Jordan wins Redline Cup - Central Oregonian

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Lon Austin

Tanner Jordan likes to go fast.

The 12-year-old Prineville resident took up BMX bicycle racing two years ago, and already he is becoming a force in the sport.

“I?want to win,”?he said. “We go to the track every week and do workouts every week.”

Jordan said that his workouts include sprints, pushups, step jumps, sit ups, and stretching.

The training is paying off as Jordan has advanced from the novice to the intermediate division of BMX. Now Jordan is starting to win more important races.

 Jordan’s wins started in June when he won the Governor’s Cup, a series of four races over the course of two days on tracks in Newberg, Molalla, Cottage Grove, and Eugene.

Then last weekend, Jordan won two more big races in Salem: the Rose Cup Challenge, and the Redline Cup.

BMX?bicycle racing is not just for kids. At a recent race in Redmond, riders ranged in age from five to 47. The sport is similar to motocross, a sport where motorcyclists race over a cross country course, complete with jumps and steep turns.

In both sports, riders start behind a gate that drops to signal the start of races. However, unlike motocross, BMX races consist of only one lap on the course where motocross races may consist of multiple laps. Motocross race drivers may use their throttle whenever they want during the entire race, while BMX riders are not allowed to pedal on certain portions of their track.

The result is that riders pedal as hard as they can during the pedaling portion of races, then pump their weight up and down over the undulating portions of the course that do not allow pedaling.

“You just go as hard as you can,” Jordan said.

At each event, racers compete in two qualifying races, or moto’s. Riders who qualify out of the moto’s then get a short break before they compete in the main event. Races consist of groups of between three and eight riders. At some events racers qualify for the main event by earning points during the qualifiers, while at other events only the first and second place riders in the qualifiers advance and all other riders are eliminated.

Races generally last between 30 and 45 seconds depending on the length of the individual track.

“When they are up on the gate, riders try to visualize a fast line,” Brickey said. “Then once the race starts it’s a lot of rhythm — pumping and pedaling and trying to stay upright. It’s a lot like motocross on bikes. Once you have the lead you have control of the track.”

BMX?riders use specialized, one-speed, bikes that are built to be both sturdy and light.

The Rose Cup is a double points qualifier for the state championship. Coupled with his earlier win in the Governor’s Cup, the victories have given Jordan a spot in the state championships which take place in late September.

However, winning the Redline Cup is even more significant as it qualifies Jordan for the National Redline Cup which will be held in October in Fresno, Calif.

“I’m his bus driver, trainer, cheering section, and grandfather,” said Jordan’s grandfather, Jim Brickey, who has been instrumental in Jordan’s success. “Jordan took a grasp onto riding bikes. It’s a good sport where nobody sits on the bench.”

As Jordan has improved in the sport of BMX other people have begun to take notice. Late last year, Jordan was invited to join Menace Racing, a BMX team located in Washington. Menace Racing provides a racing jersey for its riders and provides some sponsorship, helping to defray transportation costs.

“It’s an individual sport, but a team builds morale and helps with the physical workouts and enjoying bicycling,” Brickey said.”

As Jordan has become more successful larger teams have taken notice. He is currently looking into the possibility of joining team Storm. Storm currently has 20 riders in Oregon, as well as riders in other states throughout the West.

Jordan’s immediate goal is to advance from intermediate to the expert division. Riders must win eight races before they are considered intermediates, and must win 25 races before moving into the expert class.?Since Jordan only recently moved into the intermediate class he still has a ways to go before advancing to the next level.

Adding to the difficulty of winning is that there are fewer BMX racers in Central Oregon than in the Willamette Valley. Consequently, when competing on tracks in Bend or Redmond, Jordan is frequently paired with older or more advanced racers making it difficult to earn wins.

By contrast when he is able to travel outside of Central Oregon to attend larger races he only has to race against riders his age and class.

Brickey said that the big races are more equal as all the riders in a race are about the same ability. That gives jordan a better chance to win at big races than at some of the local races.

“Its better to be able to race with your own group,” he said. It’s definitely more competitive. I’m glad for the opportunity to show kids what they can do. It’s all about fun. It’s for the kids, but it’s a good workout too. It’s a great sport, and anyone can do it.”