It’s not just spinning wheels to call Brandon Pita the star of Santa Maria BMX—the 12-year-old has the hardware to prove it.
On Aug. 31, Pita took home the 2009 12 Novice division championship from BMX’s premier event: the National Bicycle League Grand Nationals in Louisville, Kent.
For Pita, who just started racing bicycle motocross a year ago, the win was a dream come true.
“It was awesome going to the Grands and winning my first time,” Pita said. “It was just an exciting moment.”
Racing in elimination contests against 28 other competitors over two days, Pita qualified for the finals, where he challenged and defeated the fastest riders in the nation on the 1,100-foot oval track.
Currently ranked second in the country in his age group, Pita made the switch to BMX after successfully racing motocross since the age of 5.
“I was champion every year [in motocross], so it just got my motivation up,” Pita said. “In motocross I had to work for it more, so I just like [BMX] way better.”
When he’s not golfing or attending classes at Lakeview Junior High School, Pita practices at the Santa Maria BMX track near the Elks Unocal Events Center.
Santa Maria BMX organizer Dawn Porter said Pita is a serious competitor who doesn’t like to settle for second best.
“He’s just a really good kid. He’s hard working, very devoted to the sport,” Porter said. “If he keeps it up, I could see him going pro someday.”
Already supported by four corporate sponsors, Pita’s just three points shy of becoming an expert rider and becoming eligible to be picked up by a professional team.
His ultimate goal, he said, is making it to the Olympics in 2012.
“I see how the pros get to be the best in the world, and I just want to be like them,” he said.
This article appears in Sep 17-24, 2009.