Gilbert, Arizona- October, 2005: The American Bicycle Association, the World’s largest BMX sanctioning body, has created an all new Factory Team program for 2006. In an effort to improve the existing program the ABA met with Factory Team representatives during the Blackjack Nationals as well as communicated extensively with several members of the BMX industry. The results are a revamped program which will create a much more competitive and exciting format that will benefit everyone involved. The following are the key enhancements: -The ABA membership publication, the BMXer now features a section dedicated solely to Team competition. The BMXers Team section will illustrate each team’s roster and include a “Team Updateâ€? column which will highlight any recent changes within the Factory Teams.
-The ABA website, www.ababmx.com, will have a new page dedicated to Factory Teams. This new page will include each team with team pictures, a team bio and a team manager column.
-Promoting professional racing is paramount at ABA and to encourage more Factory Team support of pro riders the 2006 Team Sheet has been improved. The new team sheets will allow for a sixth optional rider which may be from any Pro classification. Teams still only count the four (4) best scores per sheet.
2006 Year-End Factory Team Payout
1st $10,000
2nd $ 5,000
3rd $ 3,000
4th $ 1,000
The word “Factory� must appear on all Factory Team rider jerseys on both the front and back where the team name appears. The ABA recommended size of “Factory� is 2� x 7�.
All Factory Team rosters will have a 120 day ineligibility clause for riders leaving a Factory Team.
The 7 day roster addition rule has been dropped for 2006. You may add a non rostered rider and use them the same day. ABA must be notified by utilizing the ABA Roster Update Sheet (available at registration) before the close of event registration.
The Trade deadline will remain August 1st, 2006 for riders leaving a Bike Shop Team and going to a Factory Team.
2006 Year-End Bike Shop Team Payout
1st $ 5,000
2nd $ 1,500
3rd $ 1,000
4th $ 500
The 2006 Factory Team changes will enhance team racing by greatly increasing team exposure, giving more back to the teams in the form of year end cash and promoting professional racing. This is just one of the many improvements the ABA will be unavailing in the near future geared toward improving the sport.
The American Bicycle Association is the World’s largest BMX sanctioning body. The American Bicycle Association sanctions 284 local BMX Race facilities, publishes the BMXer magazine, will sanction over 11,000 events in 2005 and promotes a 27 race National series. Sponsors include Hyundai, Yamaha Waverunner, Game Stop, Industrial Ride Shop, Fly, GT, Schwinn, Mongoose, Redline, Intense BMX, and Sponsorhouse.com.
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