With 2009 being the debut of UCI Continental events with ABA BMX racing, the buzz is all around. There`s lots of media on hand and many of the sports top athletes from around the world were on hand to take a shot at getting some much needed points towards the UCI ranking and ABA BMX titles. The first UCI event of the 2009 season was ruled by GT`s Mike Day. The second UCI event of 2009 would be ruled by GT`s Joey Bradford. Joey`s got to be THE most improved AA PRO/Elite for this season picking up his first AA PRO win in Reno and now picking up his first UCI Elite in Lake Perris. Coming in a very, very close 2nd to Joey Bradford was current UCI World Champion and 2008 Olympic GOLD medalist Maris Strombergs. Maris is settling in to his new Free Agent ride and seems to be adapting well to the racing here in the USA. To round out the UCI podium for the day would be MR. CONSISTANT himself, GHP`s Randy Stumphfhauser. Randy`s always a threat to win at any event he attends and he`s one of THE most professional guys out there!
JR. Elite would be owned once again by Redline`s Denzel Stein. Denzel has been the man to beat in this class thus far this year. Free Agent`s new wonder kid, Connor Fields rode a solid race and finished 2nd and back from injury for the 2009 season, Redman`s own Corben Sharrah continues to impress the fans with a respectable third.
Elite Women went down like this, ABA National #1 Ladies PRO, Dominique Daniels keeps her streak alive and makes it two in a row for the top UCI podium spot. Second went to GT`s Arielle Martin. Arielle was fresh off the JR. Development camp down at the Olympic training center in Chula Vista, CA. and it looks to have paid off for her. She`s been getting use to her new GT ride and she`s been representing the GT brand very well both on and off the track. Third went to Stephanie Barragan. Stephanie`s always a solid podium contender and can never be counted out for the win!
ABA BMX PRO points day one saw 2008 Olympic Silver medalist, Mike Day take his second win of the ABA BMX season. With this win Mike steps into the ABA BMX PRO points lead for the first time in his PRO career. Mike proved to the fans that he`s a MUDDER for sure! Clayborn`s, Barry Nobles kept Mike in check with a solid 2nd place finish. Barry had a rough January on the race scene, but he looks to have his old "Alabama Slamma" swagger back in February. The third place podium spot went to Answer`s favorite son, Travis "The Rock" Ohrazda. This was Travis`s first ever AA PRO podium in his young career and I can tell from the way he`s been riding this season it won`t be his last. Travis shocked a lot of big names in Lake Perris and he`s definitely a rider that`s on the BMX radar from here on out.
On the Ladies side once again defending Champ, Dominique Daniels took the top honors in the class. A very impressive second went to Clayborn Bikes "Insane" Brooke Crain. Brooke`s been a rookie PRO sensation this season and now sitting number two in the PRO Ladies points. Third went to Stephanie Barragan once again. Stephanie looks to be a rider we can expect on the box at each ABA BMX event this season. There`s new crop of ladies PRO`s this season looks to be a great addition to the class. They have really help to elevate the ladies racing thus far.I can hardly wait to see who ends up the champ this year!
Vet Pro was stacked as well. The VET PRO class has become a who`s who in BMX titles of the past. Names like John Purse, Dale Holmes, Greg Romero, Jason Carnes, Kenth Fallen, Eric Rupe, and so on, and so on. It really is a exciting class to watch. GHP`s John "The Jackal" Purse nailed down the win on day one taking his win streak to 3-in-a-row. But Free Agent`s Dale Holmes broke the streak on Day two by taking the win. Both Jackal and Dale traded out first and seconds for both days. That left the third spot open on the podium for Utah`s own Todd "TP" Parry. Todd`s jumped back in the VET PRO Class after a year of battling out out with the A PRO`s at 40 years old. Todd`s 41 and riding a GHP for his home city of American Fork, Utah.
Day two saw "Coach G" Greg Romero back on the podium. Coach G`s been making it out to more events this season and looks to be making his presents known. If Coach G get`s his mind set he just might bring home the 2009 ABA BMX VET PRO title. Things are only going to get tougher for this class. It`s starting to look more and more like the AA PRO class of the 90`s out there. I hear rumors of a few other ex-AA`s that might be stepping back into the ring. I for one am pumped to see all the guys back out on the track!
PRO Cruiserr went down like this Clayborn`s Barry Nobles was not to be denied this weekend. He was riding way to fast to not win something. Barry laid down a super hot lap and took the PRO Cruiser win over Crupi`s Tyler Brown. I would add Tyler Brown as a much improved AA PRO this season as well. Both Tyler and Joey have really stepped up their game for 2009. The last podium spot went out the Arizona`s Joe Sowers. Joe`s took some time off to get his school back on and it was great to see him back out on the track. Pro Cruiser podium first time back aint to shabby Joe!
GO211.com has tons of videos posted from the ABA BMX SO. CAL. Dollar National weekend! The ABA would like to thank all the participants, families, teams, sponsors, and BMX industry for helping make the Lake Perris, CA. event such a huge success!
Rider ABA BMX PRO wins after SO. CAL. Dollars Nationals –
AA PRO
Mike Day – GT Bicycles – 2
Joey Bradford - GT Bicycles - 1
Kyle Bennett – Free Agent - 1
AA PRO
Mike Day – GT Bicycles – 2
Joey Bradford - GT Bicycles - 1
Kyle Bennett – Free Agent - 1
Woman’s PRO
Dominique Daniels – 4
Stephanie Barragan – 1
Dominique Daniels – 4
Stephanie Barragan – 1
PRO CRUISER
Barry Nobles – Clayborn Bicycles - 2
Tyler Brown - Crupi – 1
Danny Caluag – BAWLS/Intense - 1
Barry Nobles – Clayborn Bicycles - 2
Tyler Brown - Crupi – 1
Danny Caluag – BAWLS/Intense - 1
VET PRO
John Purse – GHP - 3
Kenth Fallen – Supercross - 2
Dale Holmes - Free Agent - 1
John Purse – GHP - 3
Kenth Fallen – Supercross - 2
Dale Holmes - Free Agent - 1
2009 Pro Standing through SO. CAL Nationals
AA PRO
1 MIKE DAY 838
2 KYLE BENNETT 648
3 JOEY BRADFORD 608
4 KHALEN YOUNG 448
5 DANNY CALUAG 340
6 DONNY ROBINSON 334
7 BARRY NOBLES 328
8 TRAVIS OHRAZDA 298
9 JAVIER COLOMBO 285
10 DAVID HERMAN 274
11 TYLER BROWN 274
12 JASON ROGERS 264
13 CRISTIAN BECERINE 250
14 RANDY STUMPFHAUSER 188
15 JARRETT KOLICH 178
16 STEVEN CISAR 168
17 MARC WILLERS 160
18 DENZEL STEIN 150
19 DEREK SIPKOI 140
20 MIKE BRABANT 128
21 MARIS STROMBERGS 127
22 KYLE CUSHMAN 117
23 PHIL DELIZIA 115
24 MICHAEL LARSON 111
25 ALEXIS VERGARA 105
26 JOE SOWERS 105
27 KEITH GRINE 105
28 KARL CLARK 94
29 BUBBA HARRIS 87
30 DEREK BETCHER 77
31 SEAN STORMS 77
32 ALAN HUDSON 71
33 DEAK BROWN 71
34 MICHAEL HUGHES 71
35 MICHAEL WEATHERFORD 71
36 YVAN LAPRAZ 67
37 JIM BROWN 40
38 MARTIN SCHERPEN 40
39 MIKE MOELLER 36
40 AARON JOHNSON 34
41 AKIFUMI SAKAMOTO 34
42 KRIS FOX 34
43 ROBERT DE WILDE 34
44 JEFF UPSHAW 23
45 JOSH SMITH 23
1 MIKE DAY 838
2 KYLE BENNETT 648
3 JOEY BRADFORD 608
4 KHALEN YOUNG 448
5 DANNY CALUAG 340
6 DONNY ROBINSON 334
7 BARRY NOBLES 328
8 TRAVIS OHRAZDA 298
9 JAVIER COLOMBO 285
10 DAVID HERMAN 274
11 TYLER BROWN 274
12 JASON ROGERS 264
13 CRISTIAN BECERINE 250
14 RANDY STUMPFHAUSER 188
15 JARRETT KOLICH 178
16 STEVEN CISAR 168
17 MARC WILLERS 160
18 DENZEL STEIN 150
19 DEREK SIPKOI 140
20 MIKE BRABANT 128
21 MARIS STROMBERGS 127
22 KYLE CUSHMAN 117
23 PHIL DELIZIA 115
24 MICHAEL LARSON 111
25 ALEXIS VERGARA 105
26 JOE SOWERS 105
27 KEITH GRINE 105
28 KARL CLARK 94
29 BUBBA HARRIS 87
30 DEREK BETCHER 77
31 SEAN STORMS 77
32 ALAN HUDSON 71
33 DEAK BROWN 71
34 MICHAEL HUGHES 71
35 MICHAEL WEATHERFORD 71
36 YVAN LAPRAZ 67
37 JIM BROWN 40
38 MARTIN SCHERPEN 40
39 MIKE MOELLER 36
40 AARON JOHNSON 34
41 AKIFUMI SAKAMOTO 34
42 KRIS FOX 34
43 ROBERT DE WILDE 34
44 JEFF UPSHAW 23
45 JOSH SMITH 23
WOMEN PRO
1 DOMINIQUE DANIELS 927
2 BROOKE CRAIN 687
3 STEPHANIE BARRAGAN 517
4 ALISE POST 434
5 TAYLOR WOLCOTT 319
2 BROOKE CRAIN 687
3 STEPHANIE BARRAGAN 517
4 ALISE POST 434
5 TAYLOR WOLCOTT 319
VET PRO
1 JOHN PURSE 1369
2 KENTH FALLEN 937
3 DALE HOLMES 744
4 CHAD STREET 577
5 GREG ROMERO 577