Grands: The greatest Race on Earth

JAlvey · Postby **JAlvey** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:32 pm

I think Mitch crashed in the semi over the triple into the first turn

Ashley Topham · Postby **Ashley Topham** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 7:00 pm

the kid clipped the gate next to Mitch so thats why Mitch didnt make it.
But good job to all the UTAH riders you did awesome!!!!!

My Rides · Postby b2 » Sun Nov 25, 2007 7:07 pm

Ashley Topham wrote:...good job to all the UTAH riders you did awesome!!!!!

yup! Good job everyone! It was fun to watch on the interenet too... but it would have been even more fun to watch on the big screen HDTV!

Hope to see everyone at the track this weekend!

Postby **J Gallo** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 5:29 pm

Here are the results for Utah riders @ the ABA Grands!

6 & UNDER MIXED OPEN Total Riders = 36
3rd Place HUNTER BROWN, EXTREME TEAM, W BOUNTIFUL, UT

15-16 OPEN Total Riders = 36
8th Place - ROBBY PATTERSON, LOOKING, ROY, UT

15 CRUISER Total Riders = 26
7th Place - MITCH "MAVERICK" ROPELATO, ELITE BICYCLES, OGDEN, UT

16 CRUISER Total Riders = 19
3rd Place- ROBBY PATTERSON, LOOKING, ROY, UT
4th Place - JORDAN SMITH, BMX HEX/STAATS, RIVERTON, UT

31-35 CRUISER Total Riders = 16
1st Place - BRANDON SMITH, , RIVERTON, UT

46-50 CRUISER Total Riders = 14
2nd Place - MIKE (MONSTER) KELLEY, FLY/ELITE/MPK RACING, RIVERTON, UT

51-55 CRUISER Total Riders = 10
4th Place- DANIEL PATTERSON, , ROY, UT

21-25 GIRLS CRUISER Total Riders = 9
1st Place - HEATHER ALLRED, STAATS CHALLENGE RACING, MURRAY, UT

5 & UNDER INTER Total Riders = 21
4th Place - T J "THE TERROR" ETTINGER, MOTO MILITIA, EAGLE MOUNTAIN, UT

6 INTER Total Riders = 30
4th Place HUNTER BROWN, EXTREME TEAM, W BOUNTIFUL, UT

16 EXPERT Total Riders = 49
7th Place - ROBBY PATTERSON, LOOKING, ROY, UT

Congrats to all our Utah riders!!

Curtis Newkirk · Postby **Curtis Newkirk** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 1:19 pm

One of my most favorite, yet bittersweet, things do to at Grands it to watch our Utah riders from the stands during Grands mains. It is really the only event where I get to sit and watch everyone race and Utah did amazing. Brandon and Heather were phenomenal, winning their events and bringing home NAG1's. TJ was actually leading the front straight when the winner of the race bumped him on the triple and he slid back to 4th. Hunter was incredible too, Robbie made it on both bikes and both rode well, Jordan and Mitch did well on cruiser. Mike is truly the Monster with NAG 2 this year.

All of our riders did well whether they made their mains or not: Brenlee, McKenzie, Cody, Hayden, Bennett, and Anna all rode well and had a great time. Better luck next year!

Funny story of the weekend: we were waiting in staging for quarters when Jordan was racing Cruiser. Jordan ejected a rider over turn two. He went though the banner and crashed into the fence, knocking it over. It has the hardest punt over a berm I saw all weekend. Fortunately, the rider was fine.

The Grands is really the only event that we go to that Bennett has never made his main. He got closer than ever this year than ever with two fifths in stacked semi's, but he moves from racing 8X and winning on Friday to a late-birthday 9X for the Grands. This will always be the toughest race of the year for him because of the age-up, but he keeps making it further and further each year though so he was very happy with his performance. He says he is more motivated than ever to train for next year.

Anna also had some tough luck with a hard crash going for first in the 1st round. She was very timid after that and her rack was stacked as well so she got to watch mains also.

One last item to note that is pretty cool: Last year Bennett was NAG 8, and Anna was District 8. After the Grands, and if my calculations are right, they are both now NAG 6 for 2008!

Good times!

Postby **bnd** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:19 pm

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Jordan get punted himself in a semi in the same location? Those younger classes are ruthless!

Congrats Newkirks!

b.

Todd S. · Postby **Todd S.** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 5:09 pm

I'm not sure but I think Jordan did get pushed up the berm, then the kid that punted him got in to the soft stuff and done an endo over the bars right after that. Karma will get you every time.

Todd

Extreme Team Coach · Postby **Extreme Team Coach** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:58 pm

Todd, you are absolutely right, that was karma in Jordan's class! It was such an amazing weekend and we are way proud of all of the Utah riders! Everyone did so good and rode so hard.. We had such a great time with everyone too, if there is one race you shouldn't miss it was this one!!! If possible, I'd plan for it next year! It was an amazing event!

Punk-Biker940 · Postby **Punk-Biker940** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 2:42 pm

who all got nag plates?

Curtis Newkirk · Postby **Curtis Newkirk** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 4:37 pm

I know of some who did for sure and some others that were close. We should know for sure this evening when the ABA posts the final results (maybe?).

For sure: Robbie (maybe two?), Jordan, Mike K, Brandon, Heather, Bennett, & Anna. I hope I did not leave anyone out.

Should hopefully: Mitch, Hunter Brown, TJ Ettinger, McKenzie Hanson, Brenlee Forhdam, and Savannah Foster

Either way you cut it, that is a lot of NAG plates coming home to Utah! Most tracks are lucky even if they have one NAG rider. I think Utah brought home around 13 plates for 2007. Way to go guys!!

I will check the final posting this evening and hopefully make an announcement this this weekend.

UtahBMX.com

Grands: The greatest Race on Earth

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