BMXNEWS.COM will have daily updates and BMXNOW will have the daily photos. I understand GO211 will not be covering this race, so be sure to follow BMXNOW on Twitter for as-it-happens updates throughout the weekend. @ shoutouts help us know people care.
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Nice vibe you put down there Mike. See you in a few my man. Hey, we might need a pix of this, there are actually # BMX Industry Shannon's in the house this weekend. ABA Shannon, Haro Shannon, and Redman Shannon. I'm not sure the Mayan Calendar could have predicted this one! hahahahahaha......
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As may have been written here before, a number of offshore contingents will be in the house in Phoenix this weekend
(IMG:http://www.bmxnews.com/editorial_images/british_team.jpg) British Coach Grant White and Riders Marcus Bloomfield, Liam Phillips and Shanaze Reade walk the Black Mountain track on Thursday (sorry for the iPhone photo—it was a spur of the moment thing).
(IMG:http://www.bmxnews.com/editorial_images/dutch_team_lineup.jpg) I had the pleasure of shooting The Dutch National Team in Chula Vista earlier this week. Watch the front page of BMXNEWS.COM next week for the full session and photos of the team from Phoenix.
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No GO211 makes me sad, but I'll count on Mike for the updates as I hate not being at races to not only watch my kid, but to watch all our friends racing & around the track. It is amazing how much more up to date we are given information these days compared to a couple of years ago, thanks Mike!! Good luck to all & have fun
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Can't wait to Shanaze tear it up and see who can chase her down from the women's side. Also with all the Dutch team in the house who is going to be mixing it up for a spot on the podium?
Will Pajon be there? That would be sick to see Pajon and Reade battle it out.
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Great thread start Mikey!
Connor and I drove in alst night and took a bio-break on the 30 mile Carfree Highway. What amazing colors at Sunset! bluish mountains, mauve skies and proud saguaro cacti standing tall!
Went to a Suns-Jazz game last night, inspired by another dad on another thread.
Today is glorious. 60 ish degrees, cloudless blue sky and finally there are hotels and multiple restaurants within minutes of the track which will make this event much more pleasant in terms of getting dinner and sleep! I am expecting no less than 260 motos, likely 280.
Can't wait to see the Dutch mix it up as well as Shanayze. The short first straight will no doubt result in some ball-ups in turn one. Still a bit of a follow-the-leader track from what I saw this morning, but no doubt there will be some surprises somewhere!
SHould be a tremendous turn out in the Elite class and usually several expert classes have big rider counts making the team intrigue enjoyable to those who enjoy such drama. Me included. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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QUOTE (Thumperpilot @ Mar 5 2010, 02:38 PM)
Nice vibe you put down there Mike. See you in a few my man. Hey, we might need a pix of this, there are actually # BMX Industry Shannon's in the house this weekend. ABA Shannon, Haro Shannon, and Redman Shannon. I'm not sure the Mayan Calendar could have predicted this one! hahahahahaha......
BMXNEWS.COM will have daily updates and BMXNOW will have the daily photos. I understand GO211 will not be covering this race, so be sure to follow BMXNOW on Twitter for as-it-happens updates throughout the weekend. @ shoutouts help us know people care.
Best,
M
Wiht the way they are mining that mountain, they will have to change the name from Black Mountian to No Mountian BMX in a few years.
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Hi all,
Back at the hotel room after a good afternoon of practice, socializing and as always a lot of ordinary, but tasty Olive Garden grub!
Well I have to say, this feels like the first "big race" of the season for me. Seemingly, every team is here, GT and Free Agent both sporting new gear, Van's/Rockstar in the house, tons of Euros and even Hong Kong Stephen Wong.
With all the Euros in the house, there's lots of national uniforms which is cool. And the Euros, especially the Dutch tend to ride more aggressively in practice so the first turn has a little more to watch than usual in practice. Some of the Euros look like they are running 41's or 42's on their front sprockets, too. Looks that way, any way!
Sammy and Rose Cools in the house - long time since we've seen them. Looking forward to seeing Sammy ride. She's just moved to Moreno Valley and will be riding again. Big Ken just had surgery to fuse a couple of vertabrea in his lower back so get well soon, old friend.
Marco of Stay Strong fame is back in the US proudly supporting Stephen Murray and doing the best to share his English charm with the locals. A good man, to be sure.
Elite practice was amusing in that there were so many riders it was taking 13 - 14 minutes per rider per lap. Other than the Swiss who seemed to average about 20 minutes. I joked with Grant White, "I guess practice is more polite and orderly in Switzerland"? We always called it "A Schedule Practice" when Connor was younger meaning push if you want a lap!
The track looked good upon arrival, but after visiting the rear of the first turn, I discovered a frickin' mud bog like the La Brea tar pits. Clearly this place has been buried with rain and the fact the track is in such good shap is a testamant to the hard work of the locals and the ABBA staff over the last couple of days.
97 motos in the pre-race tonight, but I am sticking with my 260+ moto prediction. The track is an easy, non-technical one so no need for extra practice fighting traffic for many, I am guessing. Plus all the foreigners probably went to dinner and their hotels tonight. And they aren't foreigners, they are guests. My bad.
Mike Day and Khalen Young are here, as is the gentleman's gentleman, Matt Pohlkamp. Classy man. So is Prokop from the Czec Republic, La Praz from Switzerland and the list goes on. DR looks more focused than the last few races and appears formidable.
In the ams, I saw Maliek Byndlos and his mom (sans the little dog) making their way out west. I respect that they are rising to the challenge that if you want to be the best, you need to come west. Polite and charming Justin Posey is in the house, too. Relax Michelle, he's awesome and in Matt P's capable hands.
The guys taking money for parking are trying to keep the Pros and everyone from using the road in front of the parking lot for warm-ups which I think is kind of futile and unreasonable. But I am sure they're doing what they've been asked and they're being reasonable and polite about it. A nice change!
I think we're going to see blasting in turn 1, though not always on purpose as it is quite small. Turn two might be busy as it is wide open and the last turn is also small. As Tony D said in the pits tonight, "If you're in 4th you probably aren't making it in the semis".
I think we're going to have a great weekend for sure!
This post has been edited by Mike Fields: Mar 5 2010, 09:36 PM
Mar 4 2010, 10:53 PM
