May 16th, 2011 - ABA US Nationals
Seems like every year Metro BMX hosts the ABA US Nationals in Bakersfield. Everyone is excited for the action in Turn 3, or the early blast in Turn 2, and this year did not disapoint, tons of action going down on the track. Highlights of the weekend were a few Doubles by Nate Padilla in 16 open and Ashley Shrader in 11g, Anthony Bucardo came out of his mini retirement and won 12x on Saturday and took a 3rd on Sunday. Maybe we shouldn't of bet him if he could eat an entire donut in one bite before his Semi on Sunday. Think that the extra carbs and sugar from the one bite chocolate bar may of thrown him off come main time. But it sure was funny to watch. I think he learned his lesson when you get dared to eat a donut in one bite, pick the small one, not the chocolate bar.
Other results from the weekend were Nate taking a 2nd and a 4th in Class after the win's in Open. Not bad for someone who busted his hand up a few weeks ago at Chula on the big hill. Jeremy was smoking it in the motos, but kept getting squeezed out of the gate in the main and had to play catch up. So a 4th and a 5th don't help with his NAG points, but he was having fun and flowing some style all day.
In 28x, Randy Roberts decided since it was local he would show up and have a little bit of fun, and He and Shannon were planning on a new episode of the Rod and Rex show, but Shannon ended up hyper extending his knee on Saturday and left gate 8 open in the main so Randy had to go it solo and took a 5th on Saturday, and then had to go back to work on Sunday while Shannon started the drive back to AZ with an ice pack on his knee for the drive.
Even though the weather was a little different, Blistering hot Sun, Wind, Freezing Cold Rain and then back to hot it was a great weekend. Aaron Johnson came up to show support for the teama nd ride a little bit of Pro Practice while waiting for his Shoulder Surgery, Courtney was out there cheering on the team and selling off the old Sammy Seats, and the group of friends that hangs out in the pits is always amazing, KJ can always make every one laugh, and Cody is as good of an instigator as Shannon, so there is never a lack of laughs. And that is what BMX is all about, your friends, your bike and some dirt.
Next race is next weekend in Nashville where Bubba and Courtney finally get to play a little bit with it being a UCI Pro Race. Check back for updates.
