Race Report: 2024 Mob n Mojave - Bootleg Canyon

Round 2 of 3 for the 2024 USA Cycling Southwest Regional Gravity Series aka the Mob n Mojave started with temperatures in the mid-60s and ended up topping out at 70 degrees by the end of this 3-day gravity event. This weather was welcomed by both locals and those traveling from locations that have winter-like temperatures. This news story will focus on the Series Standings as there are many close match-ups and the winners will be decided at the Reaper Madness event on March 1-3, 2024. For those who have not been racing this series, all are welcome and can still podium and win a medal if they only race in the finals.

Series Standings and registration for the finals (Reaper Madness) HERE
Mob n Mojave full results HERE

Saturday Super D and E-Super D

The 2-run Super D format is as fun as it sounds. Since these races are all about fun, you get to choose your best of 2 runs. If you are okay with your 1st run and do not think you can better it, hang out and enjoy the festivities while your competition is trying to beat you. For the traditional mountain bikes in the Men's Pro/Open, local Scott Johnson (All Mountain Cyclery and Parsons Auto) sits with 360 points earned from a 2nd place finish at round #1 and a 1st place tie at round #2. This is the 1st time at a Bootleg event that the Pro Men had a tie. That places Nate Fonger in 2nd for the series with 290 points, Dawson Fonger in 3rd with 255 points, and All Mountain Cyclery's Kurt Horack in 4th with 240 points.


In the E-Super D Category 2 Men's Open, Lance Clifford is in 1st with 340 points. Solid enough for 1st in the series after the 1st two rounds. Keith Copabianco is in 2nd with 255 points, and Napoleon Dumo is in 3rd with 250 points.



This is just a small sample of the match-ups as there are many other categories and age brackets that are all trying to be the Southwest Regional Champions for Super D in their age brackets and categories.


Series Standings and registration for the finals (Reaper Madness) HERE
Mob n Mojave full results HERE

Sunday Downhill

The Downhill competition always starts with the youngest racers and ends with the Pros. In the past, the 11-12 was the youngest age bracket allowed to race at Bootleg Canyon for obvious reasons. However, in recent years, a 6-10 age bracket has been added and these Lil Rippers often steal the show.


All of these guys that raced on the 'Kids" 6-10 Course won the special "Lil Rippers" medals, while the top 3 also earned a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place medal.


Lucas Conover was the sole racer in the Elite 6-10 that raced on the "Big Boy" course.



In the Boys 11-12 age bracket is Cooper Oefelin in 1st with back-to-back wins earning him a total of 400 points. Brayden Carlisle and Wade Heater are tied with 300 points while Sterling Mann has 250 points and Corbin Lee is not far behind with 230 points. Since 200 points are up for grabs with a win it will all come down to the finals which will keep the pressure on young Oeflein.

The Men's Category 1/40-49 has local Paul Preuss (Squish Labs) in 1st (360 points) with a 1st place finish earning him 200 points at the 1st race and a 2nd place last weekend worth another 160 points. Jeff Barker has 340 points and Aaron Carter with 285 points.

The Men's Category 2/15-18 may be the most difficult category/age bracket to win as 20+ racers battle it out for the 2024 Southwest Regional DH Champ title. The Southwest region includes the states of Nevada, California, Arizona, and Utah, so winning is a pretty big deal. The top 3 in this stacked category are Alexander Lein and Jaden Olivas tied with 340 points and Derek Hopper a close 2nd with 320 points. With the next closest competitor hanging in there with 210 points, these top 3 have been dominating the Cat 2/15-18 all winter.



Series Standings and registration for the finals (Reaper Madness) HERE
Mob n Mojave full results HERE

The Men's Pro has Flagstaff's John Roberts sitting in 1st with a 2nd place and a 4th place finish earning him 285 points. Dawson Church is in 2nd with an 8th and a 3rd place finish totaling 225 points. Trenton May is currently in 3rd with 210 points (6th and 5th). Julien Markewitz missed the 1st race but showed up at the 2nd race for the win. Markewitz won last year's Mob n Mojave as well, so he is expected to return for the finals to add to his 200-point total for 2024. Currently in 5th is Asa Vermette with 200 points from his January win where he won by an unheard-of 30.21-second margin.

The Men's Pro DH saw Julien Markewitz, @bik3rj, repeat last year's win to become the reigning champion for the Pro DH for the Mob n Mojave.

Pro Men's Downhill winner is Julien Markewitz (Specialized, Troy Lee Designs, Oakley) with a 3.52.57, Brandon Martinez Garcia (TruckerCo, Ride Baja Insurance) came in 2nd with a 3.57.99, Dawson Church (Kore North Bicycles, CMU cycling) with a 4.06.36, 3rd was John Roberts with a 4.10.83, and Trenton May (All Mountain Cyclery, Crestline Bikes) in 5th with a 4.11.83.


Like the Super D race, this is just a small sample of the match-up as there are many other categories and age brackets that are all trying to be the Southwest Regional Champions for Downhill in their age brackets and categories.



The 2023/2024 Las Vegas MTB Team Challenge is also up for grabs at the finals. The Mob and Mojave saw round #5 of 6 of this team challenge. Down to just two teams, it is also a close race with Send City MTB taking the lead over the 7 Send Its by just 20 points. If the 7 Send it's can place 1st in DH, SD, and E-SD at the finals, they will win the LV MTB Team Challenge for a 2nd year in a row.


Series Standings and registration for the finals (Reaper Madness) HERE

Mob n Mojave full results HERE

This news story could not have happened without the help of Jerry Walton (#sostokedaerial), Richard Wsol, and Scott Markewitz @scottmarkewitz.
These events could not happen without the help of Boulder City Parks and Rec, Dan Haskin, Trucker Co, Intense Bikes, Black Cat Graphics, Quantum Printing, Kore North Bikes, All Mountain Cyclery, USA Cycling, the late Brent Thomson and Bootleg Canyon Gravity Racing.

We look forward to seeing you at the finals (Reaper Madness) on March 1-3, 2024 at Bootleg Canyon.

Downhill Mike
The Ingraham Family
Event Website HERE

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