LOS ANGELES - This weekend brought thirty-three BMX racers
to an unknown city, and an even more foreign racing course.
After hosting the Downhill competition for the past two years
at Woodward East in Pennsylvania, Woodward West in Stallion
Springs, CA hosted this weekend’s event where more than 3275
people lined the course to cheer the racers down to the finish.
Saturday in the qualifying round, all competitors took to
the course individually for their timed trials, which would
determine their bracket position and the order they choose
gates. All racers went on to the mains on Sunday except for
one, and despite a valiant effort by France’s Thomas Allier,
did not join the other thirty-two in today’s race.
After finishing one and two in the timed qualifiers yesterday,
Brandon Meadows and Kyle Bennett, respectively, went on to
stake their claim at the gold and silver medals after a
competitive eight-man race down the course. "We were all
neck and neck, and the inside lane got it done for me. I
thought Kyle could catch me but I just held on," Meadows said
about his winning run. Local boy and youngest competitor in
today’s main, Michael Day, had the biggest fan club of any other
athlete competing. Friends and fellow racers from Santa
Clarita ABA Racetrack caravanned in a group of ninety, up to
Stallion Springs for the race carrying signs that said
"Mike Day for Governor". Day did not disappoint his fans
today as he proudly wore the bronze around his neck and said,
"This contest was awesome, and I can’t wait to return to
Woodward West."
The ESPN X Games IX Downhill course has been talked about by
riders for months, as it is the best course ever built led by
Planet Seven Productions. "Organized BMX racing has existed
for thirty years, but it took ESPN’s X Games Downhill BMX
race to give the sport the excitement and credit it deserves.
This track was by far the biggest, baddest BMX track ever
constructed," said Harold "McGoo" McGrouther, Director of
Competition for Planet Seven Productions.
|