Great Lakes National - Waterford Race Report & Photos

Filed under General on July 25, 2014 | Comment(s)

The 2014 Great Lakes Nationals invaded the legendary Waterford Oaks BMX track - to continue a legacy that now spans 40 years. Over theae past four decades, Waterford has hosted everything from a UCi Worlds to the very first USA Cycling National Champs for BMX - as well as ESPN Pro Series races and numerous NBL nationals. Now - it's USA BMX's turn to continue this Michigan tradition.

It's always fun to travel to a different town in a different state. Each place USA BMX stops at usually has its own traditions or trademarks; things that a particular city is famous for. Being here in MIchigan, it's impossible to just name only one thing that the Detroit area is known for. Personally, the soundtrack in my head for Detroit consists of Kiss or Ted Nugent - but for those in the younger age bracket, I'm sure their soundtrack for the Great Lakes is made up of Eminem or Kid Rock. We were slightly tempted, only for a second, to exit off the freeway at the 8 Mile off ramp, in honor of Slim Shady. And for those in the 60+ cruiser classes, they would probably reminisce about the magic of Mo-Town. USA BMX staffers Chris Luna and Nick Adam had the opportunity to visit the Mo-Town museum and take a tour of the Barry Gordon empire's humble beginnings.

Of course, the entire metrpolis around Waterford Oaks BMX is all about the Motor City - where, at one time, practically every single automobile on the road in America was built in this state. On the way to our hotel, we not only drove past the legendary and now dilapidated Silverdome stadium. Before the roof collapsed in December of 2012, the Silverdome was a fully functional stadium - and is soon nearing it's fateful demise. By far more impressive was cruising past the Dodge~Chrysler HQ; which was easily recognizable as there is a gigantic Dodge hood emblem atop the skyscraper of a building. Headquartered not too far from Waterford Oaks, in Auburn Hills, Chrysler Group’s product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300 and Town & Country, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Dart, Ram 1500, Dodge Viper SRT and Fiat 500. Yes .. Fiat, too. They are now part of the ownership. 

Needless to say - it's pretty cool to be here in Michigan, and there is definitely a retro vibe to it. As I said at the beginning, Waterford Oaks BMX has some VERY deep roots in the sport of Bicycle Motocross. The track, aptly located right next door to a pool and waterslide, still retains a taste of the old school, along with it's up to date jump-infested rhythm section down the last dog-legged straightaway. Waterford has it's power sections (first straight), it's downhill sections (2nd and last straights), and even a slightly uphill straight. Asphalt turns give everybody traction, and then there's also the length ... can you say over 1,400 feet longs?! Yes, Waterford definintely has it all. 

On Friday - from the moment we arrived at the track until the drop of the last main of the pre-race, it's a chance to check the competition and get some idea on who will be hot this weekend. Around 1:00, the Answer~S-squared van and trailer pulled in, and out hopped 12 of the fastest hombres in BMX today. Right behind them were the Badd & Company squad, made up of some mighty quick little dudes - and led by the newly crowned mini manual-king Ethan Popovich. He and the Elo brothers Alek and Liam, would pretty much own 8 and 9x on Friday. 

A little later on in the afternoon, the DFR rig pulled in, and pouring out of their van was 11x hotshoe Henry Chudzik and Justice King, who could play a factor this weekend in 19-27x. King would win on Friday, and time will soon tell is he can keep the streak going wup against the likes of Whitfield and Chandler Denton.

Of all the action in Friday's 57-moto double-point pre-show, the race of the night was definitely 11expert. Canadian NAG rider Curtis Krey is known as "The Crusher" back home in Ontario, and you just know he's one fast Canuck just by the fact that he wears a Factory Staats unfirom. Well, Curtis crushed the gate in the main and was layin' down the power so hard down Waterford's long first straight that he exploded his chain coming out of turn one. Gotta give the kid credit, as he didn't give up and never missed a beat - knowing that DFR's Chudzik was right on his tail, along with 6 other hungry 11x's. Curtis pumped the next two straightaways for all it's worth - the only problem was that the 3rd straight is slightly uphill and suddenly, The Crusher's comp had caught up with him. DFR's Chudzik and Time to Shine's Thomas Barone swopped past him in turn 3, and Krey had still not given up hope. With a swarm right behind him, the rest of the track was downhill enough for Curtis is really get the pump-on his chainless Staats - and in the thick of traffic, he did an amazing job of holding on to the 3-spot. Way to go, Curtis Krey.  

Overall, there are plenty of fast teams and plenty of quick comp in attendance, and we couldn't wait until Saturday to check out more of the action in motos and mains. After all rounds of motos, quarters and semi's, we'd narrowed the field down to the eight or so fastest riders in every age class. 

In the A-pro ranks, it was a tight battle straight across the board for the podium - as Doublecross' Olijuwan Davis, Extreme Team's Jeremy Smith and FBM~C-yaa's Kyle McCrory swapped out wins, 2nds and 3-spots. While Philly's McCrory had it moments of brillianace, Smith was most consistent all around and ended up with the overall win - the 2nd of his young rookie career. 

Cruiser finals were intense every time the gate dropped. In the 9 year old ranks, The Ladies Man - complete with his good lookin' matching helmet, gloves and bike, held off The Virus to score a win. This Liberty team rider has been standing out lately - ever since Rockford, and could become a factor in this age group.

9 CRUISER

• 1 GRAYDON (LADIES' MAN) HUTCHINSON, LIBERTY BMX/GHP/ONYX/JT - OH
• 2 CYRUS (THE VIRUS) MATTSON, TEAM STORM - MN
• 3 KAYNEN BURG, BLACKCROWN PRODUCTS - OH
• 4 MAXX DAVIS, MOTOR CITY BMX - MI
• 5 ZACK(Z-MONEY) DAY, MIDWEST STRONG - WI
• 6 KAMREN (KAM BAM) KRICKLER, GENERATION II - MD
• 7 TOMMY JAHNKE, FACTORY SSQUARED/ANSWER - WI
• 8 CODY BELFER, STANDARD BYKE CO NORTHEAST - NJ

The 13 year olds had a new guest to their ranks this weekend; as Answer~S-squared's Hayden Robinson was celebrating his 13th birthday on Saturday. While the entire squad in TLD gear was wishing him a happy one, we're sure that moat of the 13x's weren't too happy seeing one of the most dominant 12 year olds this year move up in to their ranks. 
In cruiser, Hayden duked it out with Dingman's Jack Plummer and picked right up where he'd left off in his last 12 year old race. But class was a while 'nuther story, and Minnesota's Jack Flash was not about to let this "new kid" on the black take things over. Plummer did a great job of taking things over and holding off the big New Yorker for the win: Plummer 1, Robinson 2.

13 CRUISER - SATURDAY

• 1 HAYDEN ROBINSON, FACTORY SSQUARED/ANSWER - NY
• 2 JACK(FLASH)PLUMMER, DINGMANS BMX/CCI - MN
• 3 NATHANIEL CARON, ALLTOW WRECKING CREW/YESS - MA
• 4 BOBBY DELLERT, FACTORY DOUBLECROSS - IL
• 5 ANTHONY FEINSTEIN, STYLIN' - NJ
• 6 CARTER WEAVER, REDLINE ADVENTURE - OK
• 7 DEVLIN (TAZMANIAC) LAMKE, IM BMX/GHP  - MN
• 8 EVAN SINCHAK, MOM & DAD - MD

13 EXPERT - SATURDAY

• 1 JACK(FLASH)PLUMMER, DINGMANS BMX/CCI - MN
• 2 CHASE ROBINSON, GLASS CITY/GHP/ANSWER - OH
• 3 HAYDEN ROBINSON, FACTORY SSQUARED/ANSWER - NY
• 4 EVAN SINCHAK, MOM & DAD - MD
• 5 CAMERON BRAMER, THUNDER RACING/DAN'S COMP - PA
• 6 DEVLIN (TAZMANIAC) LAMKE, IM BMX/GHP NATIONAL TEAM - MN
• 7 ANTHONY FEINSTEIN, STYLIN' - NJ
• 8 RYAN WOLLNY, DFR-POWERLITE -  IL

Plummer's move on Saturday would later earn him the #A3Bar "Unbreakable" Rider Award (a prize pack of A3 bars, Road Rash and a t-shirt), and he was no doubt hoping to do it again on day 2. But so was Chase Robinson - an rising Ohio racer who rides for Glass City/GHP. Perhaps inspired by Jumpin' Jack Flash's performance, the virtual unknown threw his hat in the ring on Sunday and gave made it a race of the Robinson's. Chase had the inside line down the last dog-leg, and amazingly outpowered Hayden to the stripe to score the win.
It's great to see the veteran 13x's steppin' it up to defend their turf against the newcomer to the class - but we have no worries that it won't be long before Hayden is back on top of the podium and in the lead for the Nag No.1 plate by November.

13 EXPERT - SUNDAY

• 1 CHASE ROBINSON, GLASS CITY/GHP/ANSWER - OH
• 2 HAYDEN ROBINSON, FACTORY SSQUARED/ANSWER - NY
• 3 JACK(FLASH)PLUMMER, DINGMANS BMX/CCI - MN
• 4 EVAN SINCHAK, MOM & DAD - MD
• 5 NATHANIEL CARON, ALLTOW WRECKING CREW/YESS - MA
• 6 DEVLIN (TAZMANIAC) LAMKE, IM BMX/GHP NATIONAL BIKE SHOP - MN
• 7 ANTHONY FEINSTEIN, STYLIN' - NJ
• 8 RYAN WOLLNY, DFR-POWERLITE BMX -  IL

It's always impossible to narrow down the highlights to just a few mains; in fact - every single expert main was a nail-biter. Kaos' Jett Booker used his "Jett-power" to zoom straight to the front of 10x. Early in the day, Hayden Swim was looking as if he'd be a factor in the final, but things didn't go his way on Saturday.

10 EXPERT

• 1 JETT BOOKER, KAOS BMX - TX
• 2 AUSTIN KUCIREK, FULL TILT BIKE - OH
• 3 COY (THE BEAST) BROOKSHIRE, STANDARD BYKE CO - MO
• 4 COLE ZUFELT, ZERO TOLERANCE/SE RACING - ON
• 5 CADEL PETROCIK, PAPA WHEELIE/BOMBSQUAD - CA
• 6 GAVIN LUTZ, PRODIGY CARBON WHEELS - KY
• 7 ANDREW SPERANO - GA
• 8 HAYDEN SWIM, YOUNG GUNS - IL

The 11x's was another great main, with edge-of-the-fence intensity. DFR's Henry Chuczik has been coming on strong as of late, and if not for presence of Haro~Promax's Gavin Freewalt, he could own the pink slip on 11x. Canadian Curtis the "Chain Crusher" Krey kept both of 'em honest. 

11 EXPERT

• 1 GAVIN FREEWALT, HARO/PROMAX - IL
• 2 HENRY CHUDZIK, DFR-POWERLITE BMX - IL
• 3 CURTIS (THE CRUSHER) KREY, STAATS  - ONT
• 4 CHAD NOETZEL, MOTOR CITY BMX - MI
• 5 BRYCE ROSE, POWERS BIKE SHOP - MD
• 6 THOMAS BARONE, TIME 2 SHINE - NY
• 7 SETH SHACKLETON, YOUNG GUNS - WI
• 8 LUCAS TEPOEL, CCH FACTORY BIKES - IA

DK's Cole-train just kept on a rollin' in Waterford - and made his win look easy. If you closely watch Spencer's races, he's one of those types of kids who just makes it look effortless. His smoothness, skill and power are so natural that it's almost a if he's not trying. But he continues to win practically every race he's in - so, you obviously know he is. Throughout the history of BMX, there have been plenty of riders with that same perceived style, and most of them have gone on to AA-pro superstardom. 

12 EXPERT

• 1 SPENCER (COLETRAIN) COLE, DK BICYCLES / BOX - OH
• 2 LUCAS MALLORY, FACTORY CYCLECRAFT - MI
• 3 DAVID FREEMAN, TIME 2 SHINE - MD
• 4 NATHAN DAVIDS, BIG WHEELS BMX - WI
• 5 JAMES HEDGCOCK, FACTORY PURE  - ONT
• 6 JAMES(FLYING MONKEY) PLUMMER, DINGMANS BMX/CCI - MN
• 7 LOGAN (AIR TIME) MATTESON, FULL TILT BIKE CO - MN
• 8 (ROCKIN) RICKY TERLECKI, YOUNG GUNS BMX - IL

Arguably one of the best mains of Saturday was 14x - where Blackcrown's Triston Judd went head-to-head, tow-to-toe with Doublecross' Koh Takamasa. It was a great battle - and it looked as if Judd was going to own it, all the way up to turn 3. Suddenly, Takamasa made a move on Judd to take things over, but Triston throttled it hard in to the inside and wasn't about to let the Doublecross'er by. They both locked elbows and bars, and Judd took Takamasa up high ... perhaps, TOO high. Both leaders blasted up the topside of the berm and exited left when they should've gone right. DFR's John Jilbert was right there to open that gift and took things over from there, to score the win. 

14 EXPERT - SATURDAY

• 1 JOHN JILBERT, DFR-POWERLITE  - IL
• 2 SETH MICHALOWSKI, DOUBLECROSS -  IL
• 3 EMRICK SWAN, BLUEGRASS DAN'S COMP/GHP/ANSWER - KY
• 4 BODIE FITZSIMONDS, DINGMANS BMX/CCI - MN
• 5 MARKWANE BILLINGSLEY, ANSWER/RENNEN - MI
• 6 PATRICK VIETOR - MI
• 7 KOH TAKAMASA, DOUBLECROSS BIKES - OH
• 8 TRISTON JUDD, BLACKCROWN - TX

On Sunday, Tristen had his chance for redemption - and this time, he was far enough ahead to not have to worry about defending his lead. Judd raced his own race, and flew in for the win - with his long blonde locks right behind him (as well as Rennen's Billingsly and Doublecross' Michalowski).

14 EXPERT - SUNDAY

• 1 TRISTON JUDD, BLACKCROWN - TX
• 2 MARKWANE  BILLINGSLEY, ANSWER/RENNEN - MI
• 3 SETH MICHALOWSKI, DOUBLECROSS - IL
• 4 JOHN JILBERT, DFR-POWERLITE BMX - IL
• 5 RYAN ELLEFSEN, -NY
• 6 PATRICK VIETOR - MI
• 7 BODIE FITZSIMONDS, DINGMANS BMX/CCI - MN
• 8 JOSEF GERHARTZ, DFR-POWERLITE - WI

Of course, we can't leave out the girls classes - and this weekend, the one race to watch would have to be the largest class of them all - 15-16 Girls. It's the class that will mostly likely see the next No.1 Girl in USA BMX crowned, and it's such a tightly contested class full of talent. Without a doubt, the girl that everybody is gunning for is the female Missouri outlaw - Jamie Windholz; the former National No.1 title holder. But she had her work cut out for her this weekend, with some pretty tough comp. After scoring a hard-fought win on Saturday, Windholz saw Power's Bike Shop's Noelle Vidak snatch the lead from her on Sunday. It was a tight race to the line, and Ohio's Vidak proved that Jamie's is not untouchable in this class.  

15-16 GIRLS - SATURDAY

• 1 JAMIE WINDHOLZ, FACTORY SSQUARED/ANSWER - MO
• 2 ELIDA BEEMAN, DOUBLECROSS BIKES - MI
• 3 NOELLE VIDAK, POWERS BIKE SHOP - OH
• 4 DESTINY DOMINGUEZ, VENDETTA/ELITE BICYCLES - TX
• 5 EMILY MACPHERSON, HARO CANADA - ONT
• 6 KALEE REYNOLDS, FACTORY CYCLE CRAFT - GA
• 7 BRITTANY (THE HIT GIRL) HARDER, POWERS BIKE SHOP - OH
• 8 JENNA SPRACHER - VA

15-16 GIRLS - SUNDAY

• 1 NOELLE VIDAK, POWERS BIKE SHOP - OH
• 2 JAMIE WINDHOLZ, FACTORY SSQUARED/ANSWER - MO
• 3 ELIDA BEEMAN, DOUBLECROSS BIKES - MI
• 4 DESTINY DOMINGUEZ, VENDETTA/ELITE BICYCLES - TX
• 5 JENNA SPRACHER - VA
• 6 BRITTANY HARDER, POWERS BIKE SHOP - OH
• 7 EMILY MACPHERSON, HARO CANADA -  ONT
• 8 TAYLOR HUNT, STYLIN' - ONT

We're not saying that 15-16 was the only girls main full of exciting action - every main from 5 & Under (won by Ella Swigert) to 13-plus (won by Danielle Bernardi) was chock-full of action down every straight. The 17-20 Girls, in particular, really put on a show - with FullTilt's Crystal Schwartz taking home the wins both days - after holding off Star's Heather Collman and Power's powerhouse, Samantha Miller. 

17-20 GIRLS 

• 1 CRYSTAL SCHWARTZ, FULL TILT BIKE CO, HARRIS, MN
• 2 HEATHER COLLMAN, FACTORY STAR BMX PRODUCTS, ROCKTON, IL
• 3 SAMANTHA MILLER, POWERS BIKE SHOP, PITTSBURGH, PA
• 4 NICOLE MIROWSKI, ONE SHOT / ANSWER / SSQUARED, MUNSTER, IN
• 5 JENNIFER HOLMES, NEW KINSINGTON, PA
• 6 MALAINA HUFFMAN, WATFORD, ON
• 7 CARLY CURTIN, SHORE CYCLING SPORTS, HIGHLAND, NY
• 8 BROOKE SHAUD, MELEE FASHION, CHARLOTTE, MI 

As Michigan BMXfolk hero Dugan Neal crossed the stripe for the last win of the weekend (and Kuwahara's earlier cruiser victor Chris Jeffrey, swept the dirt down the last straight), the Great Lakes National was officially over. But - believe us, people will be talking about this race for a long, LOOONG time.