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Pro Championship Finals 2018
Alise Willoughby, Joris Daudet and Tyler Brown come out on top in 2018
Each year, Thanksgiving weekend brings thousands of USA BMX members to Tulsa for the season finale to their National series. Professional BMX racers from all over the world, and North America’s fastest amateur riders, competed throughout the weekend at Tulsa’s River Spirit Expo Nov 22-25 to decide who earns one of the seven illustrious USA BMX number one championships. Presented by the Tulsa Sports Commission, Grands hosted more than 4,400 participants representing more than 47 states and 20 countries. In addition to competition all weekend, pros were seen in the Tulsa community early in the week teaching students about USA BMX Foundation and the STEM program and bringing Thanksgiving surprises to children at Tulsa’s Saint Francis Children’s Hospital.
USA BMX PRO CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS Highlights:
Women’s Pro Class - Alise Post Willoughby claimed her fifth consecutive National #1 Women’s Pro Title and secured her seventh overall pro title - increasing her lifetime record to 11 National #1 Titles (Alise also has four Amateur National #1 Titles to her name). Alise also accomplished something no other rider, male or female, has ever done winning every main event she raced in a season. Joining Alise on the Women’s Pro Grands podium Saturday night were Supercross BMX rider Rachel Mydock, third, and Alise’s close friend and Olympic teammate Brooke Crain, second.
Men’s AA Pro - France’s Joris Daudet won each of the three main event finals to secure his third USA BMX National #1 Pro Title. With the win, Daudet joined the ranks of past champions Bubba Harris and Sam Willoughby who each have three titles to their name. Joris’ third title in four years capped a steller 2018 season that saw the ‘Flying Frenchman’ atop the podium an amazing 16 times. Daudet was joined on the Grands podium by Australian Anthony Dean, second, and Connor Fields, third. Fields ended the season second overall.
Vet Pro Men’s - In the Vet-Pro men’s class, three riders had been battling for supremacy all season long. Chula Vista, CA track operator, ‘Downtown’ Tyler Brown, Argentine’s Cristian Becerine, and Venezuela’s Jonathan “The Mosquito’ Suarez were all positioned to claim the National #1 Title. In what would be his last race before retiring, Becerine was looking for his fifth consecutive Vet Pro title. In the end, Brown was able to ride his way back to win each race on his way to the title where 2018 marked his first year as a Vet-Pro.
A Pro - In the A-Pro finals, the top of the podium was within reach for almost anyone. But in the end, M & M Racing Products, Jholman Sivira avoided a number of dust-ups during each of the main event finals to claim first. Joining Sivira on the Grands podium were Supercross’ Jayce Cunning, and Brady Kincheloe.
For more information on USA BMX, please visit www.USABMX.com.