Kenny May

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Kenneth Henry May (b. 1970 from Sacramento, California USA) is a former American professional "Old/Mid School" Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1985 to 2000.

His best known nickname is "May Day", a play on words involving his last name and the international call of distress Mayday which was in turn prompted by his hard charging "go-for-it" racing determined to come in first no matter what the cost. It often lead him to be carried of the race track in a stretcher. He often managed to recover quickly enough to be in the next moto (heat) of racing to take the win and transfer to the main.

Contents

[edit] Racing career

Note: Professional first are on the national level unless otherwise indicated.

Started Racing: 1980

Sanctioning Body:

First race result:

First win (local):

First sponsor:

First national win:

Turned Professional: January 1990

First Professional race result: First place in "A" pro at the 1990 American Bicycle Association (ABA) in Reno, Nevada (Day 1) in January 1990. He won US$525. He also won Pro Cruiser winning US$250.[1]

First Professional win: See above.

First Junior Pro* win: See above.

First Senior Pro** race result: Disqualified for the day for fighting with Alex Pflug in the first moto after they collided in the third turn at the 1990 ABA Winter Nationals in Chandler, Arizona. He hit Pflug with a right hook to the head.[2]

First Senior Pro win:

Retired:

Height & weight at height of his career (1988-1998): Ht:6' 1" Wt:197lbs.

*In the NBL it is B"/Superclass/"A" pro (beginning with 2000 season); in the ABA it is "A" pro.
**In the NBL it is "A" pro (Elite men); in the ABA it is "AA" pro.

[edit] Career factory and major bike shop sponsors

Note: This listing only denotes the racer's primary sponsors. At any given time a racer could have numerous co-sponsors. Primary sponsorships can be verified by BMX press coverage at the time in question.

[edit] Amateur

  • Boss Racing Products: 1986
  • Spinners (bicycle shop): -March 1987. The Spinners bicycle shop team disbanded in early 1987
  • Free Agent: March 1987-November 1989.
  • Vision/Free Agent: November 1989- Starting in November 1989 Vision Street Wear, a causal apparel maker and Free Agent shared sponsorship of the team, similar to Vans/MCS joint venture. Kenny May turned pro with this sponsor.

[edit] Professional

  • Vision/Free Agent: November 1989-

[edit] Career bicycle motocross titles

[edit] Amateur

National Bicycle Association (NBA)

  • None

National Bicycle League (NBL)

  • 1988 17 Expert National No.1

American Bicycle Association (ABA)

  • 1988 National No. 1 He also won a Honda Reflex Motocross Motorcycle.
  • 1988 National No. 1 Cruiser. He also won a Honda Reflex Motocross Motorcycle for winning this tiltle as well.

International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)

  • 1989 Superclass 24" (Cruiser) World Champion

[edit] Professional

National Bicycle Association (NBA)

  • None

National Bicycle League (NBL)

  • 1990 National No. 1 Pro Cruiser

American Bicycle Association (ABA)

  • 1990, 1991 National No. 1 Pro Cruiser

United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)

  • None

International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)

Pro Series Championships

[edit] Notable accolades

  • Named one of BMX Action's "Terrible Ten" of top amateurs and future pro of 1988.[3]
  • Named fourth out of 21 racers deemed BMX's Hottest Amateurs in 1988 from a BMX Plus! poll of seven team mangers which included Don Crupi of MCS, Mike Seevers of GT, Yvonne Shoup of Free Agent, Dave Custodero of Mongoose, Mike Donell of Revcore, Bill Nelson of Robinson and Racer/Team Manager of Diamond Back Harry Leary.[4]

[edit] Significant injuries

[edit] Peccadilloes

[edit] Post BMX career

[edit] BMX magazine covers

Bicycle Motocross News:

Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:

Bicycle Motocross Action:

BMX Plus!:

Bicycles and Dirt:

[edit] BMX press magazine interviews and articles

  • "Inside Free Agent: ABA's #1 Team" BMX Plus! March 1989 Vol.12 No.3 pg.51 Part of a profile about the Free Agent racing team.
  • "New Kids on the Block" Go September 1990 Vol.1 Iss.11 pg.52 A joint interview article with fellow rookie pros Steve Veltman and Matt Hadan.
  • "Young Guns!!!" BMX Plus! October 1990 Vol.13 No.10 pg.64 Joint interview with fellow rookie pros Eric Carter, Tim Hall, Steve Veltman, and Matt Hadan.

[edit] Miscellaneous

[edit] End Notes

  1. ^ BMX Plus! May 1990 Vol.13 No.5 pg.20 race results
  2. ^ BMX Plus! June 1990 Vol.13 No.6 pg.20
  3. ^ BMX Action October 1988 Vol.13 No.10 pg.22
  4. ^ BMX Plus! November 1988 Vol.11 No.11 pg.78

[edit] External links

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