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Gilbert, Arizona- January 21, 2009— The American Bicycle Association and NBC Universal Sports are proud to announce an exclusive four year agreement to televise ABA events and the 2009 UCI Continental events.

The ABA is experiencing steady growth in membership and will continue growing and building upon the great success of BMX racing`s 2008 Olympic debut. The ABA and NBC Universal Sports will deliver over 20 hours of programming per year for the next four years to an ever growing NBC Universal Sports audience of over 40 million homes. With BMX emerging as the newest Olympic action sport in 2008, and with the American’s claiming three of the first six BMX Olympic medals ever awarded, the ABA is poised for tremendous growth leading up to the 2012 Olympics in London.

The televised race series will focus on the UCI events to be hosted at the following ABA National events

ABA Sooner Nationals, Guthrie, OK January 22-24, 2009A

ABA Southern California Nationals, Lake Perris, CA February 6-8, 2009

ABA Gator Nationals, Oldsmar, FL February 20-22, 2009

ABA Winter Nationals, Phoenix, AZ March 6-8, 2009

ABA Super Nationals, Desoto, TX March 20, 2009

USAC National Championships, Desoto, TX March 21, 2009

ABA Super Nationals, Desoto, TX March 22, 2009

ABA First State nationals, Milford, DE June 12-14, 2009

ABA Mid West Nationals, Rockford, IL June 19-21, 2009

“It has been a pleasure to work with BA and the rest of the ABA staff on the organization and execution of the 2009 UCI event calendar,” said Steve Johnson, CEO of USA Cycling. “These events represent the top level of international BMX racing in America and are a critical link in our athlete development pipeline. USA Cycling is very pleased to be involved with such a progressive organization to bring international-level BMX racing to the United States. The ABA has been dedicated to the sport of BMX racing for more than 32 years, and has a clear vision of the future. With this type of exposure for BMX racing in America, I’m confident that the ABA will continue to assist in the development of world-class athletes who eventually represent the United States in international competition around the globe.”

”We are very excited to expose the sport of BMX racing to NBC Universal`s 40 million homes, this agreement will continue to fuel the growth we have experienced since Beijing,” said B.A. Anderson, American Bicycle Association’s Chief Executive Officer. “The ABA has dedicated over 32 years to BMX racing and now that we are an Olympic sport we have a responsibility to our members and the country to make sure that our athletes are the best in the world,” Anderson added.

The ABA is also pleased announce that Hyper Bicycles has signed on as Title Sponsor of the first UCI Continental event to take place this weekend in Guthrie, OK. “Exposure is key for growing our sport,” said Clay Goldsmid, owner of Hyper Bicycles. "Getting the thrills and spills of BMX racing into the living rooms of America is a very exciting prospect. We think this could be a monumental step for the future of BMX. We’re excited to have this opportunity to team-up with the ABA and NBC Universal Sports to be a part of it,” Goldsmid continued.

“On the heels of such an amazing debut for BMX Racing in the 2008 Olympic Games, I am so grateful that ABA BMX, along with NBC, will be allowing many more kids and parents to witness what an all-around great sport BMX Racing is,” stated Hyper Bicycles 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist Donny Robinson. “As a racer, what more can I ask for than a four year televised series? This is unprecedented in BMX Racing and will allow the public to be involved and follow all the pressure-filled qualifications leading up to the London 2012 Games

I think this will be great for the sport of BMX. Not sure I understand how it all will work but 20 hours televised per year is awesome!
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www.baxterbmx.com

hum..... 9 races..... thats lil more than hour of coverage per race.... gives ya time for a pre an post race coverage... disapointing to nbl being that much more exsposeure for aba

i do remember seeing bmx racing on tv tho and they showed all the elite riders and pros... so i watched an thought hey thats neat but i cant do that id get killed and never thought any further into it.. hopefully they will show the younger riders and rookies and even older novice riders to show u dont have to be 15 in amazing shape to do this sport
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hit up HUBIES restaurant/pizzaria or their catering or wood stove shop

This is the stuff we have all always looked to the NBL to get done, and for some reason, it just never happened. Give the ABA the challenge and it seems to get done.

The bottom line here is that this exposure is HUGE. You can't tell me that over the last 10 years, people watching the likes of Dave Mirra, Tony Hawk and Shawn White do crazy stuff on TV hasn't given an incredible boost to their respective sports. Is this an overnight shot of HGH? No. But this might give BMX a tremendous boost.

It is now the job of both the ABA and the NBL to capitalize on this new found spotlight.
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Nicholas Rauch
Owner/Webmaster
http://www.bmxunderground.com
nick@bmxunderground.com

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[quote="bmxundergrounddotcom"]This is the stuff we have all always looked to the NBL to get done [quote]

I fully agree.
But just glad that it's gonna get some airtime whoever the sanction is
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Clint Bonnett
http://www.myspace.com/airportff

Quote:

I fully agree.
But just glad that it's gonna get some airtime whoever the sanction is

Absolutely. In fact in this case, I don't think it matters who is getting the airtime, so long as it is on TV.

I just wonder what it is about the ABA that allows them to get the great contacts and deals with companies like NBC, Disney, Suzuki, etc.
_________________
Nicholas Rauch
Owner/Webmaster
http://www.bmxunderground.com
nick@bmxunderground.com

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bmxundergrounddotcom wrote:

I just wonder what it is about the ABA that allows them to get the great contacts and deals with companies like NBC, Disney, Suzuki, etc.

ambition? desire to grow? fact that the more people they get the more money they make and the more they can put in their pocket.. instead of the eh its not gonna effect my finances attitude........ just a guess i really hope thats not nbl's take on it
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hit up HUBIES restaurant/pizzaria or their catering or wood stove shop

My only hope during this is that they promote the grassroots level of racing. Not just show the professional side of it. That may scare parents of potential riders away if they are not informed properly.
They need to show 5 year olds and 50 year olds at the local level too. Sure it doesn't have the eye candy aspect of the pro riders. But it shows that anyone can do this at a local level.
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Clint Bonnett
http://www.myspace.com/airportff

bmxundergrounddotcom wrote:

Quote:

I fully agree.
But just glad that it's gonna get some airtime whoever the sanction is

True professionalism and a profitable business!

I believe the ABA has had the right people involved for a while. They are promotion hungry people that truly want to see this sport grow.

The NBL, according to the recent uprising, has been a poorly run business for a number of years, and has done nothing to show the customers, the only reason to their existence, that they are important.

I will see you all in DE!

And by the way, it's a little over 2 hrs of coverage for the 9 races.

It sounds like a win win to me.
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Bye for now,

Jeff

TAKE THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY AND YOU HAVE LIFE. WELCOME! NOW HANG ON AND RIDE.

I agree this is great for BMX. The ABA may be better to handle something like this anyway. I too hope that they will show the different skill levels. I remember watching the Today Show when they were doing a piece on BMX for the Olympics, Al Roker could barely watch it because he thought it looked so dangerous.

absolutly i thought it was cool to watch when i went to a few but took seeing some older riders that werent ex pros to show that hey if they can do it so can i
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hit up HUBIES restaurant/pizzaria or their catering or wood stove shop

too bad nbcuniversal sports not avaliable on time warner cable.

also its channel 300 something on dish.

it wont be on nbc it will be a upper channel.
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richie smith

www.essentialbmx.weebly.com
Owner
Operator
Writer
Critic

Yes it does suck that it is not on Time Warner.
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www.baxterbmx.com

It's a start though
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Clint Bonnett
http://www.myspace.com/airportff

Some of you have been asking why the ABA is so far ahead of the nbl at getting TV coverage and better promotion. I have been to the ABA headquarters in AZ and my wife and I after seeing and taking the tour of the ABA headquarters said to each other "where the hell have we been all these years." If ANY nbl track director would go to AZ and see for theirself the ABA operation and learn the ABA system NOBODY would return the the nbl. Everyone in the nbl have been brain washed that the ABA is the other evil organization. Well wake up and look what has been going on the past bunch of years. Track after track is switching to the ABA. Why ? When you see the tools they provide to promote the sport of BMX it is SO far superior.

So when is that track going to be running Gary?

It'll give us all a reason to get an ABA membership.
_________________
Nicholas Rauch
Owner/Webmaster
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They are working on the facility now. I just got back from vacation and I'm going this weekend to have a look to see what has been done. I will keep everyone informed and hopefully we can put some pics on our web site so everyone can see how things are going. The web site is www.grippenparkbmx.com Right now we only have a title page with 2 pics looking at the inside of the facility.

just doing concrete work still.... or is that completed and awaiting dirt for track?
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hit up HUBIES restaurant/pizzaria or their catering or wood stove shop

more people are brainwashed about the aba though too.

i agree that aba beats the nbl in being more run like a buisness.

but by reading my posts in aba vs. nbl its clear i like the nbl better.

because to me nbl tracks fit the way bmx is going to huge starting hills and big jumps.

the aba has some tracks like that but not as many as nbl does.

whether you like it or not i like that the nbl gives out plates and such to rookies and novices yes it promotes sandbagging but hey the novices and rookies are spending money too and its more likely a chance it is their own money where as the good experts the teams usually pay the race fees.

the aba has sandbaggers too.
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richie smith

www.essentialbmx.weebly.com
Owner
Operator
Writer
Critic

No, they decided not to put the concrete floor in which wasted almost a year of our time. What they are doing is putting in all the electric service, lights, water, fencing, doors ect. A lot of work which will be completed by spring then we put in the dirt and build the track.

ah well thats a good thing
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hit up HUBIES restaurant/pizzaria or their catering or wood stove shop

What it comes right down to is that if you want a number plate whether it is a #10 state plate or a #92 national plate then you should race nbl because they will plate everything. Don't go the grands ? Not a problem in the nbl they will plate you anyway !

The NBL has in the past turned down TV coverage, Ask Jeff Morgan about the when and where it might SHOCK YOU!! You all know Jeff as a TO in N.J. running the NJBMX website!
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Bill Egdorf

I have always thought the NBL system rewards mediocrity a little too much. I started racing when I was fifteen. I ran the first race at Bridgewater and I think one more race that season.

The next year I raced about half the season, stopped when football practice started.

By the end of my second season, I was expert. I was happy to be Expert, but it seems like now, especially with the team structure, and the plate system, there are considerable rewards for going the distance in Novice.

Right now, I can put in a team sheet and have a 17-18 Expert score as many points as a 14 Novice because of class size.
_________________
Nicholas Rauch
Owner/Webmaster
http://www.bmxunderground.com
nick@bmxunderground.com

- BmxUnderground.com - Advanced Cyclery, CNYBikes.com (315) 449-BIKE - ProfileRacing.com -

very true.... i had just been thinking about points also in class alone..... i didnt race a single regional race...... and ended up 3rd... how that happens is beyond me... there should be levels to progress the local level then moving to the state level then regional then the national... and within 3 nationals u can have ur 6 races to get u capped out in points if u are lucky enough.... it doesnt promote consistancy and dediction... the national level is large enough that it would be nice to have more than just ur top 6 finnishes... and regional... idk what the requirements are at all but would be nice to say ud have to actually race them to be in them.

you would think they would try and give u insperation to work ur way up though the ranks get decent locally and maybe states.... then try ur hand at regionals and work ur way up to nationals
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hit up HUBIES restaurant/pizzaria or their catering or wood stove shop

Some of us here seem shocked at the present state of the NBL. But we have been hearing for years that it is a poorly run company.

Now that the writing is on the wall, with the recent changes in office, ALL the facts have come out.

And with these facts, why would anyone want to invest their hard-earned money into a company that is $500,000 in the hole?

My question is this... Not for profit company showing -$500,000, how does it continue to stay in business?
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Bye for now,

Jeff

TAKE THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY AND YOU HAVE LIFE. WELCOME! NOW HANG ON AND RIDE.

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