Among the most consistent main makers in the UCI series, today was the day for Nic Long to summit mount podium. Like the ascent to any summit, skill, timing and a dash of fate all played a role. In the main, the crowd was at full roar, as Khalen Young and Joey Bradford challenged Nic for the lead (Nic’s grip is visible to the far right of frame on the lower photo). KY led the race through the first turn, and into the “Widowmaker” second turn. That’s where the “fate-playing-a-role” part comes in. Khalen went down hard in turn two, with Danny C out of the mix in the process. Nic skillfully negotiated the carnage, and lead Donny Robinson and Cristian Becerine on a white-lightning-style chase to the finish line. Congrats to Nic on his first win of the UCI series, and big props to him for going back to turn two after the race to see how Khalen was doing (shaken, definitely, but seemingly ok). A great example to the youngins on how being a pro is much more than going fast!

More to come from DeSoto after the Monday flight home. Meanwhile, check out the photos from the full weekend on our “sets” page.

 

The Fifth event in the 2009 UCI Continental Series brought BMX deep in the Heart of Texas, for an action-packed Friday on the newly-facelifted Metroplex BMX facility. In Elite Men, David Herman, who saw a couple nasty diggers darken his proverbial doorstep earlier in the day, stayed clear of a turn-two Joey Bradford/Barry Nobles pileup in the main to bring it all the way home. KY was stoked to make the podium for the second time this series, and JRog, Jason Rogers keeps the consistency train rolling with another podium appearance in DeSoto. More to come from Texas on Saturday, for the USAC National Championships, and Sunday for Day Two of the ABA Supernationals (and another UCI event).

Meanwhile, Check out the photo galleries for the UCI Program and Day One of the ABA Supernationals.

UCI Results:

Elite Men Podium:
David Herman (Intense/Bawls), Khalen Young (Haro/Rockstar), Jason Rogers
Elite Women Podium:
Dominique Daniels (Formula/Fly), Alise Post (Redline), Stephanie Barragan (RaceplaceBMX.com)
Junior Men:
Denzel Stein (Redline), Sam Willoughby (Formula), Jelle van Gorkom (Crupi)

It’s never too early in the Midwest to throw the word “summer” into something. Today marked the first installment of a seven-race, 17-Over Money Open Series, dubbed the “Open Wheel Summer Series.” Organizer Fred Yanke (who also rode in the event and made the main), pulled together 18 of the most go-for-it crank pushers in the region. A spectacular wreck at the end of the first straight took out Peyton Dickerson and Josh Coplan in the main, but Dee Reynolds (above) was already way-clear of any traffic threats, as he was gettin all-the-way down to business on the intense Walworth BMX indoor track. More info on the series, and the full main finishes will be posted on BMXNEWS.COM tomorrow.

Meanwhile, there was also a Wisconsin State Qualifier/ Double Pointer happening at the same time, and BMXNOW was there with Nikon in hand to frame it and flash it. Check out the photo gallery

 

The “Janet” planes, and a fighter or two roared overhead as the real fighters were gating up at Nellis BMX. The 79-moto race packed some serious punch into a compact program which, by all accounts, was run efficiently and with nary a snag. A full 21 perfect scores were recorded among the Top classes (Masters, Elite, Super Ex and Womens Elite), as well as Expert, Cruiser and Girls.

Dale Holmes overcame some early day sputtering (third and fourth in the first and second rounds, respectively) to score top podium spot in Masters. Super Ex was a super-nail-biter. With Matt Kelty the only one to take 1-1-1 in the motos, and main men Josh Meyers, Gavin Lubbe, Kristaps Konrads and Weston Pope stacking the gate. It was truly a “who gets the snap…who wants it most” proposition. At the stripe, it was Lubbe with Josh and Matt right there. In Womens Elite, a perfect-going-in-to-the-main Dominique Daniels saw a Reno Redux with a main event upset by Alise Post. Elite Men saw 17 sit down at the poker table we call a starting gate, and play til someone had all the chips. Strombergs was the only Elite hombre going in to the main with “trip aces” in the motos, and the after-the-semis impressions from the sidelines was that he’d earn that fourth ace in the main. That would have been a good bet anywhere in town, because Maris dispensed with the balance of the field in a handily-won dash for the cash. F/A teammate Cristian Becerine was second, and Robert “Afro Bob” DeWilde rounded out the podium. Check out the rest of the Saturday winners in Expert, Girls and Cruiser over on VintageBMX.com.

Follow BMXNOW on Twitter for as-they-happen updates from Vegas, and stay right here for Sunday Results when we get ‘em.

 

Maris Strombergs put it all together today to stay ahead of a stacked rack of (normally AA) Elite Men at the fourth US stop on the UCI North American Series. The podium ended up Strombergs, Mike Day and Free Agent teammate Kyle Bennett. More from Phoenix after Sunday’s race. Follow BMXNOW on Twitter for as-they-happen updates from the infield in Phoenix.

Meanwhile, here’s a preview gallery of Saturday’s Photos.

Also, the full gallery of Sunday Photos are posted.
We’ll be writing more on Sunday once the race results come in.

 

No, not THAT Luke Wilson. This is Luke Wilson of Calgary, not Coldwater Canyon. A press release just came across the BMXNOW teletype with the following important info on Answer BMX (partially edited for space):
Answer BMX is excited to introduce Luke Wilson of Calgary, Canada as the new owner and President of Answer BMX Products Inc. Wilson and former owner Joey Licata of Valencia, CA have finalized a purchase agreement for an undisclosed amount, which is effective immediately. Wilson has hired former Sun Ringlé and Alienation Brand Manager, Ryan Birk as Vice President. Natarsha Williams-Birk will help oversee the daily operations of Answer BMX from the company’s new HQ in Warsaw IN.

Licata, the driving force behind the Answer BMX brand for years, will continue to own and operate his other three brands, Anarchy BMX, Drive BMX and KB from their current California location.

Look for the public debut of the new Answer BMX under Wilson’s ownership at the upcoming ABA Winter Nationals in Phoenix on March 6 where we will make more exciting new announcements.

BMXNOW will be in Phoenix starting Thursday, March 5, so keep your eyes here for photos and race reports throughout the weekend. Follow BMXNOW on Twitter for the absolute up-to-the-minute scoop from the pits and the infield.

Just got a press release from John Purse talking about a really cool "Challenge" race he is promoting down in Puerto Rico later this month (March 29-30, to be exact). So, whether your motivation is sun & fun, or to get down in the dirt for the dollars, this sounds like a really great way to satisfy the crave.

The Medalla Light Ultimate Dirt Challenge has a unique program, and boasts a “purse” (small “p”) that will cause even the most discerning dirt doer to get on Orbitz right now and book it up. Here's how it breaks down:

BMX Dual Slalom Trails Racing: 18 & Over Open BMXR Classification- PRO PURSE: $5,000
Mtn. Bike Cross Country: 12- UCI Pointed Classifications
Mtn. Bike Downhill: 4- Individual Classifications

What, exactly, is "BMX Dual Slalom Trails Racing?" More info on BMXNEWS.COM…

While winter clawed to make a comeback in the Midwest, BMXers from as far away as Southern Missouri and Central Minnesota beat a path to Hobart, Indiana for a much-anticipated Race For Life and Redline Cup Qualifier. With moto counts in the 60s, and temps in the teens both days, many of the mains were easily national moto-quality. In the classes, Jon Jon Rapp and Tyler Whitfield (above) were wango-tango with each meeting (Rapp rocked, when he should have rolled in the second turn, first round, so he got a “bonus” trip second round). In the main, it was Mr. Outside (Tyler) vs. Mr. Inside (Jon Jon), and still these guys were as close as bacon and eggs into the first turn. The finish? Alphabetical.

Check out the image galleries
Saturday’s Race For Life
Sunday’s Redline Cup Qualifier