Anne
Caroline Chausson is a fun rider to watch. Style, speed and
a winning experience from years of MTB and BMX world titles
make her a THREAT in any World Class race.
Australia's, Jared Graves had a good day at the office in
Beijing. Sign Jared up for a big Third Place finish at the
Olympic Test Race.
"Want
Some?" UCI SX China winner, Donny Robinson wants
to share his Big Moment with the fans. dR was Livin' Large
in China. BMX Rock Star Status!
The Afro Bob Files
Fun and Games with 'ol Fuzzy Head!
One
of the best! Big Bob, out front and looking in fine Olympic
form the "year before".
The
heat was INTENSE, Tuesday, and Robert showed the strain
after the Final. In his semi, he had to crawl hand over hand
up the stairs because his legs were cramping/whipped.
The
Fro'd One offers some props to First Placer, Donny Robinson.
Nice show of sportsmanship, Bob!
Dutch
Coach, Bas De Bever gets an Ice Cold Victory shower and
abrasion to his scalp at the hands of....Uno Who after Uncle
Afro took a BIG 2nd place in Beijing! Just kidding about the
abrasions, but Bob Don't Play when he plays.
Robert and Jared Graves have
a little Champagne Shootout while Donny works on gettin' his
bottle ready to blow!
Afro Bob Attacks! After the Medal Ceremony and spraying it
out with Jared Graves, Bob hopped off the Medal Stand and
headed across to the spectators with an evil grin on his
face! Check out the look of TERROR on the face of the Trophy
Babe. Evidently she's never seen the Dutch Wildman before!
BAM! The Afro'd One serves up some champagne for UCI Johan,
Trackbuilder Tom and Macho Mati, the UCI Event Team. No
higher honor than to get served by the riders, good job,
guys! Chek out the Trophy Chick now, she's hiding behind the
guy in the suit!
The "Good Luck Beijing"
2007 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup wrapped up its 2-day
competitions this afternoon as Donny Robinson of the US
and Shanaze Reade of the UK won the titles in the men's
and women's events respectively.
The event, held in China for the first time, will not
only help promote the sport among young people in this
country but also enable the local organizers gain
precious experience for the hosting of the Beijing
Olympic Games in 2008.
West countries set the trend
Judging by the results of the World Cup, west countries
still dominate the sport with 18 European and 8 American
riders entering the men's last 32. On the women's side,
Europe and the United States combined for 11 spots in
the top 16. Besides, Australia is also making progress,
as many of its riders cruised into the second round.
On the contrary, all the Asian riders were eliminated in
the group races.
Originated in the state of California, USA in the late
1960s when teenagers imitated their motocross heroes on
their bicycles, BMX has been popularized not only in the
States but also in the world, making its way to Europe
and Australia in the next few decades.
First BMX track for the Olympic Games
Covering 1.89 hectares of land, the Laoshan BMX Venue
boasts a competition track, a warm-up track, 2000 seats
for spectators and 190 seats for the media, as well as
two temporary stands and supporting facilities.
Speaking of the venue, the first of its kind in the
world, British rider Shanaze Reade who won the women's
event said: "It's a great track and it's a whole new
experience for me to compete here. I really enjoy it."
The International Cycling Union technical officials Mats
Notlind and Johan Lindstram also applauded the venue:
"Even if it's not the best, it's one of the best."
X-Games and youngsters
The X-Games is a multi-sport event featuring action
sports.
Competitors perform in many different categories and
styles. The competition has helped to make action sports
more popular among sports fans, especially youngsters
around the world.
In addition to world-class competition, the X-Games
events also showcase X Fest - ultimate action sports and
music festival complete with live music, athlete
autograph sessions, interactive elements, a mini skate
park and BMX park, demos, and more. Combined X-Games
produce a festival-like atmosphere.
BMX is one of the action sports demonstrated at these
Games. The riders, with dauntless courage, make
unremitting efforts to make their dreams come true. As a
Chinese rider put it, "If you fear to get injured, stay
away from it."
Monday/Time Trials
Time Trials, a preview To BMX Olympic
Insanity?
Men's Page One
Men's Page Two
Men's Page Three
Women's Results
Complete Time Trial/Qualification Results
Above
Top Hopefuls, Bubba Harris (Dislocated
Ankle) & Khalen Young (Chest Injury) Injured.....Out For The Race!
(Whew! Somebody pass me my heart medication, I may not be
able to take much more of this!)
Monday
Photo Gallery
The Olympic Track is AWESOME!
French Guys, Moana Moo Caille and
Thomas Hamon chase a little practice before Time Trials. Both guys
made the Tuesday race.
UCI BMX World Champ, Kyle Bennett
turned in the second fastest time of the day.
New Zealand's, Marc Willers made the
Field Of 32.
It's a BMX Field Of Dreams.
Some Chinese press people getting a
chance to talk up one of their new BMX riders.
Sunday/Practice
This is NOT a test, but there were a lot of
questions!
Argentina's, Cristian Becerine,
getting "Reflective", waiting for practice to begin at the
UCI BMX Beijing Supercross Race.
CHECK IT OUT.....A
SUPER HOT Sunday/Practice Day greeted the 140+ riders who made the trip to
Beijing for Round Two of the UCI BMX Supercross.
For the ladies, this was Day One of the series as they will only be racing Two
Rounds this year as the UCI work them in to
the High Speed/Big Hill/Track format which has been going on for the men now for
four years. The "Question Of The Day" was, "Can the Elite Women handle
the BIG starting hill/jump combination that marks the beginning of the UCI BMX
SX races?"
'Afro' Bob DeWilde, loomin' large
over the Olympic Village!
Good question, but before that one was ever
answered, another BIG "Question Of The Day" showed up! Say GOODbye to the
"Slingshot Start", boys and girls cuz the UCI just rolled out the first ever
implementation of the Random Start in BMX! Long a staple of Mountain
Cross/Fourcross and Downhill Mountain Bike racing, the day has finally arrived
when it showed up at BMX and guess what? It wasn't that big of a deal? It was
strange to hear the Gate Voice say telling the riders that the starting sequence
was going to be "Random Start". After that, it was just a matter of waiting 1 to
3 seconds to hear the normal voice cadence and 'four horn beeps' that mark the
beginning of every UCI related race. It was handled well by the Elites, no
problemo. Everybody better get used to it, because there WILL be a Trickle Down
Effect as the major national series races will all have to use it if Elite and
Junior Men's and Women's racing is in effect. NOBODY went over the gate because
they were too anxious or too nervous about 'waiting' for the cadence to begin.
Kamakazi should be named Kama Krazy!
The Netherlands', Ivo Van Der
Putten, airin' it out over the second straight.
Question #2 Of The Day was answered when Team
USA's, Arielle Martin (Read all about Arielle's exploits at (www.go211.com/u/bmxdiva)
and Kim Hayashi eyeballed the slope, ramped up and were the first Elite
Women down the Massive Olympic Starting hill, and "Question Two Of The Day" was
answered. NOT easily though! The MASSIVE speed and Mach One First Straight took
it's toll on several of the Elite Women as Australia's, Mellissa Mankowski,
got busted UP when she nose wheelied down the back side of the first doubles at
Way Too Fast Speed, went Over The Bars and chest/face planted BIG TIME. It
looked SOOOOO bad, you could hear an audible gasp from the crowd. Mel, tried to
gut it out (If you don't know her, she's a toughy, Fo Sho!) but after
pretending, maybe 'hoping' that she was going to be able to just sit it out, the
med staff rolled her up and trucked her off hospital. Most recent word is that
Mellissa will be OK, but tore up a bunch of stuff and will NOT be racing. Bad
Deal. Another couple of casualties with the First Straight Blues were Krystal
Hime (USA) and MTB legend, Anne Caro Chausson, both of whom got up
and walked (Slowly!) from their respective blow ups!
BMX Tourist! Not really.....Pierce Barker is the guy
who makes the Pro Gate system, it's probably a business photo. Yeah
Right!
AND, several of the
Chinese Elite Women, many of whom couldn't have been on a BMX
bike more than a couple months, exploded in different fashion at some point on
the Jet Set Warpath that served as a First Straight, but, 'Hey', gotta give em
some BMX Mania Good Effort Buttons, cuz, they got up dusted them selves off and
motored back up to the Launch Ramp to do it up again. It was interesting to
savor the smell of burning rubber sometimes, though as some ladies had to lock
up the brakes on the way down El Biggo Rampo, to keep from incinerating over the
first dubs! I swear, BMXers, this UCI Supercross Series is the BEST, and worth
the price of admission to see. Still time to plan a BMX Vacation for Salt Lake
City, USA or Frejus, France comin' up!
Jill Kintner & Afro Bob talkin' a
little BMX shop, hangin' out at the Olympic Venue...Nice!
Even though this practice day wasn't a test for
the riders, a lot of the Elite Men had to go to Study Hall to work out their
trajectories for the Second Straight Elite Men's Pro Section. Very few riders
made the whole straight, and the list was not limited to guys who just started
recently. This whole track, while it was designed and built by UCI BMX's, Tom
"The Builder" Ritz, who has built more tracks than most people will ever see
in their entire racing career, it was very different in that Tom had to work
with a building crew that had never built a BMX track before, and the track was
built a long time ago and was maintained by the new helpers while Tom's been off
building all over the world. So, a few adjustments between the first round of
Elite Men and the second round led to a better flow and as happens on a pretty
regular basis in BMX, adjustments will be made before the big race and, believe
me, everybody will be Jammin' Tomorrow. Jammin' to the terrible reggae/hip hop
music that played over and over all afternoon......But that's another story.
Bubba Harris gets lots of attention.
"Uh Hum, Bub, your briefs are gappin!" Bubba don't care he just
wants to ride hiz Redline! UCI Video c/o Sandy Stevenson.
Lots of stories floatin' around, but there'll be
MORE stories hatched as another round of Morning Practice for all three practice
groups will roll, followed in the afternoon by the ALL IMPORTANT Time Trials.
French Dude, Damien Godet, lookin'
good at the SX BMX race. Dman likes these deals, look out for him.
Each rider will get two rounds, and the fastest
Men and Women will be selected to go on to the moto/finals action on Tuesday.
There's the Harris Kid again, with
his undies showin'. The Chinese fans don't care and Afro B is busy
takin' some style points.
Whew! It's hot out there on the track, but you
know what????? It's gonna git a LOT hotter before this party is over, so hang
on, check in with BMX Mania and we'll have all the UCI BMX Supercross racing
action for right here, cuz we're all about All BMX Racing, ALL The Time!
Jerry Landrum/BMXmania.com
Here ya go, Sports
Fans.....The Olympic Track in all it's glory!
Who's At
The Race.....
Elite Men Page 1
Elite Men Page 2
Elite Men Page 3
Elite Women
Friday &
Saturday/Travel Day
"Good Luck
Beijing" Welcoming Committee with BMX Mania Guy.
Shuttle Bus
time!
Luckily the
road signs were also in English, but then no one trusted the driving
to BMX Mania!
WELCOME!
Great Flight/Long Flight.....South Bend, Indiana
USA to Beijing, China = 20 hours of mostly "In The Air Time" but it wasn't quite
as bad as I thought it was going to be. Made all my connections OK, everything
went very well. I read a lot of my 'Band Of Brothers' book, watched a two hour
movie, slept a bunch, it worked out fine.
When I got to the Aeropuerto in Beijing, I
"sailed" thru Customs, no worries, the Chinese were very organized and friendly,
well, as friendly as Custom Officers go! :-) When I got out the door from
Customs, there were HUNDREDS, maybe as many as a thousand people all lined up
looking for their friend, contact, etc. And there right in the front, head
bobbing over the crowd was a kid in an orange shirt with a big sign that
said.....BMX! Nice!
After walking for what seemed like forever to the
end of the line of people crowded up against the barrier between the public area
and the secure Customs area, we met and he took my bags and we headed outside
where we found about a dozen other little "Orange Shirted" kids. Evidently they
are all volunteers who are working with the "Good Luck, Beijing" group that is
organizing this event and then on to the Olympics. Of course, our people are all
just working the BMX Cycling venue.
There have been Olympic "Test Events" going on
here since July 1 in everything from Beach Volleyball to Archery. Baseball is
the event that is going on at the same time as our event. They have six
countries in theirs, we have over 30 countries represented in ours. After an
hour drive we arrived at the Event Host Hotel, the Holiday Inn Chan An West.
It’s a very nice hotel, definitely on the pricey side….it’ll be in such demand
during the Olympics that even the UCI BMX staff will not be able to stay there.
Whoa! The food’s good, the bed is perfecto and Sunday begins the official “Bikes
On The Ground” stuff, opening up with a full afternoon of practice.
It ought to be interesting, it’s definitely the
road to the Olympics for 32 men and 16 women.
On 29 June 2003, the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
decided to include men's and women's BMX, or bicycle
motocross, in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. This
was the first time that BMX is listed as an official Olympic
event in the Olympic Games history. As there is a strict
limit on the number of participants in the Olympic Games,
many outstanding cyclists are denied a chance to compete in
the Games. However, the BMX World Cup allows more cyclists
to join the competition, making it more exciting and
competitive.
More than one hundred riders to compete in Beijing
At a pre-tournament press conference Cai Jiadong, president
of the organizing committee and director of the Cycling and
Fencing Administrative Center under the General
Administration of Sport, briefed the media about
preparations for the upcoming event. The 2007 UCI BMX
Supercross World Cup has attracted a total of 147 top-notch
cyclists, including 44 women, from 21 countries and regions.
If the International Cycling Union approves Hungary's
application to join in this World Cup, the number of the
participating teams will be 22.
The event is not only part of an annual series organized by
the UCI but also another qualifying competition for Beijing
2008. Through this competition, the riders can get to know
about the venue and warm up for next year's Olympic Games.
Women's event included for the first time
The 2007 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup has two events: men's
sprint and women's sprint, which are divided into four
phases, namely time trials for points ranking,
quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. Through time trials
the riders are divided into groups according to their
results to avoid top athletes meeting each other too early
before the finals.
According to Cai Jiadong, "the most distinct feature of this
year's World Cup is that the women's event is added for the
first time, which gives women riders a good opportunity to
compete with each other and get to know the venue before the
Olympics. As the second leg of this year's UCI World Cup
series, the competition schedule and system, and the
conditions of the venue in Beijing are all designed up to
the standards of the Olympic Games."
Team China: No rivals, only friends
The bicycle motocross, a new type of cycling, started in the
late 1960s in the United States. It was not until the end of
the 1990's that the sport was introduced to China. However,
it remained an amateur event dominated by private clubs and
amateur riders. What were more popular at the time were such
bicycle stunts as wallride, something like an extreme sport,
and not the BMX sprint we are talking about today. After
2003, when BMX was included in the 2008 Olympic Games by the
IOC, China began to promote the development of this sport.
Practised by more than 100 riders from 10 provinces and
municipalities, BMX in China, especially the women's event,
has grown very fast in no more than four years' time.
Chinese women riders are now in a leading position in Asia,
among them Ma Liyun even won the women's sprint title at the
Asian Championships held in Thailand last May. In the
meantime, Chinese men riders also rank high in Asia, most of
the time between third and fifth places.
As for the lineup of the Chinese team in this year's World
Cup, Cai Jiadong revealed that China will field four men and
four women riders in the tournament. "We have 28 more riders
from six provinces and municipalities registered for the
event according to the rules, among whom 12 are women," he
said. "However, on the whole China still has a long way to
go to catch up with the high international level." Cai
added. "We have difficulty qualifying for the Olympic Games,
so we have to rely on the wild card. That's why we don't set
any goals for the 2008 Olympic Games."
When asked who would be China's biggest rivals at this World
Cup, Cai Jiadong said, "China is now lagging far behind the
world in this sport, so I think at present we have no rivals
at all, all we have are friends." His humorous remarks
aroused a burst of laughter from those present.
