Name: ROMAIN MAYET
Sponsors: SPAD BMX, NOLOGO, DIGTRACKS, BERINGER, AIM, MONKEY’S SAUCE, MICHELIN, GFORM, OGIO, HT, SPECIALIZED, RENNEN, SPORT RAD DISTRIBUTION
How long have you been running your own BMX brand now?
Romain Mayet: Since September 2016. I created SPAD when I was injured (broken foot). I got time to develop the frame from the conception to the final product.
What can you tell us about your new parts brand?
Romain Mayet: 1 year after I launched SPAD, I wanted to create the AIM BMX products brand, everything was ready. At the same time, I got the opportunity to get sponsored by Pride Racing Parts, so I chose to focus more on my carreer as an athlete rather than spending time to develop another brand.
Can you explain how it works to get a new product made? Your new stem for instance?
Romain Mayet: First of all, you need to think about what customers need. Since 2016, I’m selling frames and customers are always asking where they can buy the parts to build their bike. For the stem I got into contact with many manufactures, I send them my own stem design, I got samples,
In 2021 a new class was introduced, the U23 class. The success of it lead to the class being implemented at all BMX races listed on the UCI calendar. Rising star of the U23 class in 2021 was non other than Mongoose's Asuma Nakai. He was the man to beat and won the World Cup overall title but missed out on the World Championship victory. Still young enough to enter the U23 in 2022 we can't wait to see what Asuma will bring. Hopefully some of them insane whips too (see FATBMX Insta post of 31 January). As far as preparation is concerned, see below.
Name: Asuma Nakai
Age: 21
Hometown: Joetsu, Japan
Sponsors: Mongoose/Xlarge/Motocross International/Oakley/FoxRacing/Shimano/Tioga/Ikon/StanceSocks/WesternRiver/flexdream/CW-X/OgawaRingyo
Did 2021 turn out the way you wanted?
Asuma Nakai: Of course It wasn’t perfect, but really good. I couldn’t achieve my biggest goal of my life which is competing at Tokyo Olympic. Even though Japan has already selected the rider in February 2020, it was held in 2021 so that was a disappointment. But overall, it was really good because I won the first ever U23 UCI World Cup series title. That was special to me.
The Olympic cycle starts all over again this year. It's only 3 years now till Paris 2024 and preparation has started already. Australia's Izaac Kennedy has Paris in mind, and he will be there this time. But that means dedication to the training program, eating healthy and running the correct bike with the best bike parts. Read on to see what Izaac has in store for us this year.
Name: Izaac Kennedy
Age: 21
Hometown: Gold Coast, Australia
Sponsors: Speedco, LUXBMX, Knobby, Vans
Did 2021 turn out the way you wanted?
Izaac Kennedy: Well no it didn’t go how I wanted it to with dealing with an injury and not being selected for the Olympics but overall, it was still a solid year. I made the final at the UCI World's, a few USABMX podiums, finished the year off with another National title and got to travel the world racing my bike so still a lot positives to take from it.
Blue Ridge Nationals. Friday 28 January 2022. VA Horse Center - Lexington, VA
Pro Open results:
1) PATRICK COO 19 1 BELLFLOWER CA VELOCITY BIKE CO 16160667 562 NC
2) JONNIE VANCE 24 2 BALTIMORE MD SUPERCROSSBMX 16233320 30 NAT
3) CAMERON BRAMER 20 3 SOUTH PARK PA 18690164 456 NC
4) VICTOR BEHM 28 4 MAYSLANDING NJ 18410105 145 NC
Vlog 7 - NILE WILSON RODE A BMX AND JUMPED HOW HIGH?! by Beth Shriever
NILE WILSON RODE A BMX AND JUMPED HOW HIGH?! by Olympic BMX Champion Beth Shriever.
Being a BMX veteran doesn't mean you do not have to prepare for the upcoming season. Elke Vanhoof has been around for many years and her 2022 training has already started. How can you better yourself? Is the training schedule on point? Has the carbon bike arrived yet? Will it make a difference? Do I need to focus on Pumptracks? How do I do on the 8 meter hill? Elke explains in the interview below.
Name: Elke Vanhoof
Age: 30
Setting new goals for the new year is something most of us do. How can you better yourself? Is my training on point or is there someone out there who can teach me more? Is my equipment on point? Do I need a fresh start at a new company? Today we're checking in with Sylvain André, W3 in 2019, W2 in 2021 and his sights set on the W1 plate at this year's UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Nantes, France.
Name: ANDRE
Age: 29
Hometown: Cavaillon, South Of France
Sponsors: Commencal, Armée de champions. Michelin, DIG Tracks, 6D helmets, Five Gloves, Tangent , HT Pedals, Beauty Sané
Did 2021 turn out the way you wanted?
Sylvain André: Yes and no. I was hoping for a little better at the Olympics. Even if 2nd at the World's sounds (and is) amazing, I would be down to re race that lap and try to tbone Niek [Kimmann] somewhere. French champion, 2nd at the World's and 4th at the Olympics, I am not going to complain; at all.
With the start of the new year, are you always looking to become a faster racer?
Interview with Kamren Larsen about the last season and how he feels about the upcoming season, also get to know a little more about him!
The opportunity was too good.
"Before meeting Sylvain, there had never been any question of returning to BMX, but within a few days everything had changed. We chatted, shared our stories and decided it was on, nice, let’s go! It's not complicated, it's just real life. One where nothing is ever set in stone, where our job is to dream and make people dream." - Max [Commencal].
When we offered him to race the 4X World Championships in Val di Sole in 2021 on a COMMENCAL, his response and his motivation should have alerted us about his personality. We could have understood that this meeting could not be a coincidence.
Name: Vincent Pelluard
Age: 31
Hometown: Medellín, Colombia
Sponsors: GW, Shimano, Under armour, NoLogo, Box, Promax, Izumi, California Extreme, YCF, Cycles Evasion, Michelin, Ice Fast, Renthal…
Did 2021 turn out the way you wanted?
Vincent Pelluard: Not really, it was way better, haha. I was looking for my first UCI World Cup final to make to the Olympics and I finally made 5 finals, 1 podium and made it to the Olympics and some others good results…
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.