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One of the highlights of the 99 World Cup at Newnham Park – Swatch Biker X – has been confirmed to take place over the weekend of the 19/20 August 2000. Biker X will form part of the new Bike Live Festival that Newnham Racing and Future Publishing are staging to take the place of the World Cup weekend.
Swatch have confirmed that their World Team riders Steve Peat, Sari Jorgensen and Shaun Palmer will be competing so 99 champion Scott Beaumont of Kona will have a much tougher job to regain his crown. Palmer has retired from the world cup scene but his contract with Swatch means hell take part in their 2000 Boarder X and Biker X series so Newnham will be a very rare appearance for him.
The organisers are currently talking to other riders from the World Cup circuit and with cash prize money for Biker X of over £3000, expect to attract a top line up of international talent.
The event will have a similar four rider format to 1999 with both mens and womens races.
Australian course designer Glenn Jacobs will be taking a break from his World Cup duties to build another extreme course that will be longer than last years version and include a new bridge, new start gates and even bigger jumps.
* The Swatch Biker X will be on Saturday with a floodlit final (£3200 prize money).
* On Sunday the Biker X course is used again for a citizens races (£1000 prize money).
* Full programme of XC racing on Saturday and Sunday over what would have been the 2000 World Cup course, including a 4 hour team race and fun races (£2000 prize money).
* Trials displays with the Martins, Hans Rey, the Tongue Brothers, Ian Cooper.
* UK Speed Trials Championships – qualifications on Saturday with the sixteen best amateurs riding against the sixteen seeded pro elites on Sunday (£1000 prize money).
* BMX Vert contest and King of Dirt competition – organised by Seventies Distribution (£1000 prize money up for grabs in each category).
* Huge race party on site on Saturday night with live music and DJs supplied by London Records.
* Trade stands
* Camping site.
Futures Adam Brown is upbeat about the Newnham-staged event: This will be the only chance for British fans to see the Worlds elite riders in action and a rare opportunity to ride the best X country course in the country. The support of Swatch and Future Publishing together with Newnhams experience of organising five previous World Cups should make this the outdoor cycling weekend of the year.
For trade stand and sponsorship enquiries contact:
Adam Brown
Tel: 01225 822830
Newnham Racing contact:
Tel 01752 338524
