Three things you can absolutely count on when you book your trip to Rockford each year: Great racing and deep competition, an awesome facility and atmosphere, and the permanent eye on the radar for when the next turbulent, run-for-the-hills storm front will be moving in (I guess that’s five things, but you get the idea). The 2013 installment of the USA BMX Midwest Nationals was consistent in all respects.
Friday’s practice was trimmed due to a big blob of red and yellow blowing in from the West. It ended up being “16-over and Pros,” just before the pre-race gate dropped. But, by the Friday main events, we were baking in hazy sunshine, coated in a sticky glaze. On Saturday, we peeked out the blackout curtains of our Priceline digs to see a driving rain at 7AM. Snooze button: in effect. Racing got started at about 1:45, in the dry, and we were not showered with any of Mother Nature’s gifts the rest of the day.
The motoboards were wrapped-around, and again with 251 motos on Saturday and 230 on Sunday; and the sprawling Searls Park setting fit all the BMX community could throw at it, with plenty of room to spare. And, as someone who would rather drown in it, than use a porta-potty, the facilities were serviced early and often, taking the gross-out-factor to an all-time low.
We posted our photo galleries on Monday (links below), but here are some of the choice cuts, along with the from-the-infield commentary.
Rockford’s first turn, in the 1980s. Mountains have spring up on the first straight since this stone-age photo was snapped (Photo by Chris Eudaley, maybe for ABA Action?), but some of the features of yesteryear are still visible today–most notably the light poles. Can you name the three lead-riders? We’ll send a pack of three Vintage BMX T-Shirts to the first person who emails us the right answer at news@bmxnews.com.
Troy Daniels was on Factory Kuwahara in the 80s, appearing on a cover of BMX Action. Fast-forward 30 years, and Troy is back in the Kuwie kit, as well as in the driver’s seat of bringing the brand back to the North American market.
Sarah Walker touched down in Rockford town a week before the first Pro Women gate would fall at the Midwest Nationals. On Wednesday before the race, she took a ride down to Elgin for the “Queen of the Hill” Pro/Am at The Hill BMX–where she pocketed $300 greenbacks and got to wear/was made to wear a cape on the podium. In the third main of Saturday’s Midwest Nationals, Sarah crashed royally as Dom Daniels washed out right in front of her in turn two (more on that below). The wreck yielded a jacked-up elbow that had SW96 riding a seat in the pits on Sunday. Prognosis for an appearance at the World Championships in her home-country: questionable. Here’s Sarah slicing-n-dicing in an early Saturday moto with Jessica Salalzar of Mexico.
Donny is back on the bike, after a big-time bell ringing at the Argentina SX a few weeks ago. He was looking great in Rockford, and when he wasn’t in the top three by the first turn, he wedged his way into the mix to get there, as shown puttin the move on Willers in turn two. dR made both mains, with a podium appearance on Saturday (3rd), and a sixth on Sunday.
Loch Ness Monster sighting? Naw, just the newly-puffed-up third straight at Rockford BMX. This set gave fits to some and fame to others throughout the weekend.
Kiwi cranker, Nick Fox has been hittin the road with Trucker Ron, haulin bananas in the USA BMX rig since Nashville. All that American road tripping seems to be agreeing with Nick. Third on Saturday and Fourth on Sunday in the stacked A Pro main gate.
Felicia Stancil is back at the track after her hairy wreck at the Manchester SX. Not quite cleared to race yet, but that day is rapidly approaching. Word is she is back on the training train, and getting worked up, and worked out for the Worlds in New Zealand. She motored out to Rockford with BFF Pam Bazan to catch some motos and mug for the BMX News Nikon.
Joey “The Bomb” Berthiaume was a big time crowd favorite in Rockford, getting some heavy hoots and hollers when the announcers introed the riders. He was sizzlin on Saturday, puttin a hurt on the household names, and proving he can definitely hang with the heaviest of the heavies. He hit the podium with a second on day one, but was out in the semis on day two.
19-27x was deeper than the mud in the parking lot in Rockford, with 34 and 31 riders. We’re always diggin the style and go-fast on this guy. Chandler Denton got out front of an epic turn one tangle on Saturday to take the win, with Rusty Nesvig in the deuce. On day two, it went the other way, just as the storm clouds were ready to soak the entire scene.
Hutch BMX has been inching its way back to the racing scene over the past few years. Friend of News, Jason Parratt is rockin the new-school jersey, and a scoot that we might expect to see in a Vintage show, but is actually the newest model, with modern geometry, etc. from stem to stern. Here’s “Bird” half-way to the win in 36-40 Novice on Saturday.
It’s all a blur. Alise Post was pretty much uncontested in Rockford, save for one lap on Saturday. In the third main on Saturday, we were all set up to shoot her and Dom in the third straight, when we saw this going down in turn two. CLICK! Dom’s tire washed out, and she went down hard, right in the path of Sarah Walker and Alaina Henderson. Dom was down for a while before moving slowly off the track under her own power. A few days after the digger, Dom is said to be getting back to normal, and will likely make the trip to South Park.
Tyler Whitfield is about as dialed on this track as a living human could possibly be. He aced-up on 17-20 Cruiser both days, with blistering laps all weekend long. Right on his chainstay was Ssquared/Answer Teammate Big B, Brandon Ceslok (who went 2-2 in cruiser).
17-18x was a toss-the-deck-in-the-air class all weekend long. Here’s the Saturday main in turn one. The turns took their toll on a lot of classes, as tires barked for traction against warp speeds being put down. Kody Wong’s bark got bit in this one, while Cole Tesar scoots the high-line to grab second in his first 17-18 appearance. On Sunday, it was Lain Van Ogle with the win, and TyWhit zooming in for second.
Why is this guy smiling? Because he just put the major inside swoop on a couple of 28-35ers. The Mangler, George Andrews mangled the comp both days at the Midwest Nats.
The “Super Moon” rising over Rockford BMX, after a full day of bad-to-the-bone BMX on Saturday.
Star BMX Products Daddy-o, Bryan Dickerson was all over the property in Rockford. Managing his mega-crew in the pits, takin the fight to the 46-50 cruiser class (with wins both days), and watching the first turn when called upon. But, even the Lone Ranger had a buddy. Here’s Bryan (behind the wheel), and six Tontos persuading the family driving machine out of the stable on Saturday. That’s pretty-much the only time we saw this guy goin’ slow all weekend. Photo by Sam Gillis
When you’re the only one in the shot, it’s either because you are far enough ahead, or far enough behind to be alone in the frame. Guess which one Alise was in Rockford?
George Costa pulled the Rennen rig, and a mass of Answer/Rennen talent all the way from from Massachusetts. We popped in to the pit to see their new Pedro’s dialin’ in center in action. Be sure to stop over there in South Park to check yer chain!
With first round transfers in the books, the real fun got started in the Answer/Rennen pit. (Counter-clockwise, from top): “The G-Man,” Gavin Freewalt, “The Birdman,” Brandon Crain, Dylan Wood and “The President” Nate Coyman brainstorming some 2020 Olympic track concepts. Tom Ritz, resumes will be forthcoming!
Between Cameron Moore, Justin Richmond, and this guy, 15x had the fans amped up every time. All won some, but Pettigrew won all (the mains). Pair of aces on the weekend.
The popular pro response to “How’s the track” was “Great, but your tires never leave the ground.” Sam extended his win streak to 12 and 13 wins in a row, and exploded the conventional wisdom in other ways too.
Posey, leading out of the last turn of his last A Pro main. Dude bumps up to Double-A in South Park. We can’t wait! (well, it’s UCI, so it’ll be “Elite” but still…).
All in all, it was a great weekend of racing, friends and toweling-off in Rockford. Jake and his crew likely have the track and grounds already back to their pre-national condition, ready for local racing this week (despite more rain). BMX News heads to Pittsburgh for the USA BMX Stars & Stripes Nationals in two weeks. Get in on the story early on social media by liking the BMX News Facebook page and following @bmxnews on Twitter.
—Mike Carruth
Links
2013 Rockford Photo Gallery – Saturday
2013 Rockford Photo Gallery – Sunday
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