DOWNHILL BMX: BRONZE MAKES IT LOCAL'S DAY IN DOWNHILL BMX.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

STALLION SPRINGS - As the youngest competitor in Sunday's Downhill BMX, 18-year-old Mike Day made sure to bring his own fan club of former Valencia High classmates and friends he's grown up riding with at home in Canyon Country.

``I got the phone book out last night and told everyone,'' said Day, who made his X Games debut barely a year after graduating from high school and turning pro. ``It makes it a little easier when you have support.''

The only thing was Day had more than just ordinary support. Instead, he had dozens of friends who cheered every time his name was announced by the ESPN hosts and carried signs reading - among many things - ``Mike Day for Governor.''

They also mobbed him after he won what is sure to be remembered as one of the most improbable medals of these Games. A last-minute invite to the event, Day took home the bronze in the biggest race of his career.

``It feels great,'' said Day, who claimed third in the final behind Brandon Meadows and Kyle Bennett. ``This is the best.''

Day wasn't even supposed to be entered into the competition but received an invitation to the field when another rider pulled out last month.

But he made the most of the opportunity, recording the fourth-fastest mark in Saturday's time trials and winning two heats Sunday to reach the final.

In the final, Day was seeded third and appeared to move up to second as the pack of eight riders funneled into the first turn. But Day was bumped from behind and slipped a spot.

``I've known Mike Day for a long time, we've ridden together a lot,'' Meadows said. ``He's young and he's going to have a great career. I give him all the props for what he did today.''

How surprising was Day's performance? His entire family - including his older brother Dave, who took Day to a BMX track in Simi Valley for his first ride at age 9 - all were away in Montana on a family vacation. Day called them afterward to relay the news.

They still can watch the broadcast of the event Aug. 18 and 19. Day, meanwhile, said the older riders didn't intimidate him, even though his only stated goal coming in was to reach the final.

``It makes you go faster,'' Day said. ``You want to beat the older guys.''

The afternoon's main drama came in the second semifinal when defending champion Robbie Miranda was pinched between two riders on the first turn and went down in a four-bike pile-up. Miranda failed to qualify for the final as a result.

That left the door open for Meadows, a 22-year-old from Sacramento who won the first Downhill BMX gold at the 2001 X Games. And Meadows took advantage of his inside position in the final, staying out of trouble to win pedaling away.

But Day enjoyed probably the best celebration. He was surrounded by friends and threw his sponsor bib into the crowd like a bridal bouquet. Day signed dozens of autographs for kids and was hoisted into the air while conducting a television interview.

Watching from afar, childhood friend Bubba Harris could only look on and laugh. The two have raced together since elementary school, and Harris broke his wrist in an event last week when he and Day collided. But he was more than happy for his friend Sunday.

``I'm so proud of him,'' Harris said. ``You can't be anything but proud of him.''

--Notes: The estimated crowd of 2,000 was the largest ever for Downhill BMX, several riders said. ... Lancaster's Brian Schmith, the other area rider in the field, was edged out of fourth place in his quarterfinal heat and did not advance.

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com