Evan Yuchasz wants to give fair warning to those who are thinking of learning bicycle motocross racing, or BMX, as it is more commonly known.
‘It’s not the safest sport ? you do need to wear plenty of protection,? he said. ‘However, you’re not going to fall every time. It’s the most fun thing ever.?
Evan, 12, and younger sister Megan, 8-1/2, of Groveland Township are active participants in the sport, and brother A.J., 10, also raced in BMX action before joining the Lapeer Storm travel hockey team, which recently won a district championship in the Squirt A division.
Megan, who has been competing in BMX since she was four years old, said the social aspects of BMX are what makes the sport fun. ‘I get to make new friends,? she said.
BMX is a sport run on a track which is typically 1000-1400 feet in length, and holds a variety of jumps. There are two sanctioning bodies for BMX races: the National Bicycle League (NBL) and the American Bicycle Association (ABA). Both organizations sponsor local, state, regional and national series.
The two compete in about six or seven national racers per year, in addition to weekly races at Waterford Oaks BMX, 1702 Scott Lake Road, Waterford.
The biggest race the two compete in each year is the NBL Grands in Louisville, Ky., which Evan said draws a great deal of spectators.
‘There are so many people there,? he said. ‘It’s the craziest thing you’ve ever seen. People will crowd the fences to watch the pros go.?
Megan finished last year ranked second in the country in the age 8-9 girls class, while Evan was ranked 30th in the 12 expert class, which he said is the highest class available before racers can go pro.
Evan, who has been racing in BMX for about five years, is Michigan’s only 12 expert competitor. He has won over a dozen state qualifiers, as well as many nationals and regionals. He has twice won the State number-one plate and has also been in the top five nationally twice.
Meanwhile, Megan has won the Midwest regional championship three straight times and is a three-time state number-one finisher. She has won four nationals, six regionals and 17 straight state qualifiers. She has won two straight state championship races.
Evan said when he and Megan first started racing, they took part in about 15-17 national races per year before settling down to their current pace. He said they have competed in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky, in addition to Michigan.
He said the two get plenty of practice right in their own backyard. ‘We have trails that we build in our own house,? he said. ‘We get some of our jumping skills from those.?
While Evan said he wants to do well in every race, he strives more to have fun and improve each time out, which not every BMX racer does. ‘A lot of people take it as a serious sport,? he said.
Evan did state he had one memorable injury which took place at Crystal Clear BMX in Michigan.
‘That was very scary,? dad Cris Yuchasz said. ‘Both he and Megan were injured in that race. He went over a jump, and the jump threw him and he flipped over. He got up, and he was fine and finished the race.?
Despite that incident, he said Evan and Megan take great care to protect themselves during races. ‘Oddly enough, most of the injuries happen in practice,? Cris said. ‘I never worry about them ? they’re very skilled.?
Cris said BMX racers are required to wear full-face helmets and motorcycle pants, and they may also wear chest protectors.