Freestyle Motocross


Friday - 7:30 PM

Night one of competition was intense here in Charleston, South Carolina to say the least. Making it into the finals as fate would have it was Shawn Connors, Greg Hartman, Jason Rowe, Brody Wilson, and the man himself JJ Romans. But before the crowd here was treated to that good "ol" southern hospitality from the FMX finalists they would be dazzled with the guys from the "Hell on Wheels" BMX stunt team. With the help of rider/announcer Brad getting the crowd engaged, the riders felt it and blew the wheels off their bikes! It was trial time as Trials rider Keith Wineland would dazzle the crowd with his astounding bike balancing skills on his Italian made "Beta" trials machine. Still sticking to tradition he finished his run off with a "Splatter". The crowd went nutz! In the Wendy's Head to Head" competition it was narrowed down to Shawn Connors, James Carter, and Brody Wilson. I for sure thought that last weekends crowd favorite Shawn Connors would win the south, as this decision would be made by the decibel levels of the crowd. In the end the DB meter peaked at its max! When I asked the Crowd if Brody Wilson should be the winner?! It was a loud and clear easy call. Way to go Brody!

In the finals Shawn Connors came out first and stuck a 90.5, and going for the Sterilizer only to crash and get up, and that was just enough to fuel the feisty crowd here for the remaining four riders. Jason Rowe making the finals was unbelievable considering he is still recovering from a broken femur. But 90 seconds was too much, he tired out at 63 seconds and called it a night. First comp in a long time for Jason, so the cobwebs are out. What's in store for him tomorrow night? Shawn kept the seat all the way to the last two riders and it would be the mad FMX skills of Brody Wilson that would be the one to Stick it to Shawn. Scoring a 94 even, Brody took the Toyota Tundra Hot-seat. With one rider left, JJ Romans was determined to take the win. He came out with all the tricks, and 2 back flip variations, but missed a trick and repeated. With a score of a 93.5 it was close, but not enough to take the win from Brody. Let's see if he can repeat tomorrow night. I will let you know how she shapes up. Peace, Sharpie


Saturday - 7:30 PM
Wow! Did somebody say deja vu? That is the one word that comes to mind about tonight. But with a few variations, one of them being Derek Cook making it into the finals, along with Shawn Conners, Jason Rowe, JJ Romans, and Brody Wilson. But before we let these guys get at one another we would need to pause for some explosive BMX stunt action. As Pat Locklin, Corey Burglar, and Ogi Simonscenie would respond to the powerful roars of the crowd here in the south. Tonight was a breakthrough night as BMX rider/announcer Brad was right on "T" with his boys as they worked the crowd with pure, precise riding and announcing. Brad set the stage for a possible front flip, but Ogi would need to feel the energy to do it. Brad pulled it out of them and Ogi went, he hit, he flipped-forward!!! In the trials it was once again Keith Wineland set to dazzle and balance his trial machine before the full house here. Since Brad was such an aid to engage the crowd in the BMX stunt runs, I figured he could help me out with announcing trials, only to set him up for the unexpected, hey we announcers need to have some fun with each other too.

When it came time to bunny hop over a living object, I sure was not going to let that object be me. So Brad was cheered by the crowd to go along with it (very hesitantly) Brad was sweating as the 200 LBS trials bike sped at him full force, and cleared him by a long shot! Well I looked at the gap he cleared it by, and figured Keith could do it with brad laying long ways. Keith agreed and Brad did not have a choice at this point. As the crowed roared with encouragement, nervous and shaking in his low riders, he laid down and just did not know what to expect. I knew Keith had it. Brad just did not know the Wineland bunny hop skills, and I was not going to assure him. He would just have to hold his breath and hope for the best, and not think about the worst. Keith ran at him so fast and hopped and cleared him by an easy 4 feet! Way to go Keith, and Brad for being such a good sport. As always Keith finished with a splatter, but without the splatter part. The crowd was all cranked up to the max! They were ready for the "Wendy's" Head to Head competition. It was Shawn Connors, Brody Wilson, and JJ Romans that would now get to feed from the intense offerings of the Charleston crowd. Wilson out first with an Indy Look back KOD, Then Connors nailed a McMetz, and Romans stuck a Nac Flip.

With the Decibel meters set is was a clear win as the crowds roar knocked everyone out! KO, for JJ in the Head to Head. In the finals Jason Rowe came out first and was able to complete the 90 seconds this time and stick every trick landing him a solid 91.5 Shawn was out next and stuck a great run, but repeated a trick which cost him, but he still threw down the sterilizer knowing that he would not take Rowe out of the seat. When the crowd is engaged like they were here in Charleston, these guys don't care. They let it all hang out. 90.8 For Connor's. Next was Greg Hartman. He had a good run, but not good enough to knock out Jason Rowe. What a turnaround for Jason tonight, and he credited his riding all to the energy of the crowd. With two riders left, one was bound and determined to take Jason out. Last night's winner Brody Wilson came out and cleaned up. He did not care to nurse Jason's recovery from a broken femur. He wanted to hand him a mental insult to injury by giving us a Brody picture perfect run! Once again Brody was in a position to win, or lose. But this time JJ had the advantage of being last. Knowing what he needed to do he came out and flipped, whipped, was over the front of the bike, back of the bike, and the side of the bike. But with a missed trick and repeated superman seat grab, his flips would not save him form the "Ninja" skills of Brody Wilson. REPEAT REPEAT, which was great for Brody as he won both nights here. As for JJ repeating tricks cost him both nights! Still early in the season, and he can fix this and bring a full run to fruition. We will just have to see how the rest of the season shapes up. Thanks Charleston for giving these guys the energy to perform above and beyond their limits. Without you the fans and your participation we could not be here! So if you are reading this, and we are coming to a show near you remember the louder you get the bigger these guys go!

Peace,
Sharpie