2018 Factory Answer-Rennen News

OK Riders, set ‘em up! The gate is about to drop on the 2018 season. And as we get every-lastbit of photo gear we have packed up and on its way to Vegas, we get an early peek at the freshened-up, and oh-so-fresh Factory Answer Rennen rider kit for the new season. Read more

Anthony Dean Locks-In With Supercross

It may seem to be a slow news day when we’re reporting that someone is NOT leaving their sponsor, but with Grands in sight, and end of year not far behind that, the traditional stepping-off platform for riders and brands to bail on BMX for the new year is certainly upon us. Read more

Answer/Ssquared to Expand Factory Team Westward

Shawn Pischke has run the SpeedTech grassroots team for the past several years from his home base in North Carolina. The team is one of the top grassroots teams for Answer and Ssquared, and influences a lot of racers in the region by their presence at the local, state and regional races—to say nothing of select nationals they hit each year.

Shawn just accepted an awesome new day-job, for which we offer big congrats. The only issue is that it requires a cross-country move, to Southern California.

It would be tough to run a North Carolina team from So. Cal so, after much thought about it, he posted the following on Facebook over the weekend.

After thinking long and hard over it, I’ve decided the final chapter for SpeedTech will come to a close at the Grands. This team has been a huge part of my life past few years, and has given me much more than I’ve given to it.

I wanna thank all the riders who’ve put on the SpeedTech colors over the years, and the sponsors who”ve supported the team.

This will not be the end of the road for me with BMX, and I’m very excited to get started with my new opportunity. I’ll share details with everyone when the time is right.

Sometimes life deals the cards, and you have to play them just-so to turn them into an even-bigger win.

Shawn and Ssquared/Answer jefe, John Sawyer got together, and hatched a plan to make some exciting new plans that will leverage Shawn’s new location to plant the Ssquared and Answer flags on the West Coast, with a new expasion arm of their Answer/Ssquared Factory Team.

Alongside the new plans, Shawn told News the following:

In a month full of changes I’m excited to share that I’ll be staying in the SSquared and Answer BMX camp as team Manager for the soon-to-be-launched West Coast eddition of the Answer Factory Team.

I’ll be at local tracks, gold cups and state races to work with teams and riders interested in joining the SSquared and Answer bmx family.

I’m looking forward to getting out to California, and getting things kicked off.

I’m stoked for the opportunity John Sawyer, Blake Sawyer & Michelle Senger have given me to help expand the factory team and grow SSquared / Answer team and grassroots footprint in California.

Shawn also told us that they want to get the word of the coming expansion team out now (hence this article), so they can talk to riders as their 2017 commitments are coming to an end (between Grands and Jan 1), and get them suited up for the first National of 2018 (wherever that is, since we do not yet have the new schedule).

If you’re a top-hand West coast rider looking to make a move in 2018, or an out-West grassroots team interested in talking to Shawn about making a switch, hit him up at ssquaredwest@gmail.com.

A big BMX News high-five to Shawn for the new West Coast gig, and for making BMX work out as he and his family start their new life in the BMX epicenter of the universe.

—Mike Carruth

Links

Answer BMX Website

Ssquared Bicycles Website

Kevin Pauls Signs With Newly-Reincarnated Formula

If you are a News fan, you know we have been following Kevin Pauls and his 2017 program pretty closely. After a brief stop in the Supercross team pit, Kevin moved to a jersey promoting his own “KEEV” line of products (BMX News March 28, 2017).

Within hours of that announcement, Kevin sustained an injury at the Carolina Nationals in Rock Hill that sidelined him for a few weeks. That’s all behind him now and, as the Las Vegas Nationals get started out-west, Kevin gave us an early peek at the new sponsor deal he will announce on Saturdasy.

Formula BMX is a brand that dropped off the radar more than a few years ago. There is no consensus around the office on a “last-seen” date, but it feels like it was 2010 or 2011 (again, we could be wrong about that, especially if you factor-in outside the US markets, but that is our best guess).

No matter. Formula is back for the modern era, under the command of John Chou—a name you may not recognize, but someone who is a major behind-the-scenes industry figure.

Both Kevin and John spoke to News exclusively about their new partnership. First, Kevin:

In 2009, about a year after I started racing, my dad purchased my first custom BMX bike: a Formula Nucleus. Knowing that Donny Robinson was previously on a Formula frame, I thought it was the coolest frame on the market, and I wasn’t disappointed. Unfortunately, only a couple years later, Formula seemed to disappear from the world of BMX. And that’s how it was for several more years, until now.

Fast-forward to 2017 after riding for Factory Mom and Dad under my “KEEV Products” name for the past three months. While chilling at the hotel after a long day of racing, I received a message from John Chou at Formula BMX. I couldn’t have been more surprised at seeing that same brand name reaching out to me as the one that I had idolized way back in 2009. Learning that this was to be a solid revival of Formula from years before, I couldn’t have been more honored to secure a spot on the new Formula International Factory Team as the first rider from the United States.

I’d like to thank John Chou for giving me such an opportunity as this to wear the orange and black colors of Formula BMX. Make sure to keep an eye out for when I test new Formula parts on my bike, and follow @formulabmx on Instagram for updates on the team and future products. The Formula brand was great in the past, but I believe that this revival will only make it more prominent in the BMX world than ever before

—Kevin Pauls

Is Formula BMX REALLY coming back?! Well, comeback stories are always nice and fuzzy to hear about, but what this really is about, is a NEW beginning. Formula BMX started out 12 years ago with a simple purpose and pure passion. And while it may seem that for a time, under the previous regime, that we had lost our way, Formula is on a mission to bring back what is really important to the sport we love and live. It is the sport that brings the kids, their family, and their love of riding into one ultimate life experience.

As the cliché goes, action speaks louder than words, so starting in 2017, Formula BMX has quietly yet aggressively put together a core of the best young and bright stars across the world to represent our brand and our mission.

In the United States, where the stars shine the brightest, we are so stoked to be able to bring on board one of the best young riders in the world – Kevin Pauls. Not only is he talented and super fast, he’s a wonderful role model to young riders, carries awesome academic prowess, and his family has always been there 100% – now if that’s not the best rep for Formula in the US, I don’t know who is.

So Formula BMX is extremely proud to officially announce that Kevin will be a part of the Formula International Factory Team, and we are totally excited to be able to work with him on all aspects, from race support to product development for years to come. Welcome to the Formula family Kevin!!

—John Chou

If you’re in Vegas this weekend, you’ll be among the first to see KP rockin his fresh Formula jersey, as of Saturday. We will be bringing you updates to this story, including more on the “new” Formula, as info comes in to the BMX News Global Command Center.

A big BMX News congratulations to Kevin and Formula for putting things together!

Taylor Riedemann Joins Haro Promax

Haro Promax rang-in to the secret BMX News ScoopLine with news that a new Factory jersey has been ordered-up for Taylor Riedemann, high-flyin 17-18 Expert from Cambridge, MN.

News has been known to call him “Reel-em-in-Riedemann” for his artful third and fourth straight charges Read more

Cameron Moore Joins Factory Yess

The BMX News “Big Ears” ticker never rests, not even when the Easter Bunny is visiting. We picked up a Sunday scoop that’s so sweet, it would put any Cadbury egg to shame.

Cameron Moore—one of the most notable A-Pros joining the class in 2017 will be touching down at the Lone Star Nationals this weekend in Factory Yess colors. That is a way-solid pickup for Lisa Motley and her East Coast team. Such an addition is all-the-more newsworthy when it comes mid-season.

News caught up with Cam in the late hours of the weekend, and he had this to say:

I’m super-excited to be joining one of the best teams out there. Factory Yess has such a great atmosphere and I’m happy to represent such an influential company!

Thanks to Donavon and Traci Long for the support for the past three years, I wouldn’t be the person and rider I am today without them.

Lisa said the following of adding Cameron to the crew

We at Yess BMX are thrilled to have Cam join the family. Like most of the BMX community, I have been watching Cam win races with style and grace since he’s been a little kid.

He has had a spectacular start in his pro career. Cam has been the most consistent rider in the class and is currently leading the A pro point standings.

Cam brings a lifetime of racing experience to the Yess BMX pro line up. We are looking forward to having Cam and his family in the Yess BMX pit this season.

As we noted up-top, watch for Cam in his new gear this weekend when the 2017 USA BMX national series stops in the Austin, TX area for the Lone Star Nationals.

A big BMX News congrats to Cameron on the new ride, and also to Lisa, Renny, Bill and the rest of the Yess BMX family on adding a true hotshoe, and all-around great guy to the roster.

Links

Yess BMX Website

Official: Alise Post Will Ride a GW

In a week otherwise laced with the standard fare of Facebook BMXer bellyaching, geopolitical pablum and working for the weekend, Alise Post brought some sunshine to social. The BMX community was watching, as Alise released a tasty teaser on Tuesday, depicting a shadowed BMX bike, under the headline “New Bicycle.”

That image set the wires on fire, with speculation of every-sort, being offered by riders, parents, grandparents and people long departed from the BMX scene–all climbing on to take a ride on the speculation train.

Wednesday morning, Colombian bike brand, GW posted a similarly-styled teaser to the one Alise had posted, but this one said “New Rider,” with a silhouette of a rider’s head and shoulders, backed-up with red white & blue stripes.

Well, the cat was pretty much out of the bag from there but, still, the speculation ran strong. Folks were convinced it was some kind of misdirection campaign, and one even surmising that hackers got into GW’s Facebook account, and posted the “New Rider” image (gotta love the conspiracy theorists).

Well, Friday, as the East Coast was sitting down to lunch, the official word came forth, via the image above, that Alise and GW had, in fact joined forces. The new rallying hashtag of #bepartofus is present on Alise’s FB and Instagram posts, as well as on the GW Bicycles FB page.

For us here in the US, GW is a mystery brand. We know Mariana rides one, but that’s about it. We don’t know who’s behind it, where to buy one, or the sizes and colors available in the US. Someone asked “what does ‘GW’ stand for?” Good question. We keep thinking of another ‘GW’ when we hear those initials mentioned– GW Bush (for better or worse).

We’re fairly-sure that, with a high-horsepower, high-starpower player like AP11 in the house, GW will make the necessary moves to maximize their new partnership.

Today, it is all confetti, noisemakers and streamers, as we wish Alise and GW all the best in getting 2017 going strong. Next likely stop: Rock Hill, SC next week.

—Mike Carruth

Dani George Signs with Dale Holmes Racing

Just picked this one off the main BMX News “firehose-feed.”

Dani George, who has been racing as a privateer since leaving Factory Supercross back in June of this year, announced today that she would be riding for Dale Holmes’ Chase/Stay Strong team for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Dale said the following via social media:

We’re excited to announce that Dani George has signed with the Chase / DHR Team for the next two years. Dani has done well hitting three main events in the 2014 UCI World Cup Series and placed sixth at the UCI World Championships, which were held in Holland this year.

We’re excited to have Dani as part of our team; she has a great support group around her including coach, Greg Romero and Team USA. Dani will compete in the USA BMX National Series and UCI BMX World Cup Series with the goal of making the US Olympic BMX Team. She will take part in both our “Ride to End Obesity” school program, and also our summer camp offering with the YMCA of San Diego County.

We look forward to supporting Dani in her bid to ride for USA in the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Dani told News:

I’m happy to announce I have signed with Dale Holmes Racing LLC for the next two years. With Dale now part of my great support system, I have everything I need to achieve my goals in the sport.

Being part of the Chase/DHR program also means I can help others through Dale’s YMCA and “Ride to End Obesity” programs. I’m super-excited for the two years ahead of me, and to experience this next chapter alongside my new teammates, Anthony Dean and Bryce Betts. Bring on the new era!

Dani will be suited-up for DHR, and ready to rock & roll at the first race of the year at the 2015 USA BMX Winter Nationals in Phoenix in February.

Congrats all-around!

Dale Holmes Racing Website

Chase BMX Website

Dani George on Twitter

2015 Yess BMX USA Factory Team

With the 2014 USA BMX Grands in the rearview, it’s “ollie ollie oxen free” on 2015 team news. With all the artful dodging before the race, we can now start to report who’s going where, and what they’re going to be riding in the new year.

First up is the new Yess BMX US Factory Team. A robust crew, complimenting its brother-team to the North, Jerry Bradford has signed on as team manager for the all-star, five-rider squad, composed, largely, of Jerry’s former Phoenix/BOX riders.

The hand-picked roster looks like this (L to R, above):
Christina Cunningham (7G, NAG 2)
Jayce Bartley (9C, NAG 2)
Patrick Coo (12X, NAG 1)
Kohl Piluso (11X, NAG 3)
Maynard Peel (15X, NAG 1)

Wowza! For a five-rider team, Jerry & Co. picked a prime peck of (red-hot) pickled peppers!

News got some quotes from the prime-movers:

Yess BMX Founder, Renny Husada said:

Having the opportunity to work together with such a great Coach/Manager/Mentor does not come everyday and when we had a chance to work with a good friend I couldn’t not pass it up. I’m looking forward to a successful year in the USA as we will continue to support Renato’s Alltow/Wrecking Crew who will represent us in the East and now we have a small but high profile Western team to represent our colors in the West.

Incoming Team Manager Jerry Bradford had this to say about the change in colors:

I am really excited for 2015 and working with Yess. With only five riders on the Yess BMX US Factory Team, the goal is to build an elite squad that all riders will aspire to be like. I am proud to have all of them, each of whom have a history of riding and working with me, involved in the program. We will be mostly racing Western nationals in 2015, along with the Canadian and USA BMX Grands.

Family and Rider Comments

We’ve been with Jerry for three years and, through his help and mentorship, have accomplished three titles for Patrick. He is not only a great mentor and trainer, also a great person as well, we are very excited for next year, riding and representing Yess BMX, with Jerry managing the team.

—Benjamin Coo

Our family is very excited to be starting a new chapter in our son kohl’s racing career. We have spent 4 years with Jerry Bradford and he is an amazing coach, Team Manager and friend. We are very happy that he has given us the opportunity to once again race with him as our team manager on the Yess US Factory Team. We are looking forward to a new year with a new team owner, awesome frame and a great coach. Thank you to the new Yess Factory family!

—Garrett Piluso

With only five riders, the 2015 Yess BMX Factory Team will have a high profile. All riders are extremely talented, which will make the Yess US Factory Team look great, on and off the track! I am very excited to start 2015 with my new jersey on!”

—Maynard Peel

The new Yess BMX US Factory Team will make their first appearance at the season-opener, Silver Dollar Nationals in Las Vegas, next month–minus Maynard, who will be soaking up some of that Southern-Hemisphere Summer sun in his native New Zealand. And, by the way, when addressing Mr. Peel, it’s “May-nard,” not “Maynerd!”

Yess BMX Website

Kim Hayashi New TM of Factory Supercross

We last saw Kim Hayashi talkin business at Interbike with Supercross BMX chief, Bill Ryan. No big news there, as Kim has been long part of the Supercross family. But were headlines afoot in the days after the show, and News now has the lowdown on what, just yesterday, was on the down-low.

Bill air-dropped this in our priority “scoop” mailbox last night.

We at Supercross are very proud to announce that, effective immediately, Former UCI World Champion and five-time NBL #1 Pro, Kim Hayashi, is taking on the responsibility as Team Manager for the Supercross BMX Factory Team.

“Lil’ Kim,” as she is known to fans, has been a staple on the BMX circuit for nearly two decades. As she finishes up her degree, Kim has punched the pause button on racing to concentrate on her studies. The *TM* position fits her desire to stay active in the sport, and our need to have someone keeping day-to-day hands on running the Factory Team. And we could not think of a better person for the job.

She has been “in” at the highest levels of the sport, and has the work ethic of a champion, which she will now bring to running the team.

Kim has already secured a few new riders to bring in to the Supercross Family for next year, and she is working on relationships with new co-sponsors, and enhancing the value our current sponsors see from the team. With Kim on board, look for us to revitalize the support team program, for our support teams around the world.

The general dynamic of the Supercross BMX Family experience will remain the same, as Kim has been with the program for five years already as a rider. Kim and I share the vision of how the team should be run: win or lose always give 100%, and we always celebrate the effort.

Look for more big news out of the Supercross BMX camp soon.

—Bill Ryan

It will be great to see Kim back out at the races. We know she will make a top-notch shot-caller for those in the Supercross BMX kit. Congrats to both her and Bill on getting this deal done.

Supercross BMX website

Speedline Parts website