FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

While Redline’s reigning No.1 ABA Pro and UCI World Champion Bubba Harris recoups from a fractured shoulder, Redline has taken the opportunity to help out and support one of the guys who helped bring Redline to the top rung of the BMX ladder – past National Champion John Purse. Purse, who was planning on racing the upcoming Florida NBL event without a sponsor, was contacted following the news that Bubba would be missing the next 2 rounds, and a short 2-month agreement was quickly reached. 

Round 5 of the 2006 ABA Pro Series was held this past weekend at the world famous Black Mountain track in Phoenix, Arizona. The Black Mountain track has to be the smoothest track on the ABA tour, and one of the fastest tracks as well. With a weekend of great weather, over 300 action packed moto's, and the worlds fastest Pro riders in attendance, it would make for an epic BMX race weekend. Here is how the Double A Marketing riders in attendance finished up for the weekend.

Randy Stumpfhauser had another great weekend of racing, with 2 podium finishes. On Saturday, Randy was looking super smooth and fast all day, and when it was time for the AA Pro main, he was one of the standout riders on the track. Randy finished up just out of the 1st place spot, with a 2nd overall . This was his 5th podium in AA Pro in as 5 races in the ABA. In Pro Cruiser, Randy finished up 5th. On Sunday, Randy looked to podium again in AA Pro, but a 8th place finish in the first main would not allow it and give him 5th for the day. 

Tortelli challenged Everts in Zolder

Weather: rain in the morning, sun and wind in the afternoon Temperature: 13°C
Attendance: 16000 over the weekend

Redline’s reigning UCi World Champ looked like his normal self in the first moto of AA-pro on Saturday; snappin’ hard and powering out of turn one to the familiar 5 or 6 bike length lead … that is, until he hit the double step-up at the usual Mach Speeds that only he can achieve aboard his Flight Pro XL.

As Bubba recalls, “My front wheel just barely clipped the jump and I went flying over the bars.” He got up to a gushing elbow that eventually would need 15 stitches.

Who- You! All amateurs and pros from the California area are encouraged to come out and participate in the first ever Pro/Am races which will award a true year end #1 Overall champ for both Best Amateur and Top Pro!

What- State series race April 1st and 2nd Pro/Am Open races both days with CASH PAYOUTS!!! Get your chance at the exclusive #1 California state plate! Pro/Am is open to any 16 Expert and above with a seperate class for older riders "30 and over" 100% payback with increased pro purse from donating sponsors. Series kickoff the 1st and 2nd, with next race May 6th and 7th. Professional clinic Saturday immediately following the races just $20.00 pre signed or $25.00 the day of the event. 

Over the weekend an important NBL race took place in Las Vegas. Here are some race reports by Haro's Jason Richardson and Double A Marketing's Pete Delewski. Also the results are listed at the end of this update. Jrich is up first:

Chad Roberts Finally shaves his stupidly long, bushy, and grizzled Beard! Why? The duder (dooder) took home the big vet pro win wire-to-wire Saturday night after getting his bike stolen on Friday and building a new one Saturday with just 20 minutes left to practice. Go figure. Anyway, big congrats to Chad. 

With the Olympics coming up (2008) it's up to the riders to score UCI points for their national federation. The more points, the more riders from that nation are allowed to race in Beijing. Dutch hope is in Afro Bob's hands. He did the utmost at the UCI points race in Las Vegas this weekend. Good job Bob! Here's the full results:

Elite Men
1 Robert De Wilde 2 Donny Robinson 3 Derek Betcher 4 Randy Stumpfhauser 5 Mike Day 6 Tyler Brown 7 Henrik Baltzersen 8 Matt Pohlkamp

Elite Women
1 Stephanie Barragan 2 Krystal Hime 3 Arielle Martin 4 Vilma Rimsaite 5 Kim Hayashi 6 Amanda Sorensen

Doug Martin has been hired as the new Director of BMX Programs at USA Cycling. The Director of BMX Programs position was created to help clarify and communicate processes and guidelines by which BMX athletes and teams qualify for competitions. BMX will make its debut as a full-medal sport at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Martin brings to USA Cycling more than 14 years of professional team management experience, including work with GT Bicycles, Nirve Sports, as well as World Championship and Olympic teams. “In addition to an intimate knowledge of the BMX industry and community, Doug brings a tremendous amount of experience organizing and managing international programs and teams,” said Director of Athletics, Steve Johnson. ”The addition of BMX to the Olympic Games is an incredible opportunity for both the sport of BMX racing and American cycling in general.” 

– Monterey, California – So far in 2006, GT Bicycles’ 16 Expert Joey Bradford has picked right back up where he left off in ’05 after winning his first ABA NAG#1 title last November at the ABA Grand Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After, the Grands, the head honchos at Pacific switched Joey from Mongoose to GT. Before his GT debut in Reno, Joey switched up tire size and changed crank length, which gave him some gearing problems. Reno was a start to the year that Bradford feels wasn’t quite up to snuff. Of course for Joey, with a second and third in 16 Expert, anything less than a win is sub-par. Joey made up for it with a 16 Expert double in Bakersfield including a great high low pass between Sowers and Woodmansee to take the lead in Saturday’s 16 Expert main. Check out the following [url=http://joeybradford.com/images/videos/C1assmain1.MOV]movie[/url] to see this main.

A couple years ago, to make things a little more challenging, Bradford started racing a Mountain Bike in cruiser. Bradford busted out his brand new GT MTB, powering it to a pair of thirds for the weekend. Not bad for a bike that’s at least 10 pounds heavier than the competition.

Randy was coming off a strong result from the last ABA National, where he placed 1st and 2nd in AA Pro. Randy had missed the first two rounds of the ABA Pro series, due to a hand injury, but to watch him race in Pasco, you would never know he missed a beat of his training or riding. On Saturday, Stumpy was one of the standout pros in attendance, and once the main events started, he really shined. After a close race with Donny Robinson all day, Stumpy edged him out for the overall win, Randy's 2nd ABA AA win of the season.