Good Times and Fast Laps For GT Team in Connecticut

Sep 18, 2012

USABMX East Coast National

September 14-16, 2012, Trumbull, Connecticut  -- GT riders Sean Gaian, Jordan “Missile” Miranda and Eric “Big Daddy” Rupe took on the finest racers in the East to bring home a trailer full of trophies at the USABMX East Coast Nationals in Trumbull Connecticut. The teams' success was even more special because it was all done in the GT Bicycles headquarters backyard. Everyone from engineers to marketing personnel came out to show their support of the GT Factory BMX Team and had a great time!
 
With the event being near the GT offices a “company-only” clinic was put on for the employees on Thursday afternoon. Employees and their kids came out to get some pointers from the team. For some it was their first time ever on a BMX track and they had a blast. Immediately after the employee clinic an open clinic was held for the racers who were looking for a leg up on their competition at the national event to be held over the weekend. It was great to see the Tweets and Facebook messages after the races from the clinic participants expressing their gratitude to the GT team for their achievements on the track.
 
The late summer weather couldn’t have been any better for the race. Low 80s, sunshine and a light breeze had the Vitamin D pumping into everyone keeping spirits high and big smiles on and off the track. Big smiles were also seen on the faces of GT teammates Jordan Miranda and Sean Gaian after they took some fun laps on the new 2013 Performer 26’r and the Interceptor 26’r. They enjoyed themselves so much they signed up for the cruiser class, which they normally do not race. They took the ‘box-stock’ 26r’s to the top of the podium on Saturday and had a blast doing it.
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They did take some of the racing more seriously when it came to their respective 20” classes. Sean had one of the largest groups of the weekend in the 16 Expert division and he proved why he is a contender for the National #1 Amateur title by riding flawlessly.  Gaian did not lose a lap all weekend long which is tough to do in what is touted as one of the toughest amateur classes on the circuit.
 
Teammate Jordan Miranda took on the brutal 17-18 Expert class and not to be outdone by his younger cohort he too stayed undefeated all weekend. Look for Jordan to be battling for a Junior Mens title in 2013.
Last but not least we cannot leave out the team patriarch, Eric “Big Daddy” Rupe. Big Daddy pretty much single handedly drove cross country, led two team clinics and signed hundreds of autographs over the last week. He then proceeded to lay to waste his competition in the cruiser and 20” classes making for a very productive trip. Just another workweek for the ‘legend’.
 
The team now takes a break to prepare for the next big event, the USABMX Disney Cup in Orlando, Florida, October 26-28. 
 
The GT Bicycles team is honored to be supported by the following:
  • www.GoProCamera.com
  • www.AlpineStars.com
  • www.tiogausa.com
  • www.lizardskins.com
  • www.AlienationBMX.com
  • www.SDGComponents.com
  • www.TroyLeeDesigns.com
  • www.Shimano.com
  • www.KMCChain.us
  • www.Sapim.be
  • www.statusbmx.com