Jeep Team’s South African and African Continental Elite BMX Champion, Kyle Dodd, faced America’s top BMX riders to finish third on the podium at USA Cycling’s BMX National Championships, which took place in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Friday evening (20 March 2015). Dodd (21) finished behind Rihards Veide (1st) and Layne Gainer (2nd) in the Pro Class Open race.  

On Saturday, he then competed in the UCI North American Continental BMX Championships, finishing 4th, 2nd and 2nd in the qualifying rounds, and then 8th in the quarter finals.  

Says Dodd, “What an awesome experience I had racing this supercross event! Day 2 was the big day I had been preparing for over the past few months. The racing was tough all day, but the three moto’s went well; I started great, ensuring clean laps and very little mistakes.   

“Setting up for the quarters was difficult seeing that I had never been in that situation before. My gate was the best I have ever had, but I made a couple of mistakes and finished up with an 8th.  

“All in all I am thrilled with the progress I have seen over the past couple of weeks of training.”  

Dodd now travels to Orlando, Florida, to continue his training ahead of the opening round of the five-stop 2015 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup, taking place in Manchester, United Kingdom, from 18 to 19 April 2015.  

Other Jeep Team results  

Multisport

On Saturday, Jeep Team’s Mikaela Jonsson competed against KwaZulu-Natal’s pro athletes at the 2015 KZNA Senior and Masters Track & Field Championship, placing third in the 800m in 2m19.27s, behind Kelly Fletcher (2m11.02s) and Courtney du Preez (2m12.95s).  

Jonsson (17) usually competes in the Junior Women’s category, so the result is an exceptional achievement for the young multisport star who is aiming to compete at the ITU World Triathlon Grand Finale in the United States in September.  

Cycling – MTB

On Sunday, Jeep Team’s Thinus Redelinghuys placed second after a thrilling sprint finish against Julluis Cobbett at the 62-km Dunblane March Hare Mountain Bike Challenge in Kempton Park, Gauteng. Redelinghuys finished in a fast 2h4m35s, only seconds behind Cobbett, with Daniel Newman placing third.