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Monday 28th October 2024

The Story of Reynolds & BMX: MRD

For the next article in our BMX series, we have Tim March and MRD (March Racing Developments). Created in 1982, MRD has a long-standing history with BMX bikes and was the first rider-owned BMX brand in the UK.

Tim March – BMX European Championship, Birmingham, 1984

The first 3 prototype frames were made with Reynolds 531 by the Birmingham Wheels Project in 1983. From 1984-1985 MRD used Rickman Engineering in New Milton to manufacture 1,750 frames and forks made from Reynolds tubing.

Since the start of its journey in 1982, MRD ran an international BMX race and freestyle team of over 20 riders, winning numerous National and International titles in countries all over the world. This included Alice Temple, who was the first sponsored rider for MRD, Anthony Howells who won the National Championship in 1984 and the European Championship in 1985 and even Tim March himself, who won both the UK and European Championships in 1984, the Kelloggs BMX TV Series Superclass trophy in 1984 and the British Championship Pro class and National Championships in 1986.

Anthony Howells – BMX European Championships, Barcelona, 1985
Elsa Rendall-Todd, 2023

After winning numerous National and International titles with a large BMX Team that raced and performed in countries all over the world, MRD drew to a close in the late 80s after Tim retired from racing due to a series of back and shoulder injuries that caused him to end his BMX career when he was 25. A period of manufacturing hibernation continued for 3 decades.

March relaunched the brand in 2023 with a limited run of frames and forks using Reynolds 853 tubing. These new bikes were then raced by Tony Pitman and Elsa Rendall-Todd in 2023. Elsa took 2nd place at the National BMX series, 4th at the European championship and 2nd at the World Championship in the 16-year-old Female category. Tony Pitman road for MRD in 1984/85 and continues to ride an MRD bike to this day!

Tony Pitman – BMX Harrow

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