June 28, 2006 – Six riders from Team Ontario attended the first of two UCI International races in Canada this season. These races are an opportunity to earn important UCI points towards Canada’s Olympic ranking and for 2007 UCI BMX World Championships team selection.

On a hot, sunny day the Ontario BMX team members approached the Airdrie track with wonder, excitement and awe — for those that had raced there in 2005, there were more than a few changes. The ‘French’, a deep step-up double that took you into the first corner had increased by over 5′ in length; the ‘Bad boys’ was now over 25′ from peak to peak that was baffled by cross winds; the ‘Dutch’ straight now contained a huge step-up, deep double, smaller double and a highly technical quad. This is the straight where races were won and lost. Then you rode into two more straights of technical rhythm obstacles that really tested your bike handling and manualling skills.

Ontario riders, only four weeks into their race season, raced extremely well and were very competitive. Senior Elite Tim DaSilva was riding Airdrie for the first time and made it to his main to race against such competition as Robert DeWilde (W3), John Purse (USA, former World Champion and many National BMX Team members including Aaron Lepp, Patrick Label and Scott Erwood and Canadian star Ken Cools. It was a tough main and Tim and Aaron Lepp were elbow to elbow in the second last straight with Tim winning the battle as Aaron went off-roading into the infield. Tim DaSilva earned a 7th place finish and is now leading the Eastern elites in the UCI ranking series.

Junior Male Tyler Simpson had a lot of firsts this weekend: he was attending his first western race; it was his first UCI race as a Junior; and it was his first time on a plane — so needless to say he had a few butterflies in his stomach. But once Tyler was on the track he showed that Ontario could produce some fast Juniors — Tyler made the Junior main and earned a strong 7th against National team members Nick Goertzen and Jimmy Brown as well as Ward Pateman and Rory Ennis.

16X Andrew Harper, Kingston BMX also mained in a tough class that included Quebec racers Joey Trudeau (who was outsnapping the Elites), Jean Sebastian Dufresne and Alberta rider Scott Bernacki. Andrew rode strongly through the pack and earned a 4th place on Saturday.

15X Kyle Pearson, Milton BMX had to compete against American Bicycle Association #1 Alex Sailor, and the top national riders in the West. Kyle earned 4th place in the UCI race.

13X Chance Herrington, Kingston BMX also had stiff competition with National champion Simon Mielle, a 13 year old that jumps the pro jumps, and National #2 Adam Bourns and he earned a strong 4th place.

Cruiser Glen Cressman, Milton BMX was the only racer in his class jumping the ‘Bad boy’ and was facing riders that had dropped down from Elite for the season and National champion Ryan Negenman, he ended up with a 2nd place finish.

Other Ontario riders that made the trip, but were not on the team roster were Rob Perry 4th and Kyle Perry 5th from Track 2000 in Milton.