RAPID CITY - Twenty-eight young bicycle motocross riders ranging in age from 8 to 18 vied for eight individual titles in the weekly Friday night races at the Black Hills BMX Track at Robbinsdale Park.

As an appreciative crowd looked on enjoying the lighthearted banter of track announcer Mike Conklin, races were contested in classifications from Age 8 Novice to 17-18 Expert. Three qualifying heats were contested in each class with the heat winners automatically earning a spot in the classification Main event.

Winners on this evening were Ty Robertson in 8 Novice, Ryan Adrian in 8 Intermediate, Owen Montgomery in 9 Expert, Trent Hullihen in 10 Novice, Blane Nelson in 10 Intermediate, Dalton Conklin-son of Mike Conklin-in 12 Expert, Travis Reber in 15 Intermediate, and Tate Lacroix in the 17-18 Class.

In the 8 Intermediate class, Ryan Adrian jumped out quickly and held off Cash Hinzman at the finish in a race in which the two competitors were hardly more than a 10 feet apart throughout. The two had battled through the night each capturing a win in the heat races.

In one of the most competitive races of the night, Owen Montgomery jumped out early in the 9 Expert Main and kept Jaden Olsen at bay to the finish.

"I just planned to get a good start and hang on and that's what I did," Montgomery said.

In the 17-18 Expert classification, Andy Sumners, son of Box Elder BMX track operator Bill Sumners, bested good friend and fellow Rapid City Central Cobbler Tate Lacroix in an exciting final race. Tate, nationally ranked in his class, had won the two earlier heats.

"I just tried to get to the corner and pinch him out if I could," said Andy. "Doesn't happen often since Tate is hard to beat out of the gate."

The two have been friendly rivals for nine years.

BMX racing in the Hills continues today with races at the Hill City BMX Park with signups between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., and Sunday at the newly opened Box Elder BMX Raceway.

Signups at the Box Elder track are between 4:40 p.m. and 5:50 p.m.