The Masters - just the facts, ma’am

July 16, 2007 @ 9:44 AM by Mark Noble

Well, it's Monday morning, the Masters is done and dusted, and the results and highlights have been announced - the ever-efficient Sabine from the organiser's office has sent in the results and data, and here they are in black and white. Our man Steve Bancroft was over there for the magazine (so look out for the full story in the September issue) and we even had a filmer in the place, so look out for a video part on this website very soon. In the meantime, just to fill you with bare facts, here's what Sabine had to say about it all - straight from the PR front desk at Masters HQ in Germany:

The third Suzuki BMXMasters in Cologne Jugenpark was again a great success

Cologne July 15 2007 -- A total of 409 top riders from over 30 nations entered the third edition of the Suzuki BMXMasters and were amazed and cheered by over 12,000 spectators.

No doubt, one of the absolute highlights of this year's Suzuki BMXMasters were once again the pro street finals at Sunday afternoon. In a burning heat the pro BMX riders fought a real trick marathon. While in the last year still double tailwhips impressed the spectateurs, BMX riders like Ben Wallace amazed the crow now with the triple edition – the triple tailwhip. Also Alessandro Barberos (IT) ambitous and impressive tricks such as backflip tailwhip over the box, Allan Cooke's (USA) backflip x-up nofoot or Michael Berans (CZ) frontflip tailwhip were celebrated by the spectators loudly. With a spectacular run Daniel Dhers from Venezuela could save the first place before the Ben Wallace (UK). Alessandro Barbero (IT) who took first place in 2006 became third.

Also the vert comps amazed judges and spectators. High-class vert riders around Simon Tabron (UK), Daniel Dhers (VEN) and of course Condor Mat Hoffman (USA) flew high on saturday and sunday and came up with a huge trick repertoire: no hand to barspin 540 air, barspin flair and 900 were just some highlights of the vert competition. Although Mat Hoffman had to give the victory to Simon Tabron and landed third placed after Matt Fairbairn (AUS) because of a crash, his participation at the contest was not just cheered like crazy but also amazed everybody – since he is the best BMX rider ever!

The flatland tent was well visited the whole weekend. Especially the finals on saturday attracted a bunch of thrilled flatland loving people to see runs of 12 finalists. With great combos such as hitchhiker to backpacker kickflip it was Justin Miller from the USA who took the first place. Michael Sommer (AUT) and Sam Foakes (UK) also showed very difficult combos and moves and technical perfect runs.

One more highlight of this years Suzuki BMXmasters was the final of the Braun cruZer tour 2007, which was held on the massive Braun spine ramp. The 12 competing finalists gave the public what they wanted to see – BMX riding on the highest level. Already in the first runs the pro rider showed tricks such as a nohanded flair from Mark Webb (UK), cancan latewhip from Daniel Dhers (VEN) or the fufanu on the backrail from Phil Aller (UK). Ben Wallace who impressed the audience and the judges with tricks like a double downsidewhip took first place.

In the last heat of the three favorites Webb, Wallace and Dhers Mark Webb crashed after trying a 900 and broke his arm. Anyhow he landed on third place behind Daniel Dhers and could again become overall champion of the Braun cruZer tour.

The dirt course, planned and built again by Markus Hampl (GER) and Benny Paulsen (GER) had a positive impact on riders and also on the audience, since you could watch much better. In the finals on Sunday afternoon the american guy Ryan ‚Biz’ Jordan showed spectacular tricks such as 360 whip and tailwhip backflip and achieved the first place before Ricardo Laguna (USA) and Patrick Guimez (FRA).

The best trick contests provided as usual much fun: Sam Foakes (UK) won the Braun best combo. Hazel Wakefield (UK) won the street girls best trick contest with a feeble grind down ledge while Irina Sadovnik became first in the discipline flatland girls.

The opening party of the Suzuki BMXMasters took place on friday in the Friedenspark. On the turntables were DJs Future Rock, Step, Rick Ski, Soundtraxxx, LeBob and Def Binski, who feeded the party people with hip hop, funk and soul. At saturday night the official Suzuki BMXMasters-party in Cologne´s Gloria was held with the support of Soundsystem Pow Pow Movement. The crowd partied til sunrise.

We would like to thank our sponsors Suzuki Automobile, Braun, Dickies, Bulls BMX, British Knights, Nintendo Wii, Veltins V+, Demolition und Ogio.


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