2021 USA BMX Cajun Nationals Race Report

Filed under General on April 19, 2021 | Comment(s)

Outside of the giant Expo Square floor in Tulsa, the Cajun Nationals at the Ike Hamilton Expo is the largest indoor venue that the USA BMX National series goes to. Things in West Monroe pretty much looked the same as the last race that we held back in 2019. Mayor Staci Albritton Mitchell welcomed everone and thanked everyone for attending. We always appreciate good old southern hospitality. The track here is always good as the dirt never goes outside. We were certainly grateful for that as it rained pretty much all day on Friday. The dirt is quite sandy which led to a lot of slide outs in the turns. Once riders figured them out, they knew how far the could push the traction of their tires.

On Friday, Eight year old William Jupp got right down to business in the 7-8 Mixed open class beating out quite a few Expert young ladies in the process. He would back up that win with another win the 8 Inter class. By sunday he’d moved up to Expert and grabbed an eigth in the main.

The 36-40 Women Cruiser class was about as tough as we’ve ever seen it with 13 and 14 riders. Premier Racing’s Christina Gayler won all three days but was challanged by podium makers Nicole Martinez, Alysia Mitchell, and Tara Broughton.

The next ladies cruiser call was just as exciting with a great showdown between BMX Sharks’ Melissa Bray and Premier’s Casey Allen. Bray would lead most of the main on day one only to be passed by Allen in the rythem section. Allen would go on to win days two and three as well.

Factory Supercross’ newest recruit Chrissy Piper had a great undefeated weekend going until tragedy struck in the third straight on Sunday. She would go down in flames all by herself and hand the 41 & Over Women Expert win to Melissa Bray.

Louisiana local Caleb Tucker had a great holeshot in 36-40 Cruiser but couldn’t keep the front end down and took an improptu visit to loopout city. Kyle Funk was in the right place at the right time and woul grab himself a win.

Remember those slippery turns that we were talking about earlier? they definitely cam into play during the 14 inter class on Friday. Three riders went down in the first turn and majesty’s Dontay Brown had nothing but open track in front of him. As he reached the apex of turn two he’d began to slide and ultimately highside, launching him off the bike. Kaden Harwick would avoid the second batch of carnage and grab the win. 

If we told you that the 6 Girl Expert main had three leaders at one point on day one you probably would believe us but it actually happened. J&R’s Elinor Christensen had the early lead but would get swooped in turn two by HRP’s Camison Pyper. She’d hold the lead all the way until the final straight where a hard charging Remy Sessa would blow by for the win. She isn’t NAG champ for nothing!

The 10 Expert class was a heater all weekend long. Rift Tangent’s Amaree Vick would secure his first national win with a wire to wire display on Friday night. Hyper’s Thiaan Hardy would nab the two spot and RBR’s Ryley Rojas would round out the podium. Saturday  was nearly a repeat but Hardy would get to the first turn first. Vick kept him honest and grabbed a close second and Aiden Guidry the third. Sunday was a huge mix up with Vick not qualifying for the main and Hardy getting swallowed up in turn one. Houston’s CJ Rivera would take the win back to the lonestar state.

I think everyone was in agreement that it was a great week in louisiana. If you didn’t get the results that you wanted at least you could enjoy some fantastic cuisine or get you game on across the street at the Surge Entertainment venue. Until next time...