Jolly and Reynolds taste Grands success in Tulsa

Australia has again made its presence felt at the ‘Greatest Race on Earth’, with no less than 47 Aussie riders competing at the season-ending USA BMX Grand Nationals over the weekend. 

Held at the Expo Square building in Tulsa, Oklahoma, racing began in earnest on Thursday and Friday with the Race of Champions, where riders qualify for a winner-takes-all final by competing in State/Provincial Series throughout the year.

UCI Junior World Champion Josh Jolly continued a remarkable 2024 season, notching yet another first place in the 17-20 Open category, while Macarthur’s Daniel Leahy was Australia’s other Race of Champions winner, claiming top spot in the 26-30 Mixed Open category.

Australia was unlucky not to feature on the podium in any of the Pro categories on the opening night, with five riders lining up in the Main across the top-flight categories.

Jack Davis came closest to a podium with a fourth place in the Men Pro, while Teya Rufus was the best-placed Aussie in the Women Pro, finishing fifth. Corey Frieswyk took eighth place in the Vet Pro final.

Attention shifted to the Grand Nationals over the weekend, and Lauren Reynolds once again proved why she will be remembered as one of the best Australian riders to regularly compete on the USA circuit, landing yet another podium in the Grand Nationals Main with a third place finish in Women Pro.

Josh McLean was Australia’s sole representative in the Men Pro Main, but was always trying to make up ground on the leaders after failing to nail the start, finishing 6^th.

However, more success followed on Sunday, with 12 Australians securing a podium in their respective categories, highlighted by Josh Jolly notching yet another win in 17-20 Expert and Mica Moloney taking first place in 15 Expert.

The event brings the 2024 USA BMX series to a close, with the 2025 season getting underway with the So Cal Nationals in California from  January 10-12. The Australian national season begins with rounds 1 and 2 of the National Series in Shepparton on April 26-27.

Full results.

Race replays.

AUSTRALIAN RESULTS:

Race of Champions

Women Pro

• 5^th Teya Rufus (Maryborough BMX)
• 6^th Lauren Reynolds (Bunbury BMX)

Men Pro

• 4^th Jack Davis (Tamworth BMX)
• 5^th Max Cairns (Park Orchards BMX)

Vet Pro

• 8^th Corey Frieswyk (Suncoast Hinterland BMX)

11-12 Mixed Open

·       8^th Jack Lupton (Castle Hill BMX)

15-16 Open

• 3^rd Mica Moloney (Cairns BMX)

17-20 Open

• 1^st Joshua Jolly (Ballarat-Sebastopol CC BMX)

·       5^th Jai Copland (Geelong BMX)

17-20 Mixed Open

·       5^th Lachlan Booby (Knox BMX)

• 6^th Jack Thorp (Portland BMX)

21-25 Open

·       4^th Mitchell Burke (Redlands BMX)

26-30 Mixed Open

·       1^st Daniel Leahy (Macarthur BMX)

31 & Over Mixed Open

·       2^nd Jason Hall (Park Orchards BMX)

Grands – Professional

Women Pro

• 3^rd Lauren Reynolds (Bunbury BMX)
• 5^th Teya Rufus (Maryborough BMX)

Men Pro

• 6^th Joshua McLean (Knox BMX)

Grands – Amateur

 9-10 Open

·       6^th Memphis Blake (Ashmore BMX)

15-16 Open

·       3^rd Cameron Gatt (Geelong BMX)

15-16 Mixed Open

·       7^th Spencer Wardle (Knox BMX)

17-20 Mixed Open

• 4^th Jack Thorp (Portland BMX)

·       5^th Lachlan Booby (Knox BMX)

21-25 Open

• 3^rd Ronan Weber (Cairns BMX)

31 & Over Mixed Open

·       3^rd Jason Hall (Park Orchards BMX)

56+ Women Cruiser

·       2^nd Elissa Eyre (Pine Rivers BMX)

51-55 Men Cruiser

• 3^rd Tom McClellan (Centenary Plains BMX)

56-60 Men Cruiser

·       8^th Steve Ewart (Pine Rivers BMX)

15 Intermediate

·       3^rd Spencer Wardle (Knox BMX)

17-20 Intermediate

• 4^th Jack Thorp (Portland BMX)

26-35 Intermediate

·       2^nd Daniel Leahy (Macarthur BMX)

41-45 Intermediate

·       3^rd Jason Hall (Park Orchards BMX)

46-50 Intermediate

·       2^nd Paul Brincat (Sunbury BMX)

·       8^th Danny Booby (Knox BMX)

15 Expert

• 1^st Mica Moloney (Cairns BMX)

17-20 Expert

• 1^st Joshua Jolly (Ballarat-Sebastopol CC BMX)

21-25 Expert

• 3^rd Ronan Weber (Cairns BMX)

·       8^th Mitchell Burke (Redlands BMX)

56+ Expert

·       8^th Steve Ewart (Pine Rivers BMX)