FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

Have you entered a Red Bull Circle of Balance competition before?
Keelan: Nope not before so I'm looking forward to it.

Do you think it's right that the event is taking place in Japan this time?
Keelan: I don't really think it matters where it is, as long as riders are there it could be anywhere, but why not Japan, it's massive there.

Do you believe that Japan is the country where flatland is most popular?
Keelan: Probably, I've never been there before but I hear and see on videos that there are loads of riders and it's so crammed with riders everywhere.

Do you have an idea why?

A few Q&A's on the COB with flatland pro Alexandre Jumelin from Paris, France.

Have you entered a Red Bull Circle of Balance competition before?
Alex: Yes, 2 times.

Do you think it's right that the event is taking place in Japan this time?
Alex: This is the perfect place to organize this comp.

Do you believe that Japan is the country where flatland is most popular?
Alex: Maybe

Do you have an idea why?
Alex: I like the style of the Japanese riders, they have good clothes when they ride. That's why it's more fashion there and so much more popular.

Name: Ron Kimler
Age: 35
Hometown: White Lake, Michigan

How did you land a job at Woodward Camp?
Ron: I started in 1991 as an instructor/counselor. In 1997 I met my wife Marcia at Woodward. She was a gymnastics instructor. After we were married in 2000, Woodward offered Marcia full time employment, which worked out great for us. 

Checking in with Martti Kuoppa on the 2007 Red Bull Circle Of Balance to be held on 27 February in Tokyo.

Q: Have you entered a Red Bull Circle of Balance competition before?
Martti: Yes, both 2 before.

Q: Do you think it's right that the event is taking place in Japan this time?
Martti: Yes I think it is a right location to do it. Just because it will add some extra value for the outlook of the event for people in the west and of course in Asia as well because there are many pro riders from different sides of the world. 

The Red Bull Circle of Balance is going to take place in Tokyo, Japan on 24 February. We asked a few of the invited riders of this unique flatland event to answer a few questions for FATBMX. Matt Wilhelm was on the case and you can find his answers and bike check right here.

Have you entered a Red Bull Circle of Balance competition before?
Matt: Yes, I have been a part of the two other Red Bull comps and they were amazing and helped push flatland and my own riding to new levels.

Do you think it's right that the event is taking place in Japan this time?
Matt: I have been to Japan several times, and it seems like there is a lot of interest in flatland over there. It makes sense for the best flatland comp to be in the place with the best flatland scene. 

Name: Zachary Alexander Yankush  aka Catfish
Age: 31
Hometown: Youngstown, Ohio currently doing time in Dayton, Ohio

Did you grow up in Ohio? How was that?
Zack: Yeah....I grew up here. It's not as bad as it's made out to be although the winters are horrible. I had a pretty good crew of ride to look up to when I first started riding in addition to having a semi-local bike shop that would put on contests. Ohio rules. Lots of fat girls though.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Zack: For the longest time I wanted to be a lawyer..just because I had a lawyer friend growing up and he was PAID!  

Name: Dennis McCoy
Age: 40
Hometown: Kansas City, MO

Ten years of BMX freestyle domination. From when to when was that?
DMC: From my rookie pro year in '86 through the end of 1995. The last year there was an overall title.

If there would be a BMX Hall of Fame, you would be the first person on the wall. Do you care about something like that?
DMC: Thanks for the compliment. History is important and should be remembered, but it can also be easily manipulated, so I try to place more emphasis on the present. Irving Feffer summed it up best when he said: 

Name: ALISTAIR JOHN WHITTON
Age: 25....26 on 13th Feb
Hometown: CHESTER, ENGLAND, NORTH WEST MATE

When did you move from England to the USA?
Ali: 8TH 0F FEB 2004 WAS WHEN MY VISA WAS ISSUED, THEN I FLEW OUT A FEW DAYS LATER AND GOT A PHONE AND A TRUCK AND MOVED INTO AN APARTMENT IN STATE COLLEGE WITH MY LADY....

Was it time for a change or what was the exact reason for you to leave the UK?
Ali: I WAS SPONSERED BY VANS USA AND WAS GETTING DOLLARS FROM THEM AND LIVING IN ENGLAND, SO WHEN THAT GOT EXCHANGED INTO POUNDS IT DIDN'T GO VERY FAR BECAUSE OF THE WEAK EXCHANGE RATE. I WANTED TO ENTER MORE COMPS AND TRAVEL THE US, SO I PACKED UP AND SET OFF AND TRAVELED ALL OVER AMERICA..I JUST WANTED TO LIVE OUT MY DREAMS, SO I DID 

How many times have you been to Estonia?
Josh: 3 times

Why do you try to go back every year?
Josh: The contest is soo laidback, the contest lets you sleep all day and ride at night and that's what I do at home so I pretty much fit in well. I really enjoy traveling and don't want to regret not using the opportunities I once had. 

Birthdate: 10-09-1984
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 205 (Skinny, but tall)
Born & Raised in: Born in Tarzana, Cali. Raised in Santa Clarita, Cali.
Current Residence: Santa Clarita, Cali.
Year turned pro: 2002
Current Sponsors: GT bikes, Red Bull, Oakley, UGP, ODI.

Race career highlights?
Mike Day:  2004 X Games Bronze 2004 UCI Supercross Silver Woodward West 2005 NBL #1 PRO 2005 UCI Worlds Elite 2nd Place Paris, France 2005 NORA Racer of the Year Award 2005 AA Pro 1st Place Orlando, FL 2005 AA Pro 1st Place Nellis, NY 2005 AA Pro 1st Place Evansville, IN 2005 AA Pro 1st Place Ontario, Cali. 2006 UCI Worlds Elite 3rd Place Sao Paulo, Brazil 2006 UCI Supercross 3rd Overall 2006 AA Pro 1st place Desoto, TX