Bobby Encinas (born 1961 in Canoga Park, California) is a former professional "Old School" Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1973 to 1980.
Raised in the barrio of Canoga Park, he had a juvenile criminal record for theft and was on probation for consuming alcohol and drugs before he was 12 years old.
For the sake of consistency and standardization noted professional first are for the first pro races for prize money offered by official BMX sanctioning bodies and not independent track events.
Started Racing: Officially in mid 1973 at age 12 at Soledad Sands Park BMX track in Acton, California.
That experience led Alexander to eventually start the National Bicycle Association (NBA) some six months later.
Starting in the 1979 season he concentrated mostly on the Public Relations aspect of BMX to promote it nationally and internationally.
This is why during the early years of the pro division the national number one racer of a sanctioning body could be either an amateur or professional.
Primary sponsorships can be verified by BMX press coverage and sponsor's advertisements at the time in question.
"Anonymous rumor: Kawasaki, you'd better bridge the communications gap with your team or...[14] ----reported by Bob Osborn in the September 1976 "The California BMX Rider"Note: Listed are District, State/Provincial/Department, Regional, National, and International titles in italics.
This was done to give the rider (and the winners of No.1 bicycle and No.1 Factory Team) maximum publicity and advantage fancily.
"[17] --Both Bobby Encinas Super BMX April 1981.As far back as the summer of 1974 when he had only been racing for ten months, Bicycle Motocross News predicted that he would be the Henry Kissinger of BMX: "We fell that a manufacturer would not only be getting an expert rider, but a great public relations person - perhaps the Henry Kissinger of bicycle motocross!
"[3] --Bicycle Motocross News July 1974.Several BMX superstars have followed in Bobby Encinas's footsteps, including Perry Kramer and Mike Poulson.