Reno Radness: Western Divisional Finals Report / BlackJack Natls.

Filed under General on August 29, 2014 | Comment(s)

Labor Day weekend in BMX has always been a happening time for our sport. The last weekend of August - the 29th thru 31st, again sees the USA BMX National circuit split like an atom, with an explosive Western and Eastern Divisional Finals. This 23rd stop for the series returns to the Reno Livestock & Events Center for the second time this year ...and the action, as always, was fast and furious!

When it came time to build the Reno track, builder Billy Allen's goal was to do something a little different than the usual - and what the hundrreds of riders saw when they arrived at the Reno-Sparks Livestock & Events Center, was not the same ol' same ol indoor build. "It's different," was the most common comment heard by top experts. "I love it," summed up Extreme Team's Robby Patterson, who used the giant first turn to his advantage in Friday's 19-27x main. Obstacles such as a roller-table for the first jump, or a step-double in to a raided double down the second straight is proving to be fun for racers of all ages - young and old, and is keeping the flow going fast as they head down the jump-infested third straight. With two 90'degrees turns and a rhythm-filled last straight away, this year's Blackjack track is getting a ton of positive praises by all.

With a fun track like this, the racing always matches. After smoothly running thru 205 motos, the mains came around for Day 1 (of 3) and the intensity level picked up. On the line this weekend is the additional title of Western Divisional Champion - where riders are taking their 3 finishes from this weekend and adding 'em to their best 6 scores from this season so far. 

One of the more surprising things to see in Reno was the Answer~Rennen team making a rare West-coast appearance - and speaking with TM George Costa, his reasoning was by going to Reno, he and his riders were safer from lightening strikes and the risk of getting their S-squared bikes muddy. Last year,Costa lost his car's stereo from the lightning that his right next to his car, and he pledged that this year he'd play it safe and head indoors for Labor Day.  

Despite watching Supercross' style-monger jeremy Rommell triple-up the step-double, that would be the only time we'd get to see the AA-pro hit the track. All A-pros were breathing a sigh of relief. This left Answer~Rennen's Mad Max Egdorf, 510's Pete Pauscal and Bellflower's Paul Wassenaar to dice it out for the 3-main overall. Pascaul had his moments of brilliance and speed, but he also had his share of bad luck in the first main, which left Egdorf as Mr.Consistent to score the big win for Day 1. 

A-PRO (Friday) 

• 1 MAX EGDORF, ANSWER/RENNEN, GREENVILLE, NY
• 2 PETE PASCUAL, 510 BAY AREA BMXERS, STOCKTON, CA
• 3 PAUL WASSENAAR, BELLFLOWER BICYCLES/BFR, BELLFLOWER, CA
• 4 KEITH ANDERSON, BIKE DISTRO.COM/CCH, RENO, NV
• 5 NICHOLAS KOEHLER, CRUPI, TUSTIN, CA
• 6 KEVIN SHANKEL, MOTIVE POWER RACING, STOCKTON, CA
• 7 STEVIE GROTE, HERB BAUER CYCLING/FLY, REEDLEY, CA
• 8 CHRISTIAN MARTINEZ, LEHI, UT

The girls classes are loaded here in Reno, and like a nest of Africanized Killer Bee's whose nest was knocked over, it seemed liked they've gotten a ton more aggressive with so much on the line for this weekend. J&R's Schriver sisters were out front - as always, and after a bit of controversey in Mixed Open, they continued to dominate in their age classes.

7 GIRLS (Friday) 

• 1 KATJA SHRIVER, JR BICYCLES.COM/CHASE/BOX, DOWNEY, CA
• 2 BRYLYN GUEVARA, RRC-SUPERCROSS-FLY, LAS VEGAS, NV
• 3 CHRISTINA (BABY GIRL) CUNNINGHAM, KID RACING/SNAP ON TOOLS, HOLLISTER, CA
• 4 CARLIE KENYON, RIDERS PRO SHOP, REDDING, CA
• 5 KATE (THE GREAT) BOUSKA, BATTLE BORN / GHP, RENO, NV
• 6 MANNING MERTEN, CISSTERS RACING, JAMUL, CA 

11 GIRLS (Friday)  

• 1 ESJA SHRIVER, JR BICYCLES.COM/CHASE/BOX, DOWNEY, CA
• 2 LEYNA JONES, PHOENIX BOX FACTORY RACING, OXNARD, CA
• 3 SAMANTHA HEIL, NEMESIS/51 FIFTY, MAGALIA, CA
• 4 MADELYNN DESANTIS, HARO/PROMAX, SIMI VALLEY, CA
• 5 ALEXIS (MONEY MAKER) LEIJA, J.E.T. RACING, CHICO, CA
• 6 VIOLET CEJALVO, STAATS BICYCLES-CANADA, SURREY, BC
• 7 LACEY CLARK, ROGUE RACING, BEND, OR
• 8 JASMINE TOPPER, NO EXCUSES / SX / NEMA, VENTURA, CA  

Esja's race - up against the tough and tenacious Leyna Jones and Haro~Promax's maddie DeSantis, is going to the one to watch this weekend. None of these gals are prone to backing off and it'll be dynamic duels each day. 

While it's definintely not unusual to see Answer~Rennen's Jack Kelly out fornt of 11x, the thing that we noticed from every photo of him was that Jack loves to win with his tongue sticking out. Every single shot we took of him, he's looking like a Myrmecophaga Tridactyla. Look it up, 

11 EXPERT (Friday)

• 1 JACK KELLY, ANSWER/RENNEN, KEARNS, UT
• 2 KOHL PILUSO, PHOENIX BOX FACTORY RACING, CHICO, CA
• 3 NICHOLAS ADAMS, VENDETTA/ELITE BICYCLES, ORANGEVALE, CA
• 4 TAYLOR (THE TRUTH) HENDRICKSON, RRP/KUWAHARA/BAD ACE, SNOHOMISH, WA
• 5 JOSHUA VERON, JR BICYCLES.COM/CHASE/BOX, CARMICHAEL, CA
• 6 JACKSON NGAHEU, BFR RACING, FULLERTON, CA
• 7 NICOLAS (ICEMAN) TREJO, LANCASTER, CA
• 8 MASON (PASCO MENACE) MEININGER, LAWMAN BIKES, PASCO, WA

In the most-impressive rider category, we'd have to say that Tangent's Jacob Abbe can easily be declared as the King of Pull for day 1. By the first turn, Abbe had a comfy lead, while there was a virtual 4-man dual happening for 2nd place, by the time they hit the first turn. From there, Abbe pulled away from the pack as if he had clicked on a human nitrous oxide button. 

17-18 EXPERT (Friday)

• 1 JACOB ABBE, FACTORY RIFT-TANGENT, EL CAJON, CA
• 2 JUSTIN KNAPPER, ANSWER/RENNEN, POTTSTOWN, PA
• 3 GAVIN NELSON, JR BICYCLES.COM/CHASE/BOX, CHICO, CA
• 4 MATTHEW CHISM, BELLFLOWER BICYCLES/BFR, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA
• 5 TAYLOR STEPHENS, FACTORY KUWAHARA, REDMOND, OR
• 6 WALKER FINCH, HARO/PROMAX, FT COLLINS, CO
• 7 MICHAEL BOYLE, STAATS BICYCLES, BOISE, ID
• 8 JOSHUA BANUELOS, PHOENIX BOX FACTORY RACING, MEDFORD, OR 

The one main everybody was anxiously sticking around for Friday night - and looking forward to watching all weekend, is the always awesome 19-27x finals. Part time track worker and full time Utah jammer Robby Patterson didn't get the greatest start of his life, but 510's Brandon Cato and his Rift just might have. Cato had a clean lead to the first turn, and Robby was strategically positioninghimself for a sweet swoop in the lefty. Bryce Betts was looking strong and had the inside line, but couldn't make it happen and fell back to 4th. 

19-27 EXPERT (Friday)

• 1 ROBERT PATTERSON, FACTORY EXTREME TEAM, ROY, UT
• 2 BRANDON CATO, 510 BAY AREA BMXERS, OAKLAND, CA
• 3 ZACHARY VANKAMMEN, JR BICYCLES.COM/CHASE/BOX, LAKE ELSINORE, CA
• 4 BRYCE BETTS, CHASE/STAY STRONG, BRENTWOOD, CA
• 5 KYLE BASTIN, FACTORY REDMAN, FONTANA, CA
• 6 HUNTER MCGILL, NEMA/ONYX/PURE, NANAIMO, BC
• 7 MARQUISE MONTGOMERY, BLACKCROWN PRODUCTS, MADARA, CA
• 8 DERIK BERGH, ANSWER/RENNEN, FERGUS FALLS, MN

As if Friday wasn't exciting enough, Saturday's action only got faster and better than the day before. With more riders in attendance, more riders having the track dialed in, and super tight racing going all the way to the finishline - Day 2 was yet another nail-biter from the first round of qualifying until Swifty crossed the finishline to end the day. 
Speaking of Swifty - a true sign of the times is in our midst. Many of the seasoned Vet Pros who once dominated the class during the 00's, who are now in their mid-40's, have now slowed down enough that they are no longer competitive against all of those "young guns" who are turning Vet the day after their 33'rd birthday. Shawn "Swifty" O'Gorman, who had raced BMX pretty much non-stop since the early 80's - is one of those guys (along the lines of Rupe and Carne$), who has reclassed to the Am ranks. This new addition is bound to up the ante in the 46+ Expert ranks. Here in Reno, Swifty took on the usual dominators of 46x -such as Cato, Tuni and The Cooooove. Another old, yet new face in the 46x ranks was freestyle icon Gary Laurent - who still performs stunt shows all across the country. The former racer for Factory Free Agent in their humble beginnings, has gotten re-bit by the BMX bug and after his Sunday win in Pennsylvania, he and his ancient chromoly Hoffman Condor are right in the mix. 

46 & OVER EXPERT (Saturday)

• 1 SHAWN (SWIFTY) OGORMAN, JSR/SX/SPEEDLINE, BEALE AFB, CA
• 2 HOWARD CATO, 510 BAY AREA BMXERS, OAKLAND, CA
• 3 TURNELL HENRY, COB/SUPERCROSS, LAS VEGAS, NV
• 4 GARY LAURENT, VEGAS BIKE WORX, LAS VEGAS, NV
• 5 MICHAEL ROMERO, MARTINEZ, CA
• 6 DWAYNE (DUBBL D) DALY, SE/FOREVER 2 WHEELS, SPARKS, NV
• 7 BOB (THE COOV) COOVER, ICEE/ANDERSONS 209/SNAP, ORINDA, CA
• 8 CHRIS CLIFT, EXTREME TEAM BMX, SANDY, UT

Even though his finishes this weekend wouldn't improve his current score, curernt No.1 Amateur points leader Roman "Radro" Jaworsky, was here to get in some work and keep his skills and speed fine-tuned. Whether he was aboard his Redman 20" or 24, Radro was the kid to beat. Hunter Brown, who'd just returned from a really successful Worlds advanture in Holland, was keeping Jaworsky honest and was nipping on his heels like a rabid pitbull, but still couldn't make the right move. 

13 CRUISER

• 1 ROMAN (RADRO) JAWORSKY, REDMAN, LAS VEGAS, NV
• 2 HUNTER (THE ROCKET) BROWN, EXTREME TEAM, W BOUNTIFUL, UT
• 3 CAMERON WOOD, EXTREME TEAM, BOZEMAN, MT
• 4 ZACH (THE SAVAGE) MCOMBER, KUWAHARA, VACAVILLE, CA
• 5 MAXWELL (THE MACHINE) RUND, WESTSIDEBMX.COM, VALLEJO, CA
• 6 RICKY CASTRO, BANDIT RACING, HOLLISTER, CA
• 7 TYLER (MUSK-RAT) CACCIOLA, RIFT-TANGENT, CARMICHAEL, CA
• 8 ANGELO LOSKOTA, REDLINE CHALLENGE, LANCASTER, CA

13 EXPERT 

• 1 ROMAN (RADRO) JAWORSKY, REDMAN, LAS VEGAS, NV
• 2 CALE ENDECOTT, RIDERS PRO SHOP, REDDING, CA
• 3 DAHVIN CHILDS, JR BICYCLES.COM/CHASE/BOX, CASTAIC, CA
• 4 ZACHARY FRIER, STAATS, ABBOTSFORD, BC
• 5 TAYLOR PINE, BANDIT RACING, LIVERMORE, CA
• 6 JAKE (FROM STATE FARM) OLSON, BALLISTIC BMX, MARYSVILLE, WA
• 7 GAVIN (THE REAL DEAL) BOWERS, PHOENIX BOX, PORTLAND, OR
• 8 GIANNI (G FORCE) LAW, GREENLINE, CHICO, CA

At the current rate, it's looking like Jaworsky's point lead should hold until November, and he's about to work more with a fellow, experienced Las Vegas local to help him get ready for some Grands domination. Who might that be,you ask? Some guy named Connor, who had always came close to winning the No.1 Amateur titles himself, but always fell short. By helping Radro win it, it could be the next closest thing for the U.S. Olympian - Mr.Fields. 

Redemption! Bellflower Bikes' A-pro Paul Wassenaar returned to Reno after one incredibly crazy year. It was one year ago this weekend that Paul was dicing it out with "The General" for the A-pro victory, and in doing so - had taken a hard bail along with a 2nd place. Feeling a bit sore the next day, his father noticed a small lump on his neck and they decided to get it checked out. It wound up that the young Wassenaar had Lymphoma - and over the next 6 months would go thru chemo and radiation; all the time getting massive support from the BMX community. Now, exactly 12 months later, Paul was given the "full remission" stamp and celebrated by getting back in the gate - AND, scoring the Saturday win. 
It was a triumphant moment for Bellflower Bikes favorite son, and a truly inspirational story of never giving up.

A PRO 

• 1 PAUL WASSENAAR, BELLFLOWER BICYCLES/BFR, BELLFLOWER, CA
• 2 NICHOLAS KOEHLER, CRUPI, TUSTIN, CA
• 3 MAX EGDORF, ANSWER/RENNEN, GREENVILLE, NY
• 4 PETE PASCUAL, 510 BAY AREA BMXERS, STOCKTON, CA
• 5 MATTHEW RUBECK, CANYON COUNTRY, CA
• 6 STEPHEN SMITH, BIG TOOL, CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA
• 7 ADAM TREADWELL, BLACK BOX IND/BASIC/TRADITION, MEDFORD, OR
• 8 KEVIN SHANKEL, MOTIVE POWER RACING, STOCKTON, CA

By Sunday, the race for the Western Divisional Championships was coming down to the wire and it was clear in some cases who would earn the custom USA BMX Champ practice jersey.