The Cortez bicycle motocross season is in full swing, as riders are now competing for state championship points in the American Bicyclist Association.
Last weekend, 31 local BMX racers traveled to Montrose and Grand Junction to ride in those cities state championship points races and Cortez represented itself well.
On Monday, 47 riders were on hand at the Cortez BMX track for a Cortez BMX League meet. Many of the racers used Mondays opportunity to gear up for Saturdays Cortez state championship points race. One hundred thirty-five to 150 riders from across Colorado are expected to attend with 30 to 40 moto classes of competition. Every BMX track on the ABA circuit in Colorado gets to host a state championship points meet.
Were going to run our state championship race. Were real excited to see that, Cortez BMX track co-operator Mark Baxter said.
Saturdays race will have a sign-in period from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. with racing immediately to follow. Cortez BMX track Saturday races usually begin at 10:30 a.m. with sign-in being from 9:30 to 10:30. The scheduling change is to accommodate riders traveling to Southwest Colorado to compete at Saturdays Durango Redline Cup Qualifier at the Durango BMX track at 11 a.m. as well, giving people the chance to get to the Cortez state championship points race in time.
The 15-intermediate class was a strong two-horse race between Aaron McClain and Logan Wilbanks. The two battled back and forth with each winning heats.
However, Wilbanks crashed during the second heat, which resulted in a last-place finish for him in that heat. But the 16-year-old pushed on and finished the day racing.
You just kind of buck up and get it over with and cry about it later, Wilbanks said.
In the 15-intermediate class main heat, Wilbanks won but the overall class standings saw McClain at the top because he had more higher heat finishes throughout the day.
Wilbanks, though, was satisfied with his performance.
Ive been riding a lot better lately. Im getting more in shape, he said.
Wilbanks also looks to compete in the 26-30-cruiser class on Saturday. He competed in both classes in Montrose and Grand Junction. He placed last (cruiser) and second (intermediate) in Montrose, and was second (cruiser) and fourth (intermediate) in Grand Junction.
Its been kind of a back-and-forth season so far, but I just need to work off of it and get better, Wilbanks said. I did pretty well hanging with the older guys. (I want to) see if I can keep up that.
Cortez BMX League home races are held on Mondays and every other Saturday throughout the remainder of the summer. For more information, log on to www.cortezbmx.org.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.
