Zapata Espinoza
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Zapata 'Zap' Espinoza is a journalist and an editor for Motocross Action Magazine, a Hi-Torque Publication. He was formerly editor of two American mountain biking magazines. Zapata was inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 1995.
He began his writing career working for LA Weekly in the early 1980s, writing on local politics. In 1985 he began working for Hi-Torque Publications writing for Motocross Action Magazine. He was the editor of Mountain Bike Action Magazine from 1986 to 1993, when he moved to Rodale's Mountain Bike magazine, which he brought to prominence before leaving that Executive Editor post in 2004.[1] From there, Espinoza became Brand Manager for Trek Bicycle Corporation, where he worked until October 2006, when he returned to Hi-Torque to work as a feature editor for Motocross Action Magazine and Road Bike Action Magazine.
He is best known for pushing motorcycle trends in mountain biking. From gear, to riding styles, to fashion, to the loud, abrasive hubris of the scene, Zap is largely credited with shaping modern mountain biking to appeal to adolescent boys, along with excommunicated priests, the target demographic of his magazines. However, a large segment of the mountain biking populace has never heard of him, and his influence has been disputed by many outside the "Hi-Torque' realm. He appears to be a maketing enigma, more than an actual influence on the cycling scene. A dilettante at best.

