MAKE 7 MAINS - WIN AN OPEN JACKET!

Make seven Open Main Events (within the same calendar year) at any USA BMX Nationals and you will win an Open Jacket!

Top Gun Jacket

Get four wins in Class, four wins in Cruiser, and four wins in Open at any USA BMX National (within the same calendar year), and you become a USA BMX Top Gun!

Words and Photos by G-MO

Crisp mornings and warm days are a staple in Albuquerque during Memorial Day weekend. Racers from 22 states convened upon the 505 and as in years past, the race action was top notch. Not much changed track wise since last year’s event, but as everyone knows Duke City has one of the more challenging tracks on the national circuit.

Fall Risk’s Aven Beaty kicked off her amazing winning streak in Friday’s 9-10 Mixed Ppen and never saw a rider out in front of her for the remained of the weekend as she tripled all three days. She’s made a big statement in 2023 and it looks like she’ll be a national contender for some time to come.

A couple of other riders showed similar three class dominance like Daylight’s Harry Leary and Aven’s Fall Risk teammate Trenton Paxman. Day One was Harry’s time to shine as he took the wins in 31 & Over Open, 61 & Over Cruiser and 56 & Over Expert. Not bad for the 64-year-old Hall of Famer.

On the other side of the age spectrum is Vegas’ Trenton Paxman. The nine-year-old clicked off 8 wins in a row, two triples on Friday and Saturday, and was hunting for the 9 Expert win on Sunday when he found himself entangled in a first turn crash. Half of the main event would join him on the ground. While it’s not the way anyone envisions ending a near perfect weekend, he still had to be proud of the rest of his outstanding performance.

Hometown hero, 15x Nick Quintana, had everyone’s attention anytime he was on the track. During Friday’s main, Black Crown’s Ian Westerman got the pop, but Quintana was coming in hot from the outside. When they reached turn one, Westerman blocked Quintana with an elbow causing Quintana to unclip and fall back to third. Amazingly he was able to recover and move back into second by the last turn and with a well-timed stretch at the finish line he’d take the win. The crowd erupted in celebration. If there was an award for the race of the year this lap would certainly be at the top of the list.

Day Two’s main was nearly identical to Day One. This time Quintana got the holeshot but lost traction in turn one and unclipped. This allowed Fall Risk’s Nicholas Omara to take over the lead.

Quintana again recovered from third and outpowered the Californian on the last straight for the win.

Omara would get his revenge on the final day and take the win wire to wire. Quintana tried to repeat his previous day’s last straight comeback, but ended up in the infield after the final turn. What an exciting sequence of races.

This event remains one of the best kept secrets on the national circuit. If you like good food, great people, and a bit of altitude, put Albuquerque on your short list of places to visit. Just beware, the chilis are hotter than you think!

The Landonshark was on the hunt in New Mexico and gobbled up all three cruiser wins.

The elder statesmen of the weekend drag race for the final two qualifying spots in a round of 56 and over Expert.

2023 National Points After The Mid America Nationals

Cruiser

Girls

Boys

Boys

Girls Cruiser

Girls

Cruiser

Frame: Daylight ARC c1 Frame

Frame Color: Custom Electric DesignBlue/White Fade

Fork: Avian Versus Tapered Carbon Fork

Bars: Supercross Pro Carbon Gloss

Grips: ODI Connor Fields

Stem: Box Center Clamp Blue

Headset: Daylight Tapered Headset

Rims: Epik Daylight Carbon Rims Gloss with White/Yellow Graphics

Hubs: Onyx Ultra ISO & BMX FrontCustom Ceramic Painted Blue/White

Fade

Spokes: USA Brand Titanium - Custom Ceramic Painted Yellow

Tires: Kenda Konversion Pro

Tubes: Presta Valve

Cranks: Shimano DXR - Custom Ceramic Painted White/Blue

Gearing: Box Two - 44T (44/16)

Clipless Pedals: HT T2

Chain: Rhythm Titanium Hollow Pin Chain

Brakes: Hope X2 Hydraulic Disc Brake Blue

Lever: Hope Tech 3 - Blue

Seat: Daylight Pro Saddle - Blue

Seat Clamp: Daylight QR Seat Clamp

Tensioners: Integrated Titanium Tensioners

Number Plate: Moto1 Race Plate

Although Pat was only 29-years-old, he was a veteran of the sport. He began competing in the pro ranks when he was only 15 and quickly made his mark as a staple in the finals at every major contest.

Within a few years of his debut, Pat had taken home multiple X Games medals and countless other accolades, but was ready for a change in his riding. That’s when the brakes came off, the freecoaster went on, and Pat really started pushing BMX in a new direction. Pat’s ability to combine big tricks in technical combos brought something completely new to the sport and garnered respect from riders of all disciplines.

Pat’s incredible career featured a multitude of highlights - from his Monster Energy Dreamyard video series to his five X Games medals - but what he was most proud of was his family; his wife Chase, daughter Taytum, and son Reid, who is following in his father’s footsteps and even competed at his first FISE in France last May.

The mark Pat left on BMX - both through his accomplishments and as someone who truly loved the sport - will never be forgotten.

Give us the full rundown. When did you start how long have we been racing? All that fun stuff.

Makayla: My Brother got both of us into the sport. I started a year after he did, so I’ve been doing it since I was six, and now I’m 18, and she’s been doing it since balance bikes.

Tiffany: I started balance bikes when I was like two, and then I don’t know when I went the full track, but it’s been my whole life pretty much.

At what age did you make that progression jump of getting faster and taking it more seriously?

Makayla: When I was eight, because I could still race clips back then. I got my first pair of clips, and we would do the Canadian circuit with a lot of really good competition back in the day.

Tiffany: When I hit my growth spurt in 2018, I started winning more Canadian nationals, and it just progressed from there.

Has it been only BMX? Are there any other sports or cycling disciplines?

Makayla: During COVID, BMX tracks were all closed, so I got really into dirt jumping and then went to Whistler and did some mountain biking with all the Canadian BMX riders. Everyone would come and do that kind of stuff until the tracks opened back up, which helped a lot, skill-wise, for my riding.

Tiffany: I tried getting into dirt jumping, but it didn’t go well, so I don’t do it anymore.

So, tracks open back up, you’re both winning through the season, and you both end the year Canada’s National No.1, Makayla in Cruiser and Tiffany in Class. Take us through that Grands day, What was it like being up for the title?

Makayla: That day, I was pumped.

I was ready and warming up early in the morning, and I’m normally not a morning person, but I had really good energy because I was feeling really confident with it. But it was a bit nerve-racking being in the gate and having everyone watching and announcing.

Tiffany: In 2018 and 2019, I was also going for the title, but in both years, I lost by one point, so I was kind of used to it. That day at Grands, I really didn’t care anymore if I got it or not. I definitely wanted it, but I wasn’t stressing about it.

How was it kicking off the year back in that same venue, racing with the new title on your plate?

Makayla: It felt like the pressure was on with a lot of people watching. We were both on the shirts, which was really cool but yeah, it was a fun weekend for sure.

What’s the plan for the rest of the year? More US stops in the future?

Makayla: We’re going to do all the Canadian series for sure, and we’re going to try and hit maybe one or two more in the US for the experience.

Okay, A couple of random ones: Favorite Bike Brand

Makayla: Meybo or Speedco

Tiffany: Meybo

Favorite Track

Makayla: Victoria BMX

Tiffany: Gotta be Victoria BMX

Favorite Topic in School

Makayla: Phys ED

Tiffany: Math

Is there anyone you’d like to thank for getting you this far?

Makayla and Tiffany: Our parents, Tara and Mark, they’ve done a lot to be able to get us to the races and help with mechanical issues that it always goes through. Our brother Riley, because he definitely motivates us and helps us keep going.

All the locals out at Victoria BMX, and of course, our team Factory Motofill and Hugo, who helps us get all the best deals.

Leaderboard

Shows the PB times only for all riders with transponders from the start gate to the timing loops.

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