USA BMX Derby City Nationals

The Derby City Nationals are in the books from this past weekend over in Louisville, Kentucky. I made the trip out which was the first time back east in a few years and a chance to watch the Pros actually in person for a change and not just see it from my Instagram feed.

Deep field and it was good to see a lot of the big hitters making it over from Europe.

With Olympic disappointment, a growing family, moving back across the Pond to France, and him getting older and doing this at a high level for such a long time pre-Worlds last month, I thought maybe we have seen the best of Joris and he might fade into a 3rd or 4th place guy. (Nothing wrong with that btw.) No way, Joris looked back on it at the Worlds and backed that form up again with a win in Kentucky on Saturday and podium on Sunday. I haven’t looked at points but there may be a late charge for the end of the season and a shot to repeat in Tulsa are still in the cards. Joris is back for sure.

The Olympic Champ, Niek Kimmann was back stateside and I know they say – Sylvain lives to race but it seems like Niek does as well. Maybe that early season time-out and not the Worlds he wanted, like Joris, he may be planning a hard run into Tulsa. Nick got a 3rd on Friday and the big win on Saturday. In between that, I saw him hanging around all over the pits taking photos and signing autographs with the kids. Props to Niek. Classy guy all around.

From the training school of Sean Dwight down under, Izaac Kennedy continues to impress. 4th place on both Friday and Saturday and the win on Sunday at the UCI event. Solid weekend for the Aussie.

Sylvain Andre, what more can you say? I got to chat with him for a few minutes on Friday. Good family guy, traveling the world with his bike and having fun. What comes with that? Podium after podium after podium. Maybe the smartest, most consistent Pro in decades, maybe Pro history? 2nd all 3 days. A joy to watch.

The rest of the class? Still a lot of really good riders. Corben can still get on the box (3rd Sunday), Cam Wood continues to progress. Campo, Souza back racing winning laps and in the mains.

US Pro Racing is back in a good spot for 2022.