Paul Thoelen, Irek Rizaev, Pat Casey, Marin Rantes and Declan Brooks also representing either team yellow or team red, the show almost could not go wrong. The riders always make sure it's a success. Tom van den Bogaard's move to Monster Energy during the week came as a surprise but it was no surprise that Monster picked up the rider from Aarle-Rixtel. Tom and Ben Wallace were the riders pumping the heck out of the step-up the most and alomst hit the roof by doing so. The 2000 spectators (sold out) loved it. 
There were plenty of non-BMX people watching who must have left impressed by what they'd just witnessed. This crowd also loved the triple whips, flairwhips and flip variations of the likes of Rizaev, JeanJean, Rantes and Coleborn but missed out on the tech tricks of Casey, Watts and Leiva and could have shown as much love for the stylish riding of Justice and Thoelen. The field had all kinds of riding styles so in the end everyone got to see what they came to see. 
When Darryl Nau announced the winning team of the evening (Team Drew Bezanson) the 2000 deep crowd was still there. DJ Redbeard was still playing tunes while the riders wrapped up a week of good times. It's a bummer the place is being taken down already as many would have loved to ride the set-up. The good news is that the wood will appear at some stage at the Area51 park in Eindhoven (040BMXPARK) for a tune-up. An event well done. Let's hope it won't take another 6 years before we see one in The Netherlands again.
BdJ
Pics by Red Bull Content Pool.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.