BMX racing gets bump from Beijing

0 Comments | USA TODAY, September, 2008 | by Sal Ruibal

BMX racing's successful debut in the Beijing Olympics has spawned interest in an aspect of the cycling sport that has been overshadowed in recent years by BMX vert and stunt events.

The Beijing bounce is already showing up on your TV screen.

The Olympics gave a big boost to NBC's Aug. 24 broadcast of BMX in the AST Dew Tour's Wendy's Invitational in Portland, Ore.

With a lead-in from NBC's Beijing broadcast, the park event garnered a 2.7 overnight rating, which made it the highest-rated daytime action sports broadcast in history and the highest-rated Dew Tour broadcast.

It was the third-highest-rated sports show that day, topped only by the two giants: the Olympics and the NFL.

American medalists Mike Day (silver) and Donny...