Durango has its first USA BMX Gold Cup regional champion since Christopher Blevins in 2008.
Durango BMX sent its team to Chula Vista, California, for the USA BMX Gold Cup Regional Championship. A rider’s top two scores from previous Gold Cup Series events are combined with results from the regional events to determine series champions.
The final races count for quadruple points. There are only six regional races around the country, and the Durango BMX team raced against riders from Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, Washington and more.
Wes Speicher, nicknamed “Wild Wild Wes,” claimed first place in the intermediate division for riders age 8. That gave him the Gold Cup jacket and the No. 1 plate for the series.
In the intermediate category for riders age 9, Ethan “Speed Deem’n” Deem placed second to earn the No. 2 plate.
It was the first time a Durango BMX rider won a Gold Cup plate since 2008, when Blevins, now a promising professional mountain bike and road cyclist, brought home the honor.
Ashley Tocarczyk, formerly Ashley Grubb, also brought home No. 1 Gold Cup plates in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Riley Wanzek also won in the age 11 expert and cruiser divisions in 2007.
Specicher finished with 71 points and won a tiebreaker to take first. Deem scored 78 points in his division and finished one point back of first place.
Durango BMX will head to Grand Junction this weekend for the state championships with riders of all ages ready to represent the team.
jlivingston@ durangoherald.com
