Tyler Collingwood
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The 53rd annual THOR Mini O’s has come to an end and it did not disappoint. This is such an exciting event and the one I look forward to the most every single year. For some, it was the week they dreamed of. For others, well, it might be a long ride home. Let’s look at some of the riders I thought had standout weeks!
Landon Hartz
Yes, I know, I’ve talked about this kid like five times this week. But when you win every moto besides one, I kind of have to. Hartz told me he was going into this race as his final B class race and wanted to make a statement ride. Well, he did just that, winning 6 of 6 motos in the SX portion to take home titles in 250B,450B, and Schoolboy 2.
Hartz kept his winning streak going into MX. He would take titles in Schoolboy 2 and 450B and just missed out on a title in 250B. With five titles and 10 of 12 moto wins, I’d say he made his statement ride.
Jonathan Getz
Seriously, was this kid not on a supermini or 125 last year? Getz quickly moved up and made his A class debut this week at Mini O’s. When I saw him on the entry list I was expecting a 10th-12th place rider. Well, that wasn’t what Getz wanted. This dude was flat out ripping. Getz starts were on fire and this would help him battle up front in almost every race. In Supercross Getz best race would be a 4th in Moto 1 and would have some struggles in, but he would shine outdoors.
He was hovering around that top 5 spot all week in MX and was really causing a headache for our heavy hitter riders. Getz would keep putting the pressure on and would find himself on the podium in 250A. This might be a kid to watch for next year in this class.
Lala Turner
Lala said this was her first ever Mini O’s and man she came to whoop some ass. Lala would go on to win both titles in Girls (11-16) in her last supermini ride. She put in impressive rides in the Supermini 2 class also, just missing the top 10 in SX and landing in the top 10 in MX. Turner would also win both titles in Women’s 12+. Women’s MX is on the rise and this class is so fun to watch. WMX future is bright with young stars like Lala coming up.
Easton Graves
I first saw Easton race two years at a LL Qualifier in Louisiana and thought man, this kid is fast, I mean really fast. Fast forward two years and it hasn’t changed, Graves is still fast and wrapped up four titles this week, winning 85 (12-13) and Mini Sr 1 in SX and he would back it up winning two titles in MX in 85 (12-13) and Mini Sr 2. Graves looked well on his way to a fifth title in Mini Sr 1 but I’m unsure what happened as he fell from the lead to 11th. Regardless of missing that championship, Graves is going to be a household name in years to come and this kid will be fun to watch.
Caden Dudney
This kid has been on the radar forever so this shouldn’t come as a surprise, but Dudney continues his impressive amateur career with four more titles and just missing out on the other two. He won both titles in 250A and 250 Pro Sport and finished 3rd in 450 Pro Sport. The kid was pretty much flawless all week. His starts were on point and 3 or 4 races that was the nail in the coffin. When Dudney got out front this week it was just game over. His ability to put in the fast laps in the beginning of the race and build a nice gap kind of reminds of Ken Roczen. Roczen is known for getting the holeshot and just stretching that gap quick and Dudney did the same thing this week. I’m so stoked to see this kid in SX Futures this spring.
Main image: Jason Friberg
