Local youth Easton Long completes a very exclusive achievement in BMX racing, while stacking up wins and accolades along the way.
Easton Long is a 9 year old from Warsaw, competing in the “9 expert boys” class in BMX racing against other riders multiple times a week all year long. Each race earns him points, with higher finishes earning more points than lower finishes. Among other accomplishments, he crossed the threshold of 20,000 district points in BMX racing for the 2023 season. To accumulate such a total requires skill and talent to do well, longevity and health to compete the full season, and a family commitment to attend and participate in enough events.
To put that achievement in perspective, of the more than 24,000 BMX riders across the country competing to earn points, he is 1 of only 7 total riders in the nation to reach the 20,000-point milestone. This puts him in the top 0.03% of all riders, a very exclusive club.
Easton started racing BMX in 2021, when he fell in love with the sport. Even as a newcomer to the sport, Easton went on to win multiple races at the local and state levels along with the Gold Cup Series, all sanctioned through USA BMX, finishing his first season ranked #2 in his district, #2 in the regional Gold Cup series, and #2 in the State series. All of this happened within a shortened season, only a five-month period of time. With impressive results early on, Easton’s parents, Eldon and Alicia Long, quickly realized he was going to be a natural at the sport. No surprise to them, as Easton taught himself how to ride a bike at the age of 2 with no training wheels.
In 2022 Easton raced at all the levels there were - local, State, Gold Cup, & National, and went on to have a great year of racing. Finishing the season as State 1, Gold Cup 4, District 1, and National 21. While his Gold Cup and National finishes weren’t high enough to receive plates, they are still eye-catching finishes for only a 2nd year rider. This put his name on the map, and gave him a taste of what to expect in the future.
Then comes 2023, where he came storming out of the gates with some lofty goals that he set for himself. Easton wanted to go after top 10 in National and hit the 20,000 point club, knowing only a hand full of riders make each year. Traveling to every track in the state of Indiana, as well as most within the tri-state area for local and regional races, while also sprinkling in dozens of road trips across the country to participate in National-level races, Easton left his mark on the 2023 BMX season. His goals became reality when he hit right over 20,000 district points placing him 7th out of over 24,000 riders in the nation. His performance in the National series improved significantly as well, placing NAG 10 (National Age Group #10) and finally riding off into the sunset with that elusive National plate he hoped for.
The off-season of a Champion is short-lived, with 2024 right around the corner. He has his sights set on qualifying for Worlds, and the timing of his ascension in the sport couldn’t come at a better time, as the World Championships will be held in the United States this year in the famous Rock Hill, SC track. He will need to ramp it up this year, as everyone will be vying for the very few spots available to compete in Worlds. But if Easton has shown us anything, it’s that he’s always up for the challenge.
Easton is blessed with a great support system, and he works hard to repay that every race he competes in. A heart-felt thank you goes out to everyone that cheered him on throughout 2023, his parents, and grandparents.