The Citrus Squeeze in Sarasota

words & pics by Gmo

It’s been a long time since we had back to back nationals in such close proximity to each other. You’d probably need to look back to the days of the summer tours of the 1990’s to find anything remotely close. If the two largest nationals in Florida that USA BMX has ever hosted are any indication, we may see this format more often in the future. Saturday’s 245 moto count was the second largest Florida national in USA BMX history.

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Pro racing in Florida is always an international affair. Colombians Carlos Ramirez (278) and Mateo Carmona put the squeeze on Canada’s James Palmer (66) while American Tyler Smith (416) comes in hot from the outside.

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Elite Vendetta’s Tyler Bailey (NAG 10) sends it over the pro set while Argentina’s Roman Santise (264) and Yess’ Alexander Che (NAG 17) take the low road in 15-16 Open.

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There were a few impressive rivalries that happened under the stadium lights in Sarasota. One being the 15x Battle between Supercross’ PJ O’Brien and BMX Sharks’ Cedric Cade. On Saturday Cade bested the field until the triple step up leading into the first turn where it appears that he unclipped. This caused him to enter the turn way too wide and allowed the Supercross newbie to swoop inside and take over the lead. While this was going down, Elite Vendetta’s Tyler Bailey, who was in last place, would rail the first turn and hit the pro section. By the end of the straightaway he’d find himself in third. Elijah Heany and Ethan Popovich would make their way by Bailey to grab the other two podium spots.

Day two saw O’Brien and Cade back at it with the action starting in

the second turn during the main. Cade again went a little wide allowing O’Brien to dive underneath him and put up a great block of the inside at the exit of the turn. Cade was feverishly trying to back inside of the Supercross pilot but ultimately ended up loading too much weight on his front end causing him to flip over the bars. This allowed Bay Area’s Simon Acosta and Black Widow’s Marcus Moore to secure their spots on the podium.

The 13 Girls Expert class saw another formidable battle between World Champions Nicole Foranda and Alexis Alden. They would swap wins over the two days of competition. Day one saw Alden pop out to an early lead but the Colombian was languishing just behind her as they exited turn two. Foranda got in a few extra cranks

Daylight’s Dallas Gardner finished up with a third on day one in 15 Cruiser. #irockwithdallas

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Racing under the lights in Sarasota is always an exhilarating experience.

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Profile Racing’s Rowdy Holzer continues to be a dominating force in the 11X class.

“J- Smooth” Jeremy Smith represented his new sponsor DK Bicycles with a big win Saturday.

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The Queen of BMX, Mariana Pajón, made an appearance in Sarasota. We suspect that she’s getting tuned up for a run at her for a third Gold Medal in Tokyo later this year.

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before hitting the third straight split section on Alden’s left side, the inside of the track. She’d go by about three fourths of the way down the straightaway and never look back. The second day was set up just like the previous with Alden leading on the exit of the second turn. This time, the J&R superstar closed up the inside line and would go on to victory.

The back to back Florida weekend was a BIG hit with those who were lucky enough to attend. Hats off to all the fine folks at Sarasota BMX, Chad Grace and Greg Harrison for rocking the mic all weekend long, and to the entire Florida BMX community. I can’t wait to come back to the Sunshine State.

There were a few impressive rivalries that happened under the stadium lights in Sarasota. One being the 15x Battle between Supercross’ PJ O’Brien and BMX Sharks’ Cedric Cade. On Saturday Cade bested the field until the triple step up leading into the first turn where it appears that he unclipped. This caused him to enter the turn way too wide and allowed the Supercross newbie to swoop inside and take over the lead.

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ABOVE: The pro open class has been gaining legitimacy all season long, especially when the Canadian and Colombian national champions are in the mix.

UPPER RIGHT: Yess’ Kaiden Ireland is on a mission this year. The BMX Racing League grad racked up a double in 10 Cruiser and 10X on day one.

RIGHT: The one, the only Brent “Pee Wee” Lee got it done in class but couldn’t find his Mojo on the 24” in Sarasota. Could it be because he wasn’t sporting his tradtional all white Air Force One’s?

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The 7-8 Mixed Open class was just a couple riders shy of quarter finals on Sunday. BFR’s Vida De Vera (4) would take the victory.

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Abigail Stevens (NAG 8) leads a round of 10 & Under Girls Cruiser but Lily Ashley (8) would take the wins each day come main event time.

Supercross’ Patrick O’Brien played it cool and won 15X both days despite not holeshotting either main event.

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Gold Cup 2 Jase Merang holds off the World Champ Ashton Hester in a round of 7X.

Factory Power’s Cogan Martin-Kersey aged up on Sunday but left the 9x class in the dust on Saturday.

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Cutter Williams has been doing the Tangent Cartel proud with a pair of seconds in 16X.

@RagebyGaige has become a staple at the front of the 12X class. Will this be the year he earns a silver cup?

Brian Hester (58) and Anthony Hulse (58) go bar to bar in cruiser on Friday evening in the pre-race.

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Hyper’s Peyton Spanel took the big win on Saturday under the lights in 6 Expert girls.

January 29-31, 2021 Sarasota BMX Sarasota, Florida

Countries: 9 States: 43 Moto Count: Friday: 121 Saturday: 245 Sunday: 219

Pro Winners Fri - Diego Arboleda Sat - Jeremy Smith Sun - Mateo Carmona

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TRIPLE-TRIPLE

ROWDY HOLZER 11 Cru, 11x & 11-12 Xopen

TRIPLE SATURDAY / SUNDAY DOUBLE

ANNALYSE SOLANO 11 Girls & 11-12 Mixed & Gcru

DOUBLE-DOUBLE’s

LILY ASHLEY 10under Gcru & 10 Girls REID AUTRY 6under Xopen & 6x GRAFTON MERRIAM 7-8 X0pen & 8 Cru NEVEN STEINMETZ 41-45 Wcru & 41+ Women

DOUBLES

CROSBY BACKER 9 Cru & 9x ALEXIS ALDEN 13 Girls & 13-14 Gcru AVA CORLEY 13-14 Mixed & 14 Girls COLE FREDERICK 13x & 13-14 Open DECLYN HAYES 7-8 Mixed & 8 Inter KAIDEN IRELAND 10 Cru & 10x DOMINGOS LAMMOGLIA 51+X & 51-55 Cru HESTON NOVOTNY 6under Mixed & 6 Inter KATIE PIOTTI 31-35 Wcru & 31-40 Women GREYSON SNEED 7under Cru & 7x ELI STATON 10x & 9-10 Xopen