}}
}}
”’Gregory John Romero”’ (born February 27, 1974) in [[San Mateo, California]] [[United States|U.S.]] and raised in [[San Ramon, California]]<ref>”BMX Plus!” February 1995 Vol.18 No.2 pg.67</ref> is an American professional “Mid School” [[BMX|Bicycle Motocross (BMX)]] racer whose prime competitive years were from 1994-2006. Romero was inducted into the ”’National BMX Hall of Fame”’ – Class of 2025.<ref name=”auto4″>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pullbmx.com/post/2025-national-bmx-hall-of-fame-inductees|title=2025 National BMX Hall of Fame Inductees|first=PULL|last=BMX|date=September 19, 2025|website=PULL BMX}}</ref>
”’Gregory John Romero”’ (born February 27, 1974) in [[San Mateo, California]] [[United States|U.S.]] and raised in [[San Ramon, California]]<ref>”BMX Plus!” February 1995 Vol.18 No.2 pg.67</ref> is an American professional [[BMX|Bicycle Motocross (BMX)]] racer whose prime competitive years were from 1994-2006. Romero was inducted into the National BMX Hall of Fame – Class of 2025.<ref name=”auto4″>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pullbmx.com/post/2025-national-bmx-hall-of-fame-inductees|title=2025 National BMX Hall of Fame Inductees|first=PULL|last=BMX|date=September 19, 2025|website=PULL BMX}}</ref>
He is sometimes called “Premo”<ref>”What’s Up with Premo” “Transworld BMX” October 2004 pg.86</ref> and is known for his mental fortitude and using visualization techniques to foresee himself winning.<ref>”BMX Plus” September 1997 page 18 “10 things guaranteed to make you faster Pro Tips from Greg Romero”</ref>As a professional, he won over one hundred professional events<ref name=”auto”>{{Cite web|url=https://bmxultra.com/review/bmx_racing_skills_dvd/|title=DVD: BMX Racing Skills|date=January 29, 2013}}</ref> with 48 victories in the Elite Men class.<ref>https://books.google.com/books/about/Pro_BMX_Skills.html?id=Jk1dywAACAAJ, Meet the team – Greg Romero, page 10</ref>
He is sometimes called “Premo”<ref>”What’s Up with Premo” “Transworld BMX” October 2004 pg.86</ref> and is known for his mental fortitude and using visualization techniques to foresee himself winning.<ref>”BMX Plus” September 1997 page 18 “10 things guaranteed to make you faster Pro Tips from Greg Romero”</ref>As a professional, he won over one hundred professional events<ref name=”auto”>{{Cite web|url=https://bmxultra.com/review/bmx_racing_skills_dvd/|title=DVD: BMX Racing Skills|date=January 29, 2013}}</ref> with 48 victories in the Elite Men class.<ref>https://books.google.com/books/about/Pro_BMX_Skills.html?id=Jk1dywAACAAJ, Meet the team – Greg Romero, page 10</ref>
After winning the Pro World Cup as a rookie, Romero won the 1995 Golden Crank Rookie Pro of the Year<ref>”In his rookie season, Romero won the ABA World Cup, along with two more double-A wins, helped earn him enough votes to become 1995’s Golden Crank Rookie Pro of the Year.” https://www.usabmx.com/awards/hall-of-fame/1697</ref>
After winning the Pro World Cup as a rookie, Romero won the 1995 Golden Crank Rookie Pro of the Year<ref>”In his rookie season, Romero won the ABA World Cup, along with two more double-A wins, helped earn him enough votes to become 1995’s Golden Crank Rookie Pro of the Year.” https://www.usabmx.com/awards/hall-of-fame/1697</ref>
He won the ”’American Bicycle Association (ABA)”’ World Cup two times and won a silver medal in the Elite Mens category at the 1997 ”’UCI World Championships”’ in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada.<ref name=”auto3″>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/sports/bmx-riders-learn-from-pros/|title=BMX riders learn from pros|first=Chad Sellmer, Tribune staff|last=writer|date=July 31, 2003}}</ref>
He won the American Bicycle Association (ABA) World Cup two times and won a silver medal in the Elite Mens category at the 1997 UCI World Championships in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada.<ref name=”auto3″>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/sports/bmx-riders-learn-from-pros/|title=BMX riders learn from pros|first=Chad Sellmer, Tribune staff|last=writer|date=July 31, 2003}}</ref>
He retired from competition in 2007<ref>https://www.usabmx.com/awards/hall-of-fame/1697, “retired from professional racing – in 2007″</ref> and went on to coach his riders at the Olympic Games<ref>”he worked closely with some of Team USA’s Olympians – such as silver medalist Mike Day, bronze medalist Jill Kintner, David Herman and Corben Sharrah.” https://www.usabmx.com/awards/hall-of-fame/1697</ref> and was honored by the ”’United States Olympic Committee”’ with the Order of Ikkos medallion as a symbol of excellence in coaching as represented by his athletes’ Olympic medal-winning performances.<ref>https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt9e58afd92a18a0fc/blt19a926e47db46e06/646e7e11ff8623bfaca8105d/Beijing_2008_Olympic_Games_Ikkos_Honor_Roll.pdf</ref>
He retired from competition in 2007<ref>https://www.usabmx.com/awards/hall-of-fame/1697, “retired from professional racing – in 2007″</ref> and went on to coach his riders at the Olympic Games<ref>”he worked closely with some of Team USA’s Olympians – such as silver medalist Mike Day, bronze medalist Jill Kintner, David Herman and Corben Sharrah.” https://www.usabmx.com/awards/hall-of-fame/1697</ref> and was honored by the United States Olympic Committee with the Order of Ikkos medallion as a symbol of excellence in coaching as represented by his athletes’ Olympic medal-winning performances.<ref>https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt9e58afd92a18a0fc/blt19a926e47db46e06/646e7e11ff8623bfaca8105d/Beijing_2008_Olympic_Games_Ikkos_Honor_Roll.pdf</ref>
==Racing career milestones==
==Racing career milestones==
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notable BMX rider, inducted into the BMX Hall of Fame
| Full name | Gregory John Romero |
|---|---|
| Nickname | “Premo” |
| Born | February 27, 1974 Daly City, California, United States |
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Weight | 92 kg (203 lb) |
| Current team | Retired |
| Discipline | Bicycle Motocross (BMX) |
| Role | Racer, Coach |
| Rider type | Off Road |
| 1983 | Standard Cycle San Ramon |
| 1984 | Samco Engineering |
| 1985-1989 | Boss Factory Team |
| 1989-1992 | L&S Creations |
| 1993 | Auburn Cycles |
| 1994-1996 | Auburn Cycles |
| 1996-1999 | Robinson Racing |
| 1999-2000 | GT Bicycles |
| 2001-2003 | Redman Yamaha/Waverunner |
| 2004-2005 | Revtec Cycles |
| 2006 | Haro Bicycles |
| 1995 World Cup in Burbank, California, 1996 ABA Grand Nationals AA PRO, 1997 World Cup in Nanaimo, B.C. | |
Gregory John Romero (born February 27, 1974) in San Mateo, California U.S. and raised in San Ramon, California[1] is an American professional Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1994-2006. Romero was inducted into the National BMX Hall of Fame – Class of 2025.[2]
He is sometimes called “Premo”[3] and is known for his mental fortitude and using visualization techniques to foresee himself winning.[4]As a professional, he won over one hundred professional events[5] with 48 victories in the Elite Men class.[6]
After winning the Pro World Cup as a rookie, Romero won the 1995 Golden Crank Rookie Pro of the Year[7]
He won the American Bicycle Association (ABA) World Cup two times and won a silver medal in the Elite Mens category at the 1997 UCI World Championships in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada.[8]
He retired from competition in 2007[9] and went on to coach his riders at the Olympic Games[10] and was honored by the United States Olympic Committee with the Order of Ikkos medallion as a symbol of excellence in coaching as represented by his athletes’ Olympic medal-winning performances.[11]
Racing career milestones
Note: Professional firsts are on the national level unless otherwise indicated.
| Milestone | Event Details |
|---|---|
| Started racing: | September 1983 at the age of nine, when his mother took him to a BMX track in Sunol, California |
| Sanctioning body: | American Bicycle Association (ABA) |
| First race bike: | Diamond Back “Silver Streak” |
| First race result: | First in 9 beginner |
| First win (local): | See above. |
| First national win: | April 1984 10 intermediate, Bakersfield, California |
| First sponsor: | 1984 Standard Cycle San Ramon |
| Turned Professional: | December 1994 at 20 years of age after the American Bicycle Association (ABA) Grandnationals. |
| First Professional race result: | First place in Superclass at the National Bicycle League’s (NBL) Christmas Classic Nationals in Columbus, Ohio in late December 1994 |
| First Professional win: | See above |
| First Junior Men/SX/Pro* race result: | See above |
| First Junior Men/SX/Pro win: | See above |
| First Senior Pro/Elite Men** race result: | Third place in AA Pro at the ABA Lone Star Nationals in Houston, Texas in early April 1995 |
| First Senior Pro/Elite Men win: | First place in AA Pro at the ABA World Cup of BMX in Burbank, California, June 1995. |
| Height and weight at height of his career: | Ht:5’10” Wt:~205 lbs. |
| Retired: | Retired |
*In the NBL “B” Pro/Super Class/”A” Pro/Junior Men/Super X (SX) depending on the era; in the ABA it is “A” Pro.
**In the NBL it is “A” Pro/Elite Men; in the ABA it is “AA” Pro.
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 ever changing co-sponsors. Primary sponsorships can be verified by BMX press coverage and sponsor’s advertisements at the time in question. When possible exact dates are given.
Amateur
- Boss Factory: 1985-1989[12]
- L&S Creations: 1990-1992[12]
- Auburn Cycles: 1993-1994 Romero turned pro with this sponsor[13]
Professional
- Auburn Cycles: 1994-1996
- Robinson Racing: 1996-1999
- GT Bicycles: 1999-2000[12]
Career bicycle motocross titles
Note: Listed are District, State/Provincial/Department, Regional, National, and International titles in italics. “Defunct” refers to the fact of that sanctioning body in question no longer existing at the start of the racer’s career or at that stage of his/her career. Depending on point totals of individual racers, winners of Grand Nationals do not necessarily win National titles. Series and one off Championships are also listed in block.
Amateur/Junior Men/Super X
National Bicycle League (NBL)
- 1994 20 & over Expert Grand national Champion[13]
- 1994 20 & over Expert National No.1
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
- 1994 19 & over Expert National No.1.
United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)
Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme (FIAC)*
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)*
Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)*
* See note in professional section.
Professional
National Bicycle League (NBL)
- 1997 Mid Year Series Champion $10,000
- 1997 National No.2 Pro.
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
- 1995 ABA Pro World Champion.
- 1996 Grand National Champion “AA”
- 1996 Supercup Champion
- 1997 ABA Pro Word Champion
- 1997 Pioneer Monster-X Champion
- 2000 National No.2 Pro
Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)*
- 1997 UCI Elite Men Silver Medalist
*Note: Beginning in 1991 the IBMXF and FIAC had been holding joint World Championship events as a transitional phase in merging which began in earnest in 1993. Beginning with the 1996 season the IBMXF and FIAC completed the merger and both ceased to exist as independent entities being integrated into the UCI. Beginning with the 1996 World Championships held in Brighton, England the UCI would officially hold and sanction BMX World Championships and with it inherited all precedents, records, streaks, etc. from both the IBMXF and FIAC.
Independent Pro Series Championships and Invitationals
Notable accolades
- He was called one of the top amateurs in the country by BMX Plus! in 1995.[14]
- He is a 1995 ABA BMXer magazine Golden Crank “Rookie of the Year” winner.[13]
- He is a two time ABA Pro World Cup Champion in 1995 and 1997[8]
- He is the first and only ABA Pro to win all three Grand National Pro events, winning AAPro, Pro open, and the Friday night Pro Supercup, in 1996 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[15]
- He is the first pro to win the Pioneer Monster-X championship and was awarded a Honda CR125 motocross bike. In 1997 the ABA held a six race pro series in Reno, Nevada, Phoenix, Arizona, Nanaimo Canada, Los Angeles, California and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[13]
- He is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as one of America’s finest coaches for his achievement in coaching as represented by Jill Kintner and Mike Day’s achievement as an Olympic medalist and is on the honor roll of the Order of Ikkos.[16]
- He is recognized by the USA BMX National Hall of Fame for his impact as racer and teacher and was inducted into the National BMX Hall of Fame class of 2025.[2]
BMX product lines
- 1998 ATI Swoop Number Plate Greg Romero Signature Series[17]
- Product Evaluations:
- Tire Shootout BMX Plus November 1994 Vol.17 Iss.11 pg.52-56 (Tioga Comp3, GT AApro, Haro Holeshot)
Significant injuries
Racing traits and habits
Greg was known to have developed of blending a Nor Cal attitude with the So Cal finesse when it came to his riding style, demeanor and mindset.[18]. A rare combination of size, skill, power, finesse and a strong mental mindset were the characteristics that Greg used to consistently win.[19]
Controversy
Although he wasn’t known as a dirty rider, there was an isolated incident at the 1998 ABA Winter nationals in Phoenix Arizona, where Greg Romero and another racer (Neal Wood) were involved in a fight. In a pro-open third moto qualifier, Neal Wood had made an aggressive pass on Romero in the first turn, displacing Romero over the first turn, causing him to crash and land 15 feet down to the bottom. Romero, in retaliation, ran to the third straight with his bike, and tossed it in front of Wood in an attempt to make him crash. Romero and Wood then attacked each other and were immediately grabbed by officials to cool things down. Romero immediately apologized to Wood, was disqualified from the day of racing, and a week later, he was suspended by the American Bicycle Association for 60 days. Romero was not suspended by the National Bicycle League and during the 60 day suspension competed in the NBL pro series instead. Romero received no sanction from his sponsor, GT Bicycles, as it was quoted by the marketing manager, Brian Gass “that bad press was good press” and had supported Romero one hundred percent through the thick of the incident.[20][21]
Miscellaneous
- Greg was a featured contributor in the “Pro BMX Skills” book[22][23]
- Greg has authored five BMX Training DVDs including “BMX Racing Skills” 2012[5], “Faster First Straight” 2013[24], “Sprinting Secrets” 2014,[25] “Race Day Secrets” 2015,[26]
Post BMX career
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BMX interviews and articles
- “The Top Amateurs In the Country” BMX Plus! February 1995 Vol.18 No.2 pg.67
- ”Pro Spotlight” BMX Plus! May 1997 Vol.20 No.2 pg.72-74
- ”10 Things Guaranteed To Make You Faster – Pro tips from Greg Romero!” “BMX Plus” September 1997 Vol.20 pg.18
- “A Long Talk with Greg Romero” “Snap BMX Magazine” June/July 1997 Vol.4 pg.21-26
- “Answers from Greg Romero” “Transworld BMX” July 2004 pg.30
- “What’s Up with Premo” “Transworld BMX” October 2004 pg.86
- “20 Questions with Greg Romero” “BMX Today” July 2004 pg.28-29
BMX magazine covers
BMX Plus!:
- November 1994 Vol.17 No.11 (4) with Kendall Burlson (4, left), Greg Romero (3), Alan Foster right and In Hee Lee (GT, No number plate) at far right. In top inset freestyler Matt Hoffman. In bottom inset Racing tire shoot out.
BMX World:
Bicycles Today & BMX Today (The official NBL membership publication under two names):
- April 1997 Vol.19 No.3 Robinson racer (#51)
References
- ^ BMX Plus! February 1995 Vol.18 No.2 pg.67
- ^ a b BMX, PULL (September 19, 2025). “2025 National BMX Hall of Fame Inductees”. PULL BMX.
- ^ “What’s Up with Premo” “Transworld BMX” October 2004 pg.86
- ^ “BMX Plus” September 1997 page 18 “10 things guaranteed to make you faster Pro Tips from Greg Romero”
- ^ a b “DVD: BMX Racing Skills”. January 29, 2013.
- ^ https://books.google.com/books/about/Pro_BMX_Skills.html?id=Jk1dywAACAAJ, Meet the team – Greg Romero, page 10
- ^ “In his rookie season, Romero won the ABA World Cup, along with two more double-A wins, helped earn him enough votes to become 1995’s Golden Crank Rookie Pro of the Year.” https://www.usabmx.com/awards/hall-of-fame/1697
- ^ a b writer, Chad Sellmer, Tribune staff (July 31, 2003). “BMX riders learn from pros”.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ https://www.usabmx.com/awards/hall-of-fame/1697, “retired from professional racing – in 2007”
- ^ “he worked closely with some of Team USA’s Olympians – such as silver medalist Mike Day, bronze medalist Jill Kintner, David Herman and Corben Sharrah.” https://www.usabmx.com/awards/hall-of-fame/1697
- ^ https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt9e58afd92a18a0fc/blt19a926e47db46e06/646e7e11ff8623bfaca8105d/Beijing_2008_Olympic_Games_Ikkos_Honor_Roll.pdf
- ^ a b c “USA BMX Announces Inductees For Their 40th Anniversary BMX Hall Of Fame”. Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.
- ^ a b c d “USA BMX: The Sanctioning Body of BMX”. www.usabmx.com.
- ^ “BMX Plus” February 1995 Vol.18 No.2 pg.67
- ^ Snap BMX Magazine December 1996 Vol.3 pg.34
- ^ https://archive.ph/20080628075120/http://teamusa.org/news/article/2203#selection-1021.0-1045.282 https://www.teamusa.org/-/media/TeamUSA/AthleteDevelopment/Coaching-Education/Beijing-2008-Olympic-Games-Ikkos-Honor-Roll.pdf?la=en&hash=2B5966C520B4ED365506B24BBBD2986BF788BFBA
- ^ “ATi Schwartz Grips”. February 28, 2000.
- ^ ”Pro Spotlight” BMX Plus! May 1997 Vol.20 No.2 pg.72-74
- ^ A Long Talk with Greg Romero” “Snap BMX Magazine” June/July 1997 Vol.4 pg.23
- ^ “BMX Plus” July 1998 Vol.21 No.7 pg.47
- ^ “BMX Brawl Wood vs Romero” “Snap BMX Magazine” July 1998 pg.34
- ^ “Meet The Team“ “Pro BMX Skills” Lee McCormack 2010 pg.10 isbn0974566020
- ^ https://bmxultra.com.au/review/pro_bmx_skills_book/
- ^ “Greg Romero’s Faster First Straight DVD”. October 26, 2013.
- ^ https://www.bmxnews.org/2015/02/review-greg-romeros-sprinting-secrets-dvd/
- ^ https://www.bmxnews.org/2015/12/review-greg-romeros-race-day-dvd/
