977 to 1980) ..... SE (Factory 1981) ..... Mongoose (Factory 1982) ..... Profile (Factory 1983) ..... Mongoose (Factory 1984-1990) ..... Parkpre (Factory 1995-1997) ..... Mongoose (Factory 1998-2006) ..... GT (Factory 2007 to ????)

TITLES 1983 NBL #1 AA Pro ..... 1984 NBL #1 AA Pro ..... 1984 USBA #1 AA Pro ..... 1987 ABA #1 Pro Cruiser ..... 1987 NBL #1 Pro Cruiser ..... 1987 UCI World Champion Pro Cruiser ..... 1988 ABA #1 Pro Cruiser ..... 1988 NBL #1 Pro Cruiser ..... 1989 UCI World Champion Pro Cruiser ..... 1995 ABA #1 Vet Pro ..... 1995 NBL #1 Vet Pro ..... 1996 ABA #1 Vet Pro ..... 1997 ABA #1 Vet Pro ..... 1997 ABA World Cup Champion Vet Pro ..... 1998 ABA #1 Vet Pro ..... 1998 ABA World Cup Champion Vet Pro ..... 1998 ABA World Cup Champion Pro Cruiser ..... 1999 ABA R.O.C. Champion A-Pro ..... 2000 NBL #1 A-Pro ..... 2000 ABA #1 Vet Pro ..... 2001 ABA World Champion Vet Pro ..... 2001 ABA #1 Vet Pro ..... 2002 NBL #1 A-Pro Cruiser ..... 2004 NBL #1 Elite Masters

For more on Eric "Big Daddy" Rupe, check out www.ericrupe.com!

PEACHTREE CITY NATIONALS KICK OFF NEW NBL PROGRAMS

USA Cycling Names BMX Supercross World Cup Team

ERIC RUPE INDUCTED INTO THE NBL HALL OF FAME

NBL Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Columbus, OH

Long time Mongoose BMX Race Team and GT BMX Race Team member Eric Rupe, was inducted into the NBL BMX Hall of Fame recently in Columbus Ohio.

After over 36 years as a BMX racer and 33 of those as a professional, Eric graciously accepted his induction into the HoF with a heart warming speech.

He attributed his longevity in the sport, to his love for riding bikes and to still feeling like an excited kid when he goes to the track. “I never thought when I first started racing my bike, that it would ever come to this, but I’m truly honored to be recognized for my career on and off the track”, Eric said.

Other inductees for this year’s ceremony included Greg Hill and the late Anthony Sewell. “Greg, Anthony and I all started out together racing each other as young boys. I’m proud to be inducted with two such super stars of the sport of BMX”, Eric was also quoted as saying.

GT proudly represents the following partners: Maxxis Tires, Epic Cameras, Alienation, KMC Chains, SDG Saddles, and Profile.

Pietermaritzburg, South Africa ready to host

two major international cycling events in April

Pietermaritzburg - Pietermaritzburg will be the focus of worldwide sporting attention in April when it hosts two major international cycling events, as part of an ongoing strategy to cement the region as a top class venue for world championship events in BMX, mountainbike and road cycling disciplines.

On 8 and 9 April the UCI BMX Supercross presented by Swatch will be staged at Alexandra Park in the city, bringing the top 150 male and female BMX riders in the world to compete in the brand new stadium built on the banks of the Dusi river. The event has massive significance as it is a full Olympic qualification event and the first World Cup event of the 2011 season.

Pietermaritzburg hosted the UCI BMX World Championships at the Royal Showgrounds last year, and garnered praise for the slick organisation and world class facilities provided for the event, which attracted a massive global television audience.

Just two weeks later the city will host the opening round of the UCI Mountainbike World Cup series at the famous downhill course at Cascades in the city, where the 2009 UCI MTB World Cup was held, attracting over 17,000 fans over the three days of competition rallying behind local hero Greg Minnaar. The MTB World Cup format consists of downhill, cross-country and four-cross events.

In between these two events, the MTB nationals will be staged at the Cascades course, giving the cream of the domestic MTB racers a chance to race on the improved and tweaked Cascades course and providing the organisers with a dry-run opportunity for the World Cup the following weekend.

Both events are part of a concerted effort by Cycling South Africa and local organisers to attract top international events to the city, and to support their longer term bids to stage the BMX World Champs again in 2015, and the mountainbike World Champs in 2013.

Just as important is the solid track record that the region has in hosting top level international cycling events, given the serious intentions to bid for the Olympic Games in 2020. The UCI vote in that process is vital, and the recent successes in hosting road, BMX and MTB events in KwaZulu-Natal will be of great significance.

"These two events are critical in terms of Cycling South Africa's 2020 vision," said Cycling SA's president Greg Till. "They are building blocks of paramount importance as we develop this reputation of being a world class player."

"The BMX Worlds last year was a high point for me personally," he added. "The UCI sets very high standards, and when they come to you after an event like that, in awe, and unashamedly say that it was the best ever, it leaves you feeling very proud. It was spectacular, and beyond my wildest expectations."

"It creates a strong desire to return," said Till. "We saw that in the recent Tour of South Africa. These events not only give the country good exposure but they also give our local riders exposure to competition at the highest level, which is vital."

Till added that the recent successes had a lot to do with the support from the public in the region. "Pietermaritzburg seems to be perfectly placed for events like this. The people are passionate, proud of their city, and their enthusiasm creates the atmosphere at these events that makes them unforgettable."

"The economic impact of events like this is profound," he added. "From the feedback we have been getting the spin-offs have been massive for businesses in Pietermaritzburg and the whole region. This hasn't just been restricted to businesses close to the cycling industry either, everyone seems to get a piece of the action."

Till stressed that the desire to host the Olympic Games hinged on showing a capability and a passion to host the events. "It's one thing being clinically competent, but when you see the passion from the people attending the events in Pietermaritzburg, it becomes special. People open their homes and send out the clear message : Welcome. That counts for a lot."

The UCI BMX Supercross takes place at Alexandra Park on 8 and 9 April. More information can be found at www.bmxworldcupsa.co.za

The UCI MTB World Cup takes place at the cascades in Pietermaritzburg from 22 to 24 April. More information can be found at www.mtbworldcupsa.co.za

Willers, Walker dominate Oceania Continental BMX finals

It was mission accomplished for New Zealand BMX stars Sarah Walker and Marc Willers who won the UCI Oceania Continental Championships at Pukekohe, New Zealand this past weekend.

Walker, in her first competitive racing for five months, was in a class of her own in the elite women’s final while Willers, back from his base in Southern California, took out the men’s final in impressive fashion.

The championship was one of five Continental events around the world this year to earn valuable qualifying points for next year’s London Olympics. It drew competition from the leading Australian and American BMX riders to the new supercross near Pukekohe.

It proved a triple win for the BikeNZ team when Christchurch teenager Daniel Franks won the junior men’s title.

Walker, now residing in Cambridge, won all of her three motos and took out the final after she cut across aggressively from the outside lane to grab the lead on the first corner. From there she rode away from the chasers in a dominant display.

“I am really delighted with that. You know after not racing for five months you just don’t know how you are going to stack up against the opposition,” Walker said.

“I have been learning to concentrate on my own race and not concern myself with who is beside me. Overall I am happy with my form and it gives me some confidence now as we go into some big racing coming up.” She finished clear of Australians Lauren Reynolds and Caroline Buchanan in the final.

Willers won two motos and was second after a fall in front of him in the other heat. He scored the middle lane for the final and jumped best to take the all-important lead into the first corner. From there he held off fast finishing American David Herman and Australia’s Brian Kirkham.

Fellow Cambridge rider Kurt James enjoyed his best finish at this level to be fourth in the final after qualifying fifth.

Willers, who flew back from the US on Thursday, said he felt pressure coming back to New Zealand and on the track where he crashed out in the national championships last year. “I definitely put some pressure on myself. It was the first time I had ridden against Kurt Pickard who beat me in the nationals. And this was definitely a world class field. I was really pleased with that performance today. I try not to get ahead of myself, just to put in the best lap I can every time I race. I did that pretty well today."

Willers is in really good space now going into the next round of the US championships next weekend and then the first UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in South Africa next month.

NBL And Strider Sports International Launch NBL Strider Cup Racing

Participants Will Be Eligible For Strider World Championships in Japan

GAHANNA, OH (March 11, 2011) — The National Bicycle League and Strider Sports International have partnered to bring Strider Cup racing and the Strider World Cup to toddlers in the U.S. and around the world. Strider Cup qualifiers will be held at all NBL Nationals and feature no-pedal PREbike racing with classes available for 2, 3, 4, and 5-year-olds by birth year (ex. 2009 birth year will be 2-year-old, 2008 will be 3-year-old, etc.).

The season-long series will conclude with the Strider Cup USA Championship at the NBL Grand National in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition, any participant in an NBL Strider World Cup event will be eligible to compete in the Strider World Championships in Japan in October 2011. To participate in the NBL Strider Cup Series, riders will need to purchase a $25 NBL Strider Membership. This cost includes the entry fee for the first race and can be upgraded to a full NBL membership at any time. The membership also includes a 1-year subscription to BMX Nation and an NBL Membership Card – the same card all NBL BMX racers carry.

Each Strider World Cup event will include an Adventure Zone featuring Strider test rides and opportunities for kids to play, learn, and socialize with peers while riding on two wheels.

NBL CEO Gary Aragon adds, “As part of our mission to grow the sport of BMX racing, we recognize the importance of introducing children to the sport at an early age. The increasing popularity of the Strider PREbike presents the perfect platform for the NBL to build a series that brings a taste of BMX racing to toddlers who are just learning the basics of bike riding. And already we’re seeing new families at BMX tracks looking for new adventures for their little Strider riders. We’re confident that many BMX racers of tomorrow will come from the Strider riders of today.”

Strider Sports International CEO Ryan McFarland says, “At Strider, we love riding bikes. But what we love even more is seeing really little kids light up with excitement when they get that first taste of freedom, mobility, and adventure that comes from their first bike experience. We’re thrilled to have the NBL promoting the Strider Cup Racing and Adventure Zone program as we believe it will further fuel that budding passion for riding on two wheels and inspire other kids to get outside, get on a bike, and give it try.”

For more information, log onto www.StriderCup.com or www.nbl.org/programs/strider-cup.

About the National Bicycle League, Inc.

The National Bicycle League, Inc. (NBL) manages the best in BMX (Bicycle Motocross) leagues and promotes the international and Olympic sport of BMX racing across the country and abroad. As a public charity in the US, NBL also focuses on communicating the value of healthy lifestyles for children and families through BMX racing. NBL is BMX! For more information, visit: www.nbl.org.

About Strider Sports International

Strider is the Official PREbike of the NBL. If your toddler can walk, your toddler CAN ride a Strider PREbike™. Skip the tricycle. Skip the training wheels. Go straight to riding on TWO wheels. The Strider™ PREbike helps toddlers learn balance and coordination BEFORE pedaling, which develops glittering confidence and amazing bike handling skills. So ditch the tricycle and training wheels, and teach your child to ride a bike sooner, better, and safer with a Strider™. For more information, visit www.StriderSports.com.

About the Strider World Cup

The Strider Cup and Strider World Cup events are play experiences designed to let toddlers and young kids age 18 months to 5 years old explore the world on TWO wheels. Whether it is test riding a Strider No-Pedal PREbike for the first time or racing Striders on a dirt track with other toddlers, Strider World Cup events have something for every family interested in giving their child a head start. Balance, coordination, and confidence all develop naturally when children experience group play and friendly competition on Striders.

For more information, visit www.StriderCup.com.

Redline's super secret "project 79"

Redline Project 79 teaser from Redline Bicycles on Vimeo.

Redline announced today a "super secret" project to be unveiled in July 2011 (UCI Worlds?) called Project 79 that Redline claims will revolutionize BMX Racing.

According to the Redline Promo Department, the initial testing took place recently at Speedworld BMX in Phoenix, the site of next week's ABA Winternationals and the location of a UCI SX Level (Olympic sized) start ramp.

Riders from four different countries took part in the testing and evidently, all of the world class riders were awe struck and signed to non-disclosure agreements so that they won't leak what exactly "Project 79" is. Whatever it is, the word "Olympics" seems to keep coming up when they talk about it.......Hmmm!

Take a look for yourself and see what you think.

(Our guess is that somehow Redline has harnessed Alien UFO technology and that "Project 79" is somehow going to time warp three Redline riders to the top of the Olympic podium!)

The Profile Green Machine headed to Oldsmar, Florida, near Tampa, for their first stop of the 2011 ABA National Season.  The team is used to mild weather even in the winter but this weekend it was wet, cold and windy.   Everyone braved through it and took on the newly remodeled track.   Highly technical, with big jumps and deep middles, this was a track to test even the best riders.

Profile AA Pro/Elite Men, Tyler Faoro was up to the challenge but the track was tricky.  He looked strong in his qualifying motos, jumping the big pro sets and flying through the rhythms.  In the semi he ran into trouble in one of the turns, which left him just out of qualifying for the main.  On Sunday, again Tyler was strong in the motos.  In the more crowded semi, a slow gate meant he had to battle through the pack to work his way into the main.  He made great strides but ended up 1 place short of transferring.

Madera vet pro, Joey Albright, was sporting a new look for the weekend.   After losing a bet, he had to shave his head bald.  Maybe it was the aerodynamics of the chrome dome or the week of training with Tyler but it made him even faster.  He turned in solid performances in the motos and when it came down to the main he had a great first straight and came out third.  But the tough track got the better of him and down the third straight he pulled a muscle that slowed him up.  He ended up taking home a seventh place finish.  Over the night the pain became too much and Joey had to sit out racing on Sunday.

Shay Shay Glynn brought her west coast style and speed to Florida.  She was looking super fast and smooth in the motos of the Junior Development Girls class (aka Junior Deva’s).  Shay was the diva of the day on Saturday as she took home the first place finish.  In the 15 girls class, she took home a second.  On Sunday, she flip-flopped the finishes taking a second in Junior Deva and a first in 15 girls.

Lauren Lanzilotta was not slowed up by the big jumps.  She rode tough in her motos and made it to the main both days in the 10 girls class.  On Saturday she took home a sixth.  But Lauren was not satisfied with that.  After fueling up on a mix of complex carbs, protein and vegetables at BD’s she roared around the track and into fourth place on Sunday’s main.

Tanner Engel, racing 11 expert was ready to show off his skills at the Oldsmar track.  He rode tough through his motos and semi and took home a fifth in Saturday’s main.  Like Lauren, Tanner knew he could do better and on Sunday he got just a little faster and smoother run around the track and took home a fourth place finish.

For some of the Profile team, the track and big tough classes made making the main event even harder.  9 Expert Casey Minthorn looked strong in his motos but was not able to make it all the way to the main event either day.   Shane Hall racing 17-18 expert and 17-25 cruiser also had a tough weekend.  After looking solid in the motos he could not to get the mains on Saturday.  He fought back on Sunday and managed to make the main in cruiser and take home a third.

In 14 Expert, Garrett Lanzilotta and Caleb Minthorn made a strong showing for Profile.  With 19 riders and semis before transferring to the main, the classes were stacked with talent.  Garrett “G” was really riding well in the motos.  He is getting faster and smoother each race but it wasn’t quite enough to get him to the big show this weekend.  Caleb was also racing the Junior Devo Boys as well as the expert class.  On Saturday, he took home a fourth place finish in the Junior Devo and second in expert.  On Sunday, in the Junior Dev class, Caleb was flying around the track in the motos.  He was so fast down the third straight; he almost lost control several times each moto.  By the main, he settled down, pulled it together to take home the fifth.  In the expert class, he had even more control and took home a big win!

Eli Weiss, Brian Perez and Nick Lucas all raced the 19-27 expert class.  They had 29 riders and had to get through quarterfinals and semis to make the main.  Eli was looking really good on Saturday morning.  He transferred to the quarter in his first moto.  He made it out of the quarter and had a shot to transfer out of the semi and into the main, but was just a little short both Saturday and Sunday.  Nick also made it through motos and quarters to the semi.  On Saturday, he was in a position to transfer to the main but got blown up down the last straight away and watched from the sidelines.   On Sunday he was focused on redeeming himself and made it all the way through qualifying to take home a sixth in the main.

John Pringle was racing the 41-45 cruiser and 41 and over expert classes.   John’s “flying brick style” was not well suited to the “jump big or go home” design of the Oldsmar track.  Still he tried his best and got around the track as smooth and as fast as possible.  It was enough to the make the main on both bikes both days.  On Saturday John got seventh on cruiser and sixth in expert.  As he got more familiar with the track he was able to improve to a fourth on cruiser and a fifth in expert on Sunday.

The team faced a difficult track and a big challenge this weekend and did well.  Next stop is the Florida state qualifier in Ft. Walton Beach in 3 weeks.

The Profile team would like to thank everyone at Profile Racing and all our sponsors for making it happen!

ABA & USA Cycling Plan Big Races For USAC National Championships!

NBL ELITE CLASSIC AND ELITE OPENS

Attention, Pros! - Here's a nice chance to pick up some extra prize money and have some fun at some NBL Nationals!)

NBL ELITE CLASSIC SATURDAY

The following classes are qualified for the Elite Classics:

AA Elite Men (age 19+), AA Elite Women (age 17+), A Elite Men (age 17+), Masters (age 30+) 

Locations - All NBL Championship Events (Saturday) beginning in Peachtree City, GA and ending at the NBL Grands. Best four (4) race scores from the Elite Classic plus Grands will determine the Champion.

Prize Money - 100% payback, minimum $1250.00 AA Elite Men, $1000.00 AA Elite Women and A Elite Men, $750.00 Masters.

Year-end awards - Each class ...1st- Trophy, Jersey & $2500.00 -- 2nd $1500.00 -- 3rd $1000.00

Additional rules 1. Each round of motos the competitors will be scrambled. ... 2. Starting lane selection order for the Main (Final) will be based on the lowest Moto points earned.

Pro Am / Super Pro Am

Category 3: Pro Am – The virtual team sheet will pair every Am regardless of proficiency with a Pro rider. The winning virtual team will split a prize valued at $2000.

Category 4: Super Pro Am – These are one-day events held on Sunday after the Nations Tour Pro races. They will feature a Pro Open with an increased purse. The virtual team sheet will work the same as at ProAm races but with a $4000 prize.

NBL ELITE OPEN SUNDAY - Open format. 100% pay back. No points or year end award.

Alienation Grass Roots 2011

Alienation is now accepting applications for our 2011 Grass Roots Support Team.  This sponsorship opportunity is set up for the individual racer/team and is designed to give back to hard core BMX racers everywhere.

Want to join some of the best riders and teams in the sport riding Alienation product?

Gain access online to place your team orders from home.

Teams like the Australian BMX National Team, BMX Mania Factory Team, Dan’s Comp, Supercross, Haro,  Formula/Europe, GT, Hyper Factory BMX, J&R  Factory, MJT BMX, Morphine Racing, New Zealand National Team, Rennen/intense,  and more.

Top level riders, like our Alienation Factory Pro’s , Jeffery Upshaw, Tommy Zula, Barry Nobles and Dominique Daniels.

Please contact Rob Morgan at rob@alienationbmx.com for more information.

What do BMX and Surfing have in common?????????

DeFeet International Expands

 Partnership with BMX Racer

Maliek Byndloss

Supercross's, Kris Fox is never far from a BMX bike. He works with them at Supercross BMX, he races them, he gets dirty on them at the trails and he can throw down at the skatepark with the best.

Awesome video job shot and edited by Dylan Pfohl at pfohlfilms.com

Kris Fox: BMX Rider from Dylan Pfohl on Vimeo.

Supercross BMX Heads On To New Digs!

WHAT? Yes, you heard right! A Supercross track outside for Courtney Tomei and Kris Fox to jam on when Bill gives them a break from their frenzied efforts to sell Envy frames, cranks, hubs, DH frames and all kinds of other SX paraphernalia......NICE!

www.supercrossbmx.com

King of BMX Saturday night

March 5^th, 2011

 *$1,000 purse!

Entry fee- 30.00

Overall score from all three parks-Skatepark, Dirt Jumps, BMX track!

Contestants will judge themselves, then try to beat the clock on the track!

The King of BMX is an awesome, unique contest to see who is the best over all BMXer (park, dirt jumps and racing). Each contestant that runs all three venues has the chance at being crowned ‘King’ as we add up all the scores  for the overall winners. Points are simple- 1st place= 1 point, 2nd 2 points and so on, lowest points is the winner. All tie breakers for the overall are determined by the fastest time on the track). Racers, Park riders and Dirt jumpers- all competing for the title…..’King of BMX’.

Spectating is free and the action is unparalleled, so don’t miss this one of a kind night of BMX madness!

Directions-From HWY 98 go north on Beal Parkway to Hollywood Blvd. Head west on Hollywood to Jet Drive and go to 126 Jet Drive and turn into the Fred Hedricks Rec Center and the park is located down by the soccer fields.

Maris' message was simple but profound:

1. Believe in yourself.

2. Work Hard.

3. Surround yourself with good people.

Maris took his Free Agent Limo bike and Free Agent/Rockstar gear with him for a little "Show & Tell", which the kids LOVED.

Other students will get the chance to meet Maris as more school visits are to be announced in the area.

The kids have a right to be stoked, a class like this even beats recess!