PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Media Contact:
Rick Baraff
Tel: +1-415-359-0730
EM: rbaraff@o2sm.com
www.norbanationals.com

National Mountain Bike Series 'Urban Assault' Rides Into Fontana

Big Bear Lake (CALIFORNIA) -- Bright lights, big tires! Round 2 of the 2006 National Mountain Bike Series (NMBS) heads to Southridge Park in Fontana, California, a city in the suburbs of the one and only City of Angels, May 5-7th.

"We're calling this race the 'Urban Assault'," says race series co-director Tom Spiegel of Team Big Bear. "By taking the National Mountain Bike Series into more urban areas such as Fontana, which is only an hour from downtown Los Angeles, we hope to make the sport of mountain biking more accessible to the mainstream."

As usual, the NMBS welcomes all levels of participants in its races. Elite athletes from around the world will compete for the top spots in the following disciplines: Cross Country (XC), Downhill (DH), Short Track (ST), Mountain Cross (MTX), and Super D (SD). Catering to the growing MTB "purists", there will be an Open Single Speed Class added to the XC race.

"The cross country course is very technical, there's some good singletrack, and while there aren't any particularly big climbs there's collectively a lot of elevation gain and loss," says Spiegel. "I assure cross country riders they will be challenged. No one will be disappointed," adds Spiegel, throwing down the gauntlet to potential naysayers of the Southridge Park venue where races have been held the past 12 years.

Spiegel estimates that the number of competitors across the various disciplines could be as high as 1,400, turning the park into an even more intimate venue for catching all the action. To add the final touch to the weeekend, Spiegel says to "expect perfect Southern California weather".

For racers, fans, and journalists, The National Mountain Bike Series also goes high tech with 3-D maps of the Fontana course which can be found at www.geoladders.com.

The host hotel for the race is the Inn Suites, located 8 miles from the race venue in Ontario, CA. More rooms have recently been made available. Call 1-800-642-2617 for reservations and directions.

Registration info for the NMBS can be found at: www.sportsbaseonline.com.