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Copenhagen, Denmark —Just three months before Bicycle Motocross (BMX) makes its Olympic debut in Beijing this August, American Donny Robinson (Napa, Calif.) won the third round of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup series on Saturday.
Along with compatriot Kyle Bennett (Conroe, Texas), Robinson was one of two Americans to qualify for the finals. Bennett finished fourth behind runner-up Jared Graves (AUS) and bronze medalist Maris Strombergs (LAT).
Bennett’s fourth-place effort yielded enough points to finish the 2007-08 season as the top American in the international rankings. Provided he’s ranked in the top five overall in the UCI rankings following the World Championships later this month, Bennett will have met the criteria to receive an automatic nomination to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. Currently, Bennett is ranked third in the world behind Marc Willers (NZL) and Graves.
With his victory on Saturday, Robinson now leads the World Cup standings after three races. Two more remain in Salt Lake City, Sept. 12-13 and Frejus, France, Oct. 10-11.
Also on Saturday, women’s U.S. Olympic hopeful Arielle Martin (Pleasant Grove, Utah) finished fifth in the women’s race as the only American to qualify for the final. The women’s event was won by Shanaze Reade (GBR), while Letitia le Corguille (FRA) and Anne-Caroline Chausson (FRA) were second and third respectively. Sarah Walker (NZL) was fourth.
The final major BMX race before the Olympic Games is the 2008 UCI BMX World Championships, set for May 29 – June 1 in Taiyuan, China.
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Hilliard, Ohio – The National Bicycle League (NBL) is proud to announce a new multi-year partnership with Kenda Tires and Tubes (www.kendausa). Kenda will be recognized as the “Official Tire and Tube” of the NBL National Series and also as a key co-sponsor of the ‘Bring-A-Buddy’ National Recruiting program.
To differentiate themselves in the competitive market for quality tires with innovative treads, Kenda will be promoted through a mix of national event exposure and traditional media including color advertising in BMX Today Magazine. To connect Kenda directly to thousands of potential customers, NBL will promote the brand through on-site games like the ‘Kenda Tire-Toss’, at select National events. “We truly believe in the value of ‘Experiential’ marketing and how it affects consumers in a more positive and organic way” said Kevin O’Brien, NBL Marketing Director, “Kenda is genuinely interested in promoting the sport and this adds great value to our program” O’Brien adds.
Several of Kenda’s tires are already popular with NBL members and teams including the Team NBL Champs of 2007 – VBS/Kenda from Ohio. To stay competitive, Kenda is currently developing several new lower-profile treads and a Kevlar folding bead tire to compliment their already-impressive line of rubber. Favorites, such as the Small Block Eight, Kompact and the K-Rad, continue to be the flagships of the Ohio-based brand as they forge new ground in treadnology.
“We’re looking forward to a successful venture with the NBL” said Jim Wannamaker, Kenda’s North American Marketing Director, “It’s a very exciting time for the sport and we trust the NBL to represent our brand to their members around the country” continued Wannamaker.
To kick off the sponsorship, NBL is promoting the ‘Guess the Tread’ Contest through the NBL website exclusively (www.nbl.org). Win one of five sets now!
Kenda’s partnership with the NBL comes at a perfect time as the sport nears its Olympic debut in August. NBL is working hard to attract new riders and bring back those who raced during the sport’s formative years through a number of exciting programs and cross-promotions. Visit www.nbl.org to learn more and watch for a Kenda Tire-Toss near you.
Upcoming Kenda Tire-Toss events:
- Golden State National – Prunedale, CA, June 21
- Stars & Stripes National – South Park, PA, June 28
- Music City Nationals – Nashville, TN, July 19
- NBL Grand National – Louisville, KY, August 30
About KENDA
Kenda is a leading manufacturer of bicycle, motorcycle, ATV (All Terrain Vehicle), industrial, and trailer tires. Most recently, Kenda has begun producing quality automotive tires and tubes for worldwide distribution. Since the inception of the company in 1962, they have operated on core values of honesty, innovation, quality, and customer service. For the past forty years, Kenda has continued to develop and expand its product selections to meet changing market demands. For more information about the full line Kenda products and teams, visit www.kendausa.com today.
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