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AA-PRO: For the first time ever, ABA counted the one-main Friday night spectacle in the Pro points. And in his classic come-from-behind drive, Bubba made it his tenth win of the year, after getting by a very-hard-to-pass Randy Stumpfhauser. Meanwhile, No.3 seeded Donny Robinson was forced to watch from the sidelines, allowing Bubba to bump up his lead to a 196 point spread. This lead many spectators coming to the Redline pits asking if Bubba had it wrapped up…

NO. He didn’t.

This is the ABA Grands, we’re talking about. And as history has proven time and time again, ANYTHING can happen. But it was looking a tad easier – if you want to call making it out of the semi with past No.1 Pro Warwick Stevenson next to you in the gate, “easy.”

After Randy Stumpfhauser made his first Grands AA-main of his career, all of us in the Redline camp knew that “Stumpy” would be a factor … and that he was; winning the first main with Bubba trying every move in his book to get around him. This time, he would have to settle for the 2-spot. But in the second main, Bubba powered straight to the front and didn’t look back. With that win, he and Stumpy now were tied with 3 points apiece going in to the third and final main of the ’06 season. Only one more main event would decide who gets the illustrious silver cup, and who puts their hand to their forehead with their fingers in a shape of an “L.” The starting gate slammed down and Bubba got a good snap … but unfortunately, came unclipped on his third crank and instantly fell 2-bike lengths behind the entire pack.

Could this be it?!

Would this factor Donny Robinson back in to the equation?! Could Stumpy even have a shot at the title with a Win?! Not if the Redline’s Defending Champ had anything to say about it. // Bubba got back on the pedals and reeled 'em in as if he this were the Bass Masters Championship tourney. As the crowd jumped to the feet in anticpation of what's to come, Bubba and his Flight Pro XXL caught 7th place by the first turn. Down the second straightaway, he blasted by another to move in to the 5th position. While Stumpy proceeded to lead the charge, Bubba hit the rhythm section at mach speeds, choosing the outside line with D.R. now in his sights. Bubba was on a mission and pulled up alongside Donny about halfway down the third straight. Without giving the polite-cyclist warning of "On your left" Bubba flew past Robinson and took over fourth place.

What excitement!

With 7 points (2-1-4 in the mains), that was just enough to score 2nd place overall for the day …and most important of all, wrapped up a record-making THIRD consecutive ABA No.1 Pro title for the year.

In ABA history, there have been four Pros with back-to-back No.1 plates ... Brian Patterson, Pete Loncarevich, Gary Ellis and Christophe Leveque. (And Ellis had even taken it twice, twice). But not until now, in 2006, has an ABA pro ever done it three in a row. We would like to think that somewhere in the Northwest, both Pete Loncarevich and Gary Ellis are both tipping their hats in Bubba’s honor. And to the victor went the spoils – as ABA awarded Bubba another $15,000 check for the year-end title, in front of a loud, cheering crowd.

2006 GRANDS AA-pro RESULTS
1 RANDY STUMPFHAUSER GT SANGER, CA
2 BUBBA HARRIS REDLINE PALMDALE, CA
3 CRISTIAN BECERINE FREE AGENT COSTA MESA, CA
4 DONNY ROBINSON FORMULA NAPA, CA
5 WARWICK STEVENSON KUWAHARA AUSTRALIA
6 MIKE DAY STAATS~TROY LEE SANTA CLARITA, CA
7 TYLER BROWN AVENT~BOMBSHELL SAN CLEMENTE, CA
8 KYLE CUSHMAN INTENSE~PHANTOM~ONTRAC SANTA BARBARA, CA

As good as 2006 went for TEAM REDLINE, we’re already looking forward to an even more amazing ’07 season; where BMX Racers will see the introduction of the first Stars ‘n Stripes U.S. National Championships, and UCi points will count for Olympic qualification. It’s going to be a good one – why don’t you plan on joining us at the races!