Race Report: U.S. Open Nationals, Chula Vista, CA Sept. 17-19, 2010
This past weekend, the Olympic Training Center was host to an ABA BMX National for the second time this year. Dubbed the U.S. Open Nationals, Friday night under the lights saw the Pre-Race get underway. The eight year old girls category had nearly a full gate of racers and McKenna transferred to the main in her second round. With a great gate, and an awesome pass in the first turn, McKenna was able to hold on for third place and a great start to the weekends racing.
Saturday morning started bright and early with practice, and McKenna was able to get in several fast laps and some good gate starts. She was very excited about the days upcoming races, and felt she was riding the track really well. For Saturdays National Race, there were thirteen 8 yr. old girls racing , creating 2 groups. McKenna's moto had 7 of the girls, and though she raced well, she was unable to get one of the 2 transfer spots. The second round was taking two more to the main, and McKenna was confident she would nab one of the spots. Unfortunately, her Assistant Team Manager (Mom) got confused about the overall number of motos, and failed to get McKenna to her moto on time, missing her opportunity to make the main event. That ended Saturdays racing on a definite down note.
Sunday was a whole new day, and a whole new day of racing. McKenna tried to put yesterday's fiasco behind her and focus on the days job ahead of her. Again 8 year old girls were made up of two groups, McKenna being put into the first of the two motos. She was assigned to lane 1, and got a good start as the gate dropped. She made a great pass in the first turn, and went from 5th position, into 3rd. McKenna was then able to catch and pass another girl to finish second, and transfer to the main event. In the main, McKenna got lane 1 again, and came out looking to make up for Saturday, but it was not to be. Over the second jump, a girl went down in front of her, and Mac had nothing else to do but join her on the deck. After a little while spent untangling riders and bikes, McKenna was able to get rolling again, and crossed the finish line in 7th.
All in all, the weekend didn't pan out the way anyone wanted or expected, but things happen when you "Pin it to Win it". The weather was great, and the competition in McKenna's class was most of the best girls in the country, so it was still a valuable education in racing. McKenna realizes "What doesn't kill me, makes me faster!" Keep it tuned her for all future installments of 'The McKenna Dean Show'.