Full layout E-Zine coming soon!

ABA All Star National and World Championship

    I'll start off this article with my take on the idea of the ABA "World Championships". If you read any of the message boards you might have heard this race referred to as the "Forlds" (Fake Worlds). I'll be honest and admit that I even have used the phrase, mainly because it just sounds funny. I think most dual sanction BMXers realize that the time honored and UCI acknowledged World Championship is the one being held in France this year. The crucial words there are "dual sanction". Fact is that's currently a minority of the overall BMXers in America. So, having stated the above and also considering that the sanctions do not work together and barely even acknowledge each other's existence, why shouldn't the ABA hold their own world championship?
    You cannot go to the UCI Worlds if you currently only belong to the ABA. If you're from America you have to belong to the NBL. So, what option does that leave for the riders who, by personal, economical, or regional choice only ride ABA sanctioned events? The ABA World Championships. The ABA does not claim these to be UCI, USA Cycling or any other type of championships. They claim them to be the "ABA World Championships" and that's exactly what they are. Ok, so since this is an ABA based event how can it be considered a "World" event? The ABA opens up the race to ANY sanctioned rider. NBL, CCA, UCI - any other country's and/or region's sanction. So, if the ABA World Championships aren't attended by any other country's or sanction's riders it's no fault of the ABA. You do NOT have to be an ABA member to participate nor do you have to qualify by attending any ABA event. You simply show up and see what you can do against some of the best the United States has to offer. Anyway, that's my own personal take on that whole thing. Now, for the race itself...
    The weather - MAN, was it hot - and windy. The track is basically built in a large pit-like area so that it resembles a huge, earth parabolic reflector. It was crazy hot during Friday's All Star National. In the afternoon, around two p.m. or so, the wind would start to pick up and really start blowing. On Thursday during the all day practice I saw more than one of the EZ-Ups by the starting hill take off. Poor little Cameron Lowery was sitting under one of them but he knew his less than a buck weight wouldn't have kept them from going anywhere. Well, luckily Friday would be the worst of it and the temp slowly mediated during the rest of the weekend. The races, however, remained hot throughout the whole weekend. The epic battle between Bubba and Mikey Day was testament to the fact nobody was taking this as anything less than an important title to have.
        Friday's All Star National
    The pro mains started with the girl's pro on Friday. In the first main Brew/ProMax rider Chantel Blanchet had one heck of a pop out of the gate. However, by the end of the first straight some great horsepower and excellent pedal-manual skills gave Redline's Kim Hayashi the lead. Kim kept pulling the comp from that point on as Staats' Arielle Martin pushed up into second and MCS's "fille de merveille" Amanda Geving in third.
    Main two of the girl's pro class Hayashi would leave no doubt as she flew from the middle of the gate. Vendetta's Stephanie Higgins gave chase and did challenge on the inside of the first turn but lost momentum by going so low and Kim continued to pull the class as she did last moto. Geving got the second this time and Martin the third this round.
    In the third and final girl pro main the wind had kicked in fully. This was demonstrated by the usually rock solid Martin actually falling over in gate eight as the gate fell. Hayashi took off again but Martin quickly re-clipped and was determined to get back in the race. Geving was in second and if she stayed there would take the overall second. Hayashi was in a commanding lead and not much was going to take that away. Martin had worked up into third by the second turn. Geving bonked the first jump coming out of that turn and Martin took full advantage. In turn three she swooped Geving and Amanda went off the track. Martin got the overall and Geving's unfortunate off track excursion loaded on the points giving the overall third to Higgins.
    In vet pro, Redman/Yamaha's Darrin Mitchell blasted the gate in main one. However, Supercross rider Todd "TP" Parry is a man on a mission. Parry swooped Mitchell in turn thrree and took the win. Main two there was no questions. Parry pushed the gate down and took off from mid-gate. Redline's Jason Carnes stayed with Parry but could not catch TP. Main three Mitchell had a great pop from gate eight. However, his front tire came down from the first roller a little off. That little bobble was enough to give the opening to Parry. Todd took the lead and didn't look back. Carnes again came up for the second and with that the overall second and TP took the win and Darrin held the points together enough for the overall third.
    A pro is getting stacked. The amount of talent in that class is probably hard to match in any recent times. Challenge/Intense rider Josh Oie must be finally training. He came out of the gate AA style in the first of three mains. He lead the class start to finish. Revtec's Derek Betcher was on Josh but it was Brew/ProMax rider Aaron Johnson that came up to challenge at the end of the lap. It was Oie with the win.
    Second moto Oie again flew from the gate. Betcher settled into second and Johnson into third. In turn two Johnson railed up high and passed Betcher. Johnson continued to pull as he rode the second to last straight a little smoother than Josh and pulled a clean pass in the last turn. Oie gave all he could to battle back but Johnson took the second moto win.
    Third moto Redman/Yamaha's Andre Ellison wanted to prove he's been training as well. Earlier on Thursday he'd been explaining to Mike that he'd been training. As I walked past I heard Andre exclaiming to Mike "Look how Buff I am!". Anyway, he got a great gate. However, Johnson was out of gate one and had the inside and a check to win. Aaron did just that as he pulled away into the lead and took the overall with two main wins. Oie got the overall second and Betcher took the overall third.
    Contrary to what some people thought, almost all of the AA's showed up for this weekend's race. Many had thought that they'd already be in France for the UCI's. However, there was just enough time to make this weekend's race before taking their flights for Europe. At the level the AA's are riding at it's interesting to watch as certain riders hit their peak. You can literally notice when they are "on" and "off". One of the riders who is definitely "on" now and proves it with each succeeding race is Staats' Mike Day. First main on Friday Bubba had troubles on the gate and the pack left him behind. I'm not sure if that would have mattered though as Mike Day was on fire and pulled the class into the first turn. However, the experienced professional John Purse riding for Mongoose was right there and looking to add another national win to his stack. Mike kept the speed up though and won the first main. John got the second barely keeping off a last minute boost by Avent/Fly's powerhouse Donny Robinson.
    Second main was visions of more to come as Day and Harris lined up next to each other on the gate. Harris got a strong pop and took the lead. GT/Hyundai's Randy Stumpfhauser, always in the mix, set himself into second and Day was in third. Day pulled a classic swoop on Randy in the third corner and set himself up for the shot at Bubba. As Harris and Day went down the fifth straight the crowd grew increasingly louder as Day pulled up and on the inside of Harris. In the last corner Day low/highed Harris and took the lead. Bubba kicked it into high gear to get the lead back but the last straight didn't have the room and the pass held for Day.
    Third main looked to be a repeat of main two as Day settled into second behind Harris through the second half of the track. However, with the first round bobble by Harris, Day didn't have to get any higher than where he was and safely took the second with no shot at the lead. He did take the overall with that third round second though.
    Day had his first ABA AA pro win and a ton of momentum going into the World Championship the following two days. Harris got the second overall and with some great, consistent riding Crupi's Jason Richardson added up the points for a third overall.
    Due to the length of the article I'll have to keep the amateur side extremely short. I do want to point out a race that sticks clearly in my mind though. That was the fourteen expert race between Phantom/On Trac's Jake Trevino and Hyper/Tangent's Ben Kubalak. Now it is no secret at all that these two teams love to take each other on. The rivalry is pretty intense. It was great to see an absolutely cleanly fought race between Ben and Jake. These two kids proved not only their skill but their integrity as they went back and forth. Jake would pass Ben, Ben would pass Jake. Never a bump or pimp. Just straight out great riding and excellent racing. I was in the announcing tower as the two battled and heard more than one other person exclaim that that had to be one of the best races he'd ever seen. Ben ended up with the win. Both riders can be extremely proud though of putting on a great show of skill and sportsmanship as well.
    How about the "brothers Morley"? Trevor took the fourteen cruiser main while his older brother Ryan took the twenty-one to twenty-five cruiser class for their sponsor Brat Pack.
    A few other standouts on Friday. Phantom/OnTrac's Chris Blevins - this kid is incredible and usually unbeatable. I say usually - check out what happened in the semis on Sunday. Team member Shelbi Long boostin' the step-up into the first corner - awesome! Answer's Jared Garcia is unstoppable. Sean "Swifty" O'Gorman handily won the thirty-six to forty cruiser class and handed in his vet pro papers for the next day's events.
        ABA World Championship
    Girl Pro Worlds - Hayashi would love to bring the ABA World title with her to France to go for an unprecedented unification. However, the title is equally important to all seven other women on the gate. Kim pops the gate. However, instead of her usual large lead by the first turn Arielle Martin and Amanda Geving are elbow to elbow with her. The battle continues to the second turn and down the third straight. Kim and Arielle hook up going into the third, paved turn and the two strong girl pro riders go down hard. Geving avoids the carnage and goes on for the win. Looking back it takes quite a while for both Martin and Hayashi to get back up.
    Second moto Martin is nowhere to be found on the gate. Hayashi is there but as the gate goes down you can see her give a strong first snap but after that the power is just not there. Blanchet takes the lead and Geving is close behind. Geving flows down the second straight with the determination and skill the Florida native is well known for and takes the lead and on to the win.
    Third maub looses another rider as Redline's flagship girl pro Kim Hayashi cannot make the gate. Geving takes the snap and this time it is TLD/Mini Frenzy's Courtney Tomei who will run with her down the second straight. Again, Geving takes the lead and holds it to the win. The winner and ABA World Champion Girl Pro would be MCS's Amanda Geving. I bet if Kim would have any choice to give the title to it would have been Amanda.
    Well, I'd love to make the vet pro race all dramatic but fact is Todd Parry came out of the gate each and every moto like he was shot from a cannon. The only thing close to Todd was his permanently attached ball cap desperately dangling from his back hip holding on for dear life as Todd turns on the nitrous. Todd was going so freakin' fast he easily cleared the triple step-down on the second straight against the wind. Ok, D-Mitch took the last main but that's due to Todd basically shutting down 'cause nobody was even close in points. No reason to battle and possibly give the last turn some of your skin when you have it locked up. I had the pleasure of getting a couple shots of Todd's family this weekend. That little girl is one of the cutest things on the planet. Congrat's Todd - you've got a great vet pro career going and for sure a great family.
    Ok, so for the A Pro main you're thinking "Oie was flyin' yesterday - Johnson was super strong and took the win - Betcher's first straight is powerful - Lundy's winning streak is still on in the ABA". Well, guess what - Johnson wasn't even on the gate. He didn't make it. Gate drops and BAM - Answer's Danny Caluag pulls himself a big ass hole-shot. Betcher is right there though as is Oie and Japaneese rider Sakamoto. The four fly down the second straight. Oie boosts the triple step-down and next thing you know there's a cloud of dust and the pack is going down. Caluag, Betcher, Ellison and Sakamoto survive. The first main goes in the books exactly that way.
    Second main Betcher gets one of his great starts but Ellison apparently has been working out and beats DB to the first turn. Lundy is right there too as the three go through the first turn in a strike fighter like "V" shape. Betcher is stuck on the outside and Lundy pulls into second as they come out of the second turn. Hyper's Mike Lundy pulls up along side Ellison and goes for a pass in the final turn. However, Andre shows Mike just enough elbow and hip to keep Mike in the second spot across the line.
    Third moto Lundy pulls into his bag of riding skills and even with a mediocre start peddles everything down the first straight and into the lead. From that point Mike just pulls as Caluag, who has low points, settles into second. The pair went one, two and Caluag took the overall win with his great finish in round one sealing the win.
    You couldn't have set up the AA Pro battle any better than in the first moto. Day was in gate one and Harris was in gate eight. It was a main contender sandwich. A top player bookend. The emphasis during the introductions were even based on this fact. It seemed unfair to the six in-between. However, you just couldn't deny the fact that Day and Harris are on top of their game right now. The gate dropped and Harris whicked the throttle. Bubba blasted into the lead with Day in tow. The two went this way for the rest of the track as if the middle section meant nothing. Everyone was waiting for the last turn where Day had it dialed. Harris was on the outside of the fifth straight leading into the last turn almost daring Mike to go inside and take his best shot. Mike indulged and flew to the inside. Day carved the turn and went low and going out of the last turn gave Harris a slight elbow. It was a little too light as Bubba lost no momentum and powered out of the corner and kept the lead to win round one.
    Next moto fate would have Bubba and Day right next to each other in gate two and three. Bubba on the inside got the snap and again flew into the lead. Day was in second and just as it seemed the middle of the track would again be a nuisance to wait out for the last turn, Day goes for the pass in turn three and makes it stick. The crowd is going absolutely nuts at this point. Bubba wins the first moto and Day the second - setting up the perfect situation for the third main. Well, that was what we all thought until Bubba hits the last straight and decides he'd really rather not deal with a textbook drama. Harris didn't miss a peddle down the last straight and powered past Day for the second round win. Bubba had two points and Day had four. Day would have to beat Harris by more than one rider next main.
    Third main the two would again find themselves placed together on the middle of the gate. Bubba grabbed the holeshot again and this time there'd be no drama. Day was right there but found himself stuck on the outside each and every turn. There was no room or opportunity for the pass and Day settled for the overall second as Harris took the ABA World Championship for the AA Pro class.
    So, the amateurs - how could you do any of them justice without talking about each and every class that ended up with a great ABA World Champ? Well, you can't - so I won't try. I'm sure Dan, the ABA site and the BMXer will do an excellent job of giving all the deserving kids their props.
    Here's my best shot at giving some props some of the stand-outs (won two or more classes) at the ABA Worlds. Taking the six and under and six boy's class was E.J. Pasowicz riding for BMX Hex - Avent. Jacobe Abbe's legend precedes him. He won seven - eight open and eight boys. A funny story about Jacob is the emails I've gotten from the UK saying that the photo I got of him in South Park was "fake" and that it was done so in order to intimidate European riders - WHAT ?? Redman's Lain Van Ogle won nine-ten open and ten boys after a recent return from a bad injury in Roseville. Jared Garcia took the eleven-twelve open and twelve boys titles - I earlier stated that he was unbeatable. Well, ConMan Connor Fields looks to be back at full strength taking the twelve cruiser title. Joey Bradford took the fifteen cruiser and boys title for Mongoose and X Balm (I love that stuff). Phantom/On Trac's Joseph (big twin brother to Sean Gaiian) Szurek took the seventeen to twenty-four open and nineteen to twenty-seven boys class. Scott Simmons won the twenty-five and over open and twenty-six to thirty cruiser classes. Kirk Chrisco won the thirty-six to forty cruiser and thirty-six and over boys (can you really call that boys?) classes for his Brew/ProMax sponsor.
    Of course there's plenty of single class winners that deserve mention but again, I'm sure they'll get props in the BMXer and on web sites all around. I simply don't have the room or the energy to talk about each and every one of them.
    Ending I can only say that the race was incredible and exciting. We can only hope for a day when the sanction's battles are productive and while they may never work together hand in hand maybe they'll someday work together for the betterment of the sport. Wouldn't it be great to get to the point where there is a unified World Champion or even an ABA vs. NBL championship done in cooperation of each sanction and with healthy rivalry? I, for one, believe in the need of both sanctions. I also believe that there CAN be a healthy rivalry. We're a ways from that now. So, for now we have the UCI and the ABA World Championships. Each deserving in their own right. Each with importance and credibility.
    Congratulations to all the 2005 ABA World Champions!