11 BOYS: Next came 11 year old BMX prodigy REDLINE’s BROCK HEFFRON, who helped Team USA out by scoring one of the country’s first victories. For Brock, hailing from Arizona, this was his second consecutive Worlds title. And this year, he literally CRUSHED ‘em - holding a 8 bike length lead by turn two!
14 BOYS: Redline~France’s ENZO SCHILLING was laying down his horsepower like the Ferarri he’s named after, but in the main was pushed back to a 4th place.
Coming in to this event, Champions Australia~Redline’s MELINDA McLEOD, Canada~Redline’s TORY NYHAUG, UK’s SHANAZE READE, and Redline USA’s BROCK HEFFRON and DENZEL STEIN were all shooting for a repeat performance from last year. 15 GIRLS: As she has done for many years prior, Aussie supergirl MELINDA McLEOD stomped her comp. From the start, she pulled away from the packover the first jump. With superior jumping skills and mad power, McLeod won by bike lengths and holds on to that W-#1 plate.
16 BOYS: Redline was all over the 16 Boys podium! Down the first straight, Tory was up in the front of the pack but launched like Evil Knievel off the double jump entering turn one. Flat bottom landing! Meanwhile, this left Redline~France’s ANDRE SYVAIN took over and stretched his lead. For the next straightaway, Tory had fallen as far back as 5th, but got back on his built-in throttle down the third staightaway to recapture the three spot. Up front, Syvain and his Redline Flight Pro powered to the stripe and made it another victory for France and Sunex.
25-29 MEN: Everyone who was in Victoria should remember France’s LOIC PERSONNIER. He was the guy who won and then got DQ’ed for overly celebrating his victory. Loic and his new Redline Flight bike were hoping to redeem himself this year, but unfortunately he was squeezed back to 4th place in the final. No controversial celebration this year for the Lapierre Bike employee.
30+ MENS: Redline’s latest pick-p from the UK, TONY FLEMING, is probably kicking himself about now for losing his lead down the third straight. Flem-Dog was lookin’ fine up until some fast Frenchie skied the beginning of the rhythm, which gave him enough momentum to pull up alongside our Redline brit. After some slight elbow-grinding in the last turn, Fleming would have to settle for a 2nd and will seek revenge next year in Australia.
MASTERS: Without Redline’s Mr.Reliable, Jason Carne$, in attendance, this years’ Vet Pro class would all be up to Redline~UK’s ALAN HILL. And he was in the mix for a bit, but was unable to stick with his fellow countryman Dale Holmes. Hill wound up with a not-too-shabby 5th place finish, after a smooth line down the rhythm section, with classic turn-bars over each set of doubles.
UP NEXT: Saturday is Elite mains; starring Shanaze Reade, Kim Hayashi and Ziggy Callen in Elite Women, and in Elite Men – everyone from Netherland’s dominating Orange Crush, to Bubba Harris, Damien Godet, Manuel DeVecchi and Masa Sampei. In Junior Elite, keep an eye out for Denzel Stein like destroy everyone like Godzilla. And on Sunday, all of the Redline amateurs listed above will be back in the mix, aboard their Redline cruisers for a last shot at Worlds fame and Chinese glory.
photo courtesy of Jerry Landrum/BMXmania.com
UCi World Championships~China: Redline scores wins by McLeod, Syvain, Heffron & Saya
May 31, 2008
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After the first two days of Amateur action in China, Redline’s Global Team riders have already scored their fair share of victories and podiums. 9-GIRLS/10-BOYS: The first Redline’r to stand atop the Worlds podium was 9 year old girl SAYA SAKAKIBARA. Living in Australia, but doin’ ir for Japan, “Sock-it-to-’Em” Saya scored Redline’s first (of many, we hope) win. Saya’s brother, KAI, kept the fastness in the family with a 4th in 10 Boys.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.