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A BMX race. First round of the 2005 European BMX Championships held in Sainte Maxime, France on 23 April 2005.

Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.^[1]

History[link]

BMX started in the early 1970s when children began racing their bicycles on dirt tracks in southern California, drawing inspiration from the motocross superstars of the time. The size and availability of the Schwinn Sting-Ray and other wheelie bikes made them the natural bike of choice, since they were easily customized for better handling and performance. BMX racing was a phenomenon by the mid-1970s. Children were racing standard road bikes off-road, around purpose-built tracks in California.^[2] The 1972 motorcycle racing documentary On Any Sunday is generally credited with inspiring the movement nationally in the US; its opening scene shows kids riding their Sting-Rays off-road. By the middle of that decade the sport achieved critical mass, and manufacturers began creating bicycles designed especially for the sport.

George E. Esser founded the National Bicycle League as a non-profit bicycle motocross sanctioning organization in 1974. before they set up the NBL, George and his wife, Mary, sanctioned motorcycle races with the AMA (American Motocross Association). Their two sons, Greg and Brian, raced motorcycles, but also enjoyed riding and racing BMX with their friends. It was their sons’ interest, and there being no BMX organizations in the East, that prompted George to start the NBL in Florida.

By 1977, the American Bicycle Association (ABA) was organized as a national sanctioning body for the growing sport. In April 1981, the International BMX Federation was founded, and the first world championships were held in 1982. Since January 1993 BMX has been integrated into the Union Cycliste Internationale.^[3]

The sport of Bicycle Motocross - Freestyle BMX is now one of the staple events at the annual Summer X Games Extreme Sports competition and the ETNIES backyard jam, held largely on both coasts of the United States. The popularity of the sport has increased due to its relative ease and availability of places to ride and do tricks.

In 2003, the International Olympic Committee made BMX a full medal Olympic sport for 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, and Māris Štrombergs (male, for Latvia) and Anne-Caroline Chausson (female, for France) were crowned the first Olympic champions.^[4][5]

Many great BMX riders go on to other cycling sports like downhill such as Australian Olympian Jared Graves, former "golden child" Eric Carter, and youth BMX racer Aaron Gwin.

See also[link]

• BMX bike
• BMX racing
• Motocross

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: BMX

Ryan Guettler (born 17 July 1983) is a BMX Dirt and Freestyle rider from Beenleigh, Australia. Making his international debut at the 2001 Asian X Games alongside Colin MacKay and Jesse Boughton, Guettler won a silver medal, Colin won a bronze medal and Jesse took the gold. Ryan used his winnings to make his U.S. debut with Vans the next year, shortly after a showing in the Global X Games, where he represented Australia.

Becoming a regular on the BMX circuit in 2004, Guettler placed 1st in the Vans Triple Crown series in Dirt, and 4th in Street. Guettler has, for the most part, sustained his success, competing most notably in the 2005 and 2006 AST Dew Tours. In 2005 he swept Dew Cups in both of his competing disciplines, dirt and park; however, he was not able to carry over his successes from 2005 to 2006, mostly due to injuries he sustained early in the season. Ryan participates in local contests as well as global contests, such as the Heavy Metal Heroes in Beenleigh. He is also a close friend to Santiago Giraldo.

His current sponsors include MirraCo Bikes, Vans Shoes, Pro-Tec, Monster Energy Drink, Alpinestars, Colony BMX, Skullcandy, and Kicker^{[disambiguation needed ]}.

He has also released a signature bike from MirraCo., called "The Black Pearl", and designed a pair of Vans shoes.

Contest history[link]

Ryan Guettler took part in Season 3 of BMX P.I.G for team. His partner in this was Dave Dillewaard. They got to the finals but lost out to Morgan Wade and his teammate.

External links[link]

• Official Ryan Guettler Site
• Online photo-biography