The stage was set with more than 6000 entries filling the starting gates at Gatorback Cycle Park for the 53rd running of the Thor Mini O’s, Presented by Pro Circuit.
Photography by Rob Koy
The racing kicked off with SX, and tensions were high among the racers who were eager to get down to business. The first race on main-event Monday was 250 Pro Sport. The SX track featured dedicated lanes for A and Pro classes, offering a challenging rhythm section and a tough whoop section designed to differentiate the riders. One standout was Star Yamaha’s newest recruit, Caden Dudney, who became the first champion of the week. He led every lap of the main, taking the checkers seven seconds ahead of Landen Gordon (Kawasaki). Krystian Janik (Yamaha) was third.
Yamaha-mounted Avery Long had to fight for his win in the 450 Pro Sport division. He started off in third in the final but steadily worked his way to the front, passing Gordon on the last lap to take the win. Dudney was a distant third.
Dudney returned in MX to win both 250 Pro Sport motos for the overall win, while Long took the overall win in the 450 Pro Sport class with a 2-1.
One of the closest, if not the closest, races in SX was in the Girls 11-16 class. Fans saw Mayla Herrick with the holeshot, Madison Kazimir starting off in second, and Lachlan Turner in third. Turner quickly moved into second and set her sights on the leader, Herrick.
As the race continued, Turner stayed on Herrick’s rear wheel with less than a second separating them all the way to the last lap. This is where things took a turn for the worse for Herrick. With two corners left, Herrick went to the inside behind a lapped rider and ultimately ran into the lapper’s rear wheel, which caused Herrick to tip over. This allowed Turner to slip past Herrick and take the checkered flag and the championship in dramatic fashion.
Turner also won the Girls 11-16 class in MX, and the Women’s 12+ in both MX and SX.
Another stand-out rider of the week was Carson Wood, who took a championship in both Supermini 1 and 2 in both SX and MX.
Veteran Mike Brown had a busy week competing in five classes in both MX and SX. All that racing netted the KTM rider six first-place trophies, one second, one third and two sixths. In all, Brown won 11 motos, including in SX.
Another vet notable was former Lites Supercross Champion Jason Lawrence, who competed in a total of five classes, 25+ through 35+, and came away with four fifth-place finishes and one fourth.
The awards were handed out after the checkered flag flew for the final time. They were given to Dudney (Dunlop Silver Tire Award), Colt Martin (Pro Circuit Platinum Pipe Award and Thor Bronze Boot Award), Jesse Furtado (Scott Golden Goggle Award), Boone Lloyd (Nihilo Prodigy Award) and Alex Anderson (Diamond Award).
Jay Partridge was also honored with the Mechanic of the Year Award.CN
2024 Thor Mini O’s Results
SX
250 PRO SPORT
- Caden Dudney (Yam)
- Landen Gordon (Kaw)
- Krystian Janik (Yam)
- Landon Gibson (Hus)
- Klark Robbins (GG)
450 PRO SPORT
- Avery Long (Yam)
- Landen Gordon (Kaw)
- Caden Dudney (Yam)
- Landon Gibson (Hus)
- Klar Robbins (GG)
MX
250 PRO SPORT
- Caden Dudney (Yam)
- Landon Gibson (Hus)
- Landen Gordon (Kaw)
- Krystian Janik (Yam)
- Jonathan Getz (Hus)
450 PRO SPORT
- Avery Long (Yam)
- Bernardo Tiburcio (Hon)
- Caden Dudney (Yam)
- Jonathan Getz (Hus)
- Landen Gordon (Kaw)
Click here to read the 2024 Thor Mini O’s Results Story in the Cycle News Digital Edition Magazine.
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