Eagle to host BMX’s best
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EAGLE, Colorado – Eagle’s new BMX track will host its first state championship series race Sunday.
The local track opened earlier this summer, a joint project by the town of Eagle and WECMRD. Eagle provided the land, WECMRD threw some money and muscle at it and before kids could say, “Dude, hold my Gatorade and watch this!” there were dozens of racers out there every Sunday, and dozens of kids out there during the week, riding their bikes outside and not playing video games.
Sunday, the state championship circuit stops in Eagle for the first time, one of 13 stops at 13 tracks across Colorado.
“If you’re racing the circuit, this is one you don’t want to miss,” said Jay Lucas, the Eagle track operator. “We expect to see at least 120 riders from around the state.”
More than 450 riders race in the state series. Last year’s state championships had 292 riders.
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Lucas is expecting 120 riders from outside the area for Sunday’s state qualifier.
Eagle is important because it’s the last stop on the circuit before the state championships.
They’ll be chasing the No. 1 number plate, which most competitors don’t see while they’re racing because it will be in front of them.
Racers compete through the season, piling up enough points to qualify them for the state championships, Sept. 5, at Grand Valley BMX in Grand Junction.
Racers who get to Grand Junction can challenge for that No. 1 number plate.
“If you’re the fastest guy in the championships, you become the fastest rider in Colorado,” Lucas explained.
Right now, Stephen Adams rides with the No. 1 plate, making him the BMX Big Kahuna in Colorado. His dad, Nick Adams, runs the Grand Valley BMX track so he has the home field advantage for the state race.
Nick took Eagle under his wing to help get the new track on the state circuit in its first year. He’s with the American Bicycle Association, and runs the Grand Valley and Montrose BMX tracks, so he has plenty to do.
“He and other track operators have been phenomenal to help us get this far this fast,” Lucas said. “Nick guaranteed the ABA we’d be a success. Another track operator taking on that responsibility is huge.”
The Eagle BMX track has been hosting races all summer, every Sunday, averaging between 50 and 100 racers.
BMX is short for bicycle moto cross. Racers state on a hilltop, a motocross gate falls and they sprint one lap. Start here, end there, the fastest racer wins; there is no French figure skating judge.
Local races this summer have been all-comers affairs. Racers can try it for $10 a day.
This Sunday’s state circuit is a little different. You can still show up and race, if you want to, but because it’s a state circuit race you need a full ABA membership costing $45.
Practice runs from noon to 1:30 p.m. The races follow.
Staff Writer Randy Wyrick can be reached at 970-748-2935 or rwyrick@vaildaily.com.
