The 2009 NBL Elite season went out like a lion Saturday night, as four classes of pros gated up and got down to business. BMXNOW will have a full report from Louisville on both the Elite and Amateur classes, but the pace of the weekend marches on, and we have to get out to the track. As an appetizer, check out the photo gallery from Saturday evening’s race, and some of the other coverage (including the top three finishes in each class) on our sister site, BMXNEWS.COM

Above: Maris Strombergs leads the Elite Men’s Main Event with defending NBL champ Randy Stumpfhauser on the hunt for any line to make it happen.

The idea of a Friday Night Elite Last Chance Qualifier was rumored to be in jeopardy, as plans for the 2009 NBL Grands were in their formative stages. But in the end, it happened, and happened BIG. On exit, everyone we spoke to was over-the-moon excited about the action they just witnessed. And most of the riders thought it was both a great show, and some of the most contentious racing they had seen all year (tomorrow, notwithstanding).

Many in the crowd were left wondering: After Friday’s results, is it mathematically possible for Randy Stumpfhauser to come away from the weekend with the same plate he came with, or has Maris made it a mathematical impossibility, where he merely needs to show up as a formality and he wins no matter what? No answer as of this writing.

The four laps weren’t exactly a cakewalk, but nearly every frame we shot of Maris Strombergs Friday depicted him in the lead, in command and enroute to inevitable victory for the day— and, the math may show, for the season. The Free Agent-mounted, 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist had all the right moves in a head-to-head battle in the main event with defending NBL Elite Champ Randy Stumpfhauser. In the end, Stumpy was only a fraction of a second off the pace, but it was enough to keep him on the proverbial left step of the podium today. At the stripe it was Strombergs, Stumpy, and Cristian Becerine, with Bubba Harris getting a call from the tower for fourth.

Masters class was so hotly contested, everyone knew the main would be explosive and a great 39 (or so) seconds of BMX racing. Throughout the motos, and into the Semis, it seemed it could be a three-way jump ball between GHP’s John “The Jackal” Purse, Felt’s Joey Albright and Percy “Spiderman” Owens of Profile. In the main, fireworks were flyin, with Jackal and Joey jammin the first turn at warp (with Jason Sherrill down in an unrelated tangle). Through the second and third straights, it stayed the same. The last straight was a manualing drag race with Joey in the lead and John trying to make a move on the outside, pinching off Percy’s line (at least according to some we interviewed after the fact). In the end, it was Albright, Purse and Owens. Passionate people with perfectionist traits tend to be…well…passionate about their pursuits. Thus, there were some cross words exchanged between Purse and Albright when it came time for the podium ceremony…but nothing registering on the richter scale.

SuperEx provided some super-octane action with a stacked-to-the-rafters roster of household names in the mix. While some may have said it was any man’s race, given the depth of comp on the hoof, it was Morphine’s Tyler Faoro who pulled off a clean and “green” move in the first turn to moto his way to the money. Free Agent flier Fausto Endara and Johs Meyers rounded out the podium.

Watchers of Elite Women have learned that, on any given day, anything can happen at any time. After coming unclipped in the first round, Alise Post had sights set on getting to the main, where she would have her shot at Dominique Daniels and the 27 points that separated the two going in to Friday’s race. The moto math panned out, and the Main event saw Alise lead the race handily with 3D a coupla bikes behind her at the stripe. Amanda Geving made out pretty well too, getting the third place points and obviously improving her sixth-going-in standing.

Congrats, as well, to all the UGP Open winners. Check out Friday’s Photo Gallery before you get mentally prepared for the intensity that is Saturday morning, as the NBL Grand National gets a goin from Louisville.

Podium Results For Friday Night Last Chance Elite Qualifier

Elite Men
Maris Strombergs (Free Agent)
Randy Stumpfhauser (GHP)
Cristian Becerine (Free Agent)

Elite Women
Alise Post (Redline)
Dominique Daniels (Avent/Bombshell)
Amanda Geving (Intense/DynaPep)

SuperEx
Tyler Faoro (Morphine Industries)
Fausto Endara (Free Agent)
Josh Meyers (Troy Lee Designs)

Masters
Joey Albright (Felt BMX)
John Purse (GHP)
Percy Owens (Profile Racing)

Thursday practice marched on with nary a hitch, building to the crescendo of Elite practice under a magenta sky. SuperEx points kingpin Josh Meyers was looking fast and fierce in some proto-ala-moto 2010 TLD duds, while Matt Kelty sat out practice today. Number three in SuperEx points, Logan Collins was in the zone too, until a second turn bell-ringin digger pretzeled his front wheel, and had him down for an eight-count. Last reports were that Logan was skinned up, but ready to suit up for Friday Night’s festivities. Elite Men contendas Maris Strombergs, Randy Stumpfhauser, and Cristian Becerine all made it look way-too-easy out there as they glided the pro section with grace, and tackled other technical parts on the Derby City track with sheer tact.

Elite Women was well represented in the dress-rehearsal for Friday Night’s Last Chance Qualifier, as 3D Dominique Daniels donned her USA jersey, but was rocken a big “AVENT” decal on her plate to denote her new sponsor. Incidentally, Dom is going to finish out the Grands on her trusty Intense Podium before making the switch to her new Avent hardware next week, which should have her sittin’ pretty in time for Chula Vista.

Did not see Masters-class number two and three points-sitters Tommy Opincar and Tim Dinger, respectively, out there Thursday Night…but points leader Dale Holmes was doing decision-maker duty, auditioning both approaches to the last turn (as the pro section is optional for Masters).

More from Louisville throughout the weekend, here on BMXNOW, via Twitter (follow “BMXNOW”), and on the New, Improved BMXNEWS.COM, starting Saturday Morning. Meanwhile, check out the photo gallery from Thursday’s Elite Practice.

The newsmill that is the NBL Grands started churning out good scoop the moment we entered Louisville City Limits. Got a call from Tim Daniels, alerting BMXNOW that a breaking news press release was sitting in our inbox. Sure enough…here it is:

Avent/Bombshell is proud to announce the signing of one of the USA’s most dominant Girl Pros to come along in a long time. “3D” Dominique Daniels has joined the great team at Bombshell. In addition to outstanding bikes and bike components Avent/Bombshell will be introducing exciting additions to our line of products for 2010. Check out Dominique at the NBL Grands sporting her new frame, forks and wheels.

As the current ABA Girl Pro Champ, UCI North American Champ, USAC JR Elite and Womens Elite we are looking forward to seeing how she does competing for her first NBL Elite Womens Title. With a long-term agreement with “3D” we look forward to an exciting future with Bombshell and at age 16 and with only 5 years racing experience we feel Avent/Bombshell can take her to the ultimate for a BMXer — THE 2012 LONDON OLYMPICS.

A big BMXNOW congrats to Dom on finding a well-deserved ride, and best of luck this weekend! Looking forward to posting the first photos of her aboard the new scoot very soon (Tim said they were building the new bike at the track as we were speaking. Above, you can see the new team graphics). Also, big thanks to big Tim for keeping us on speed dial! -M