August 19, 2004 (Santa Monica, CA) – The third annual Red Bull Bike Battle is moving its war zone to Baltimore on September 19, 2004. Challenging 32 of the world’s most progressive urban freeriders from around the globe to face off in head to head competition, Red Bull Bike Battle champions the urban freeride cycling movement. The event’s course, a beast of natural and man-made obstacles in the Pavilion next to Rash Field (Baltimore’s inner harbor), will test each athlete’s technical ability and style.

Professional rider Nate Wessel, known for his ramp and course design, as well as his construction from Woodward Camps, X-games and Chenga World Skateparks, will co-design the Red Bull Bike Battle course. The Pavilion next to Rash Field in the inner harbor of Baltimore will be transformed into a hybrid of both natural and man-made obstacles. The location features a number of natural lines which will be combined with jumps (dirt & wood), rails, ramps, ledges, cars, bridges, wall rides, etc.

Each of the 32 riders will compete one solo sixty-second seating run to decide the competition brackets. They will then enter the course, two riders at a time, in a two-minute head-to-head battle. Competitors will be judged in five areas: use of course, magnitude of moves, flow, style, and technical difficulty. The best rider from each round will advance until there is one champion left standing.

With the most progressive mountain bike riders in the world and a course to rival all others, Red Bull Bike Battle takes urban riding to the next level. With 32 of the best riders competing head to head, who will take home the $5,000 prize purse?

For information, photos from 2002 and 2003, and more go to www.redbullbikebattle.com.
Confirmed riders:
– Aaron Chase
– Jeff Lenosky
– Eric Porter
– Kyle Ebbett
– Darren Barrecloth
– Jim Dellavalle
– Camron Zink
– Ryan Senechal
– Seth Lolli
– George Ryan
– Shaums March
– Chris Dzavak
– Chris Donahue
– Jim DeChamp
– Joe Prisel
– Hacksaw Jim Severt
– Paul Bassagoita
– Ryan Smith
– Dave Smutok
– Craig Robinson
– Mike Steidly
– Chris Smith
– Petr Krauss
– Jaromir Spensy
– Nigel Quarless
– Keita Miyaoka
– Carter Holland

September 21, 2002 (Boston, MA) – Boston's City Hall Plaza hosted thousands of spectators as they cheered on trials riders from around the globe in the unique trials competition Red Bull Bike Battle. Fourteen riders competed for a piece of the $5,000 purse but it was Yoshimasa Nagaya from Gihu, Japan that landed first place using one of the biggest moves of the day. Launching himself off a 7ft Lincoln log tower and landing on barrel traps without touching down was a move that even surprised Nagaya, “I was really tired at the end of my third run but the cheers from the crowd inspired me to pull my last big move of the day.” said Nagaya.

A Bike Course With Unique Twists
Bike trials is riding your bike up, over, on, or around objects that exist in the wilderness and in urban metropolises. To add a new level to the course, trials riders Kevin Brody and Pete Wilk, teamed up to create a playground filled with traditional trials obstacles and fun new creations. Unique items included in the course were a 7ft tall staircase (Lincoln Log tower) made from telephone poles, huge spools that worked like weeble wobbles when the riders jump on to them, two cars, concrete barriers, quarter pipes, and of course the stairs, rails, and walls that you would find on city hall plaza.

“This is the best thing that trials has ever seen. I have been doing this for 11 years and the hardest thing in the beginning was picnic tables. This course allows everyone to use their own imagination and skill,” said Shaun Miller, 2000 US National Champion.

The Ride-Off
Winners tapped in from around the globe. Ed Tongue from Avon, England took home second place representing the European market and in final place it was a close call between Jaromir Spesny, Czech Republic and the highest scoring US rider Mike Steidley. After the third run they were tied in for third place so judges called in a ride off. After three exhausting runs both riders gave there all in the fourth and final run. “In the ride off I was about ready to pass out and so I just drank a Red Bull tried to pick out a couple of lines – it was stressful because you picking your lines all day. It's a really mental sport and you've got to really concentrate, ” said Mike Steidley third place winner in the Red Bull Bike Battle.