Championship Roller Racing News-line

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2010

Pro Cyclists Lining Up For New York
Championship Roller Racing Final
NY’s Wiswell and LaCorte, Miami’s Espinoza, Boston’s Begemann Latest Entrants

There will be be no shortage of bike racing talent when the pros face off in the Irish Rogue on West 44th Street Saturday night for the New York Velodrome Championship Roller Racing Final presented by Hacker-Pschorr, Paulano, and Affinity Cycles. Although this is the last of an eight race series that began in early January and moved through PA and NJ, it marks the first appearance on the CRR circuit by NY riders David Wiswell, riding for Crca/Dave Jordan Coaching – Zephyr Graffiti, and Andrew LaCorte who races for Affinity Cycles.

Despite his nickname "Cupcake," or perhaps because of it, LaCorte and Wiswell both seem to exude a certain streak of old school toughness long associated with NY bike riders, a trait going all the way back to the original NY Velodrome days of "Iron Man" MacNamara, whose commemorative plaque now hangs with honor in the Madison Square Garden Hall of Fame. "I saw remarks on the NY Velocity website about riders worried they have to race too much this weekend. What are they talking about? I’m riding Floyd Bennett Saturday morning, rollers Saturday night, then Central Park the next morning. Can’t wait. Reminds me of Europe," said Wiswell.

LaCorte, reached by phone as he worked his way through Manhattan on the job as a systems analyst, spoke frankly about the new opportunities materializing with the developing New York Velodrome, title sponsor of the roller races. "You know, I was planning to move out of NY. Now my mind is changing. All the track action will be here," he pondered. The Cupcake then abruptly switched his attention to the roller races and his arch master’s cycling rival, Matt Diefenbach, Alliance Environmental team. "By the way, tell Diefenbach he’d better miss the bus if he knows what’s good for him," said LaCorte, referring to the possibility of Diefenbach traveling to NY on the charter bus that some PA riders and fans are contemplating for the Saturday night trip to NY.

Another recent roller race entrant is David "Goliath" Espinoza of Miami, FL representing the Affinity team. Goliath is a Penn State nuclear engineering student who rides for Costa Rica in UCI international competition. He was the winner of the last CRR race in Emaus, PA on February 27 where he defeated Olympian Bobby Lea, Bahati Foundation team, who is a three time winner on the CRR circuit this year.

Also taking up the challenge for the thousand dollar pro purse is former Zimbabwe National Champion Kurt Begemann, who now rides out of Boston, MA for Cycle Loft. "I’m driving three and a half hours to be there," said a committed Begemann, who won a 2009 Allentown, PA CRR event but has not raced the roller circuit since then.

Championship Roller Racing official suppliers include Mike Fraysse Sports, Valley Preferred Cycling Center, Phoenix Sports Technology, CyclingCaptured.com, Velo Precision Cycling, NYVelocity.com, and Quality First Home Improvements.

Racing starts a 6:30 p.m. with individual qualifying time-trials for women, open and pro categories and continues with qualifiers going head to head two at a time through quarter finals, semi finals, and finals, with awards happening around 10:00 pm. The Irish Rogue is located at 356 W. 44th St. NY, NY between 8th and 9th Avenues.