Yamaha bLU cRU Lead the Way at Mini O’s with 28 Class Championships
bLU cRU riders claim 28 titles to bring Yamaha top honors as the leading manufacturer at this year’s Thor Mini O’s at Gatorback Cycle Park / Dec 2, 2024 /
Yamaha’s bLU cRU riders reigned supreme at this year’s Thor Mini Olympics, earning 14 class championships in supercross and 14 in motocross at the Gatorback Cycle Park in Gainsville, Florida. Collecting an impressive combined total of 28 titles, Yamaha was the top manufacturer at the revered event held during the week of Thanksgiving.
Leading the charge for the bLU cRU was Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s new recruit - Caden Dudney. The young rider from Iowa dominated the competition, starting the week off with a sweep of both Supercross 250 Pro Sport and 250 A motos to earn both class championships. He went on to continue his top form, claiming the 250 Pro Sport Motocross Championship with another pair of wins and the 250 A Motocross Championship with a 2-1 score. Dudney’s four titles and seven moto victories also earned him the coveted honor of the Dunlop Silver Tire Award.
“It was pretty cool,” Dudney said about his week at the Gatorback Cycle Park. “I’m happy with my progress on the bike so far and my results in the 250 classes. Earning the Dunlop Silver Tire award was really awesome! I’ve always wanted to win that award and never thought I would, so that was definitely the highlight of my week.”
EBR/Altus Motorsports/Yamaha’s Landon Hartz also left Mini O’s with a collection of number-one plates. In Supercross, he led an all-Yamaha podium of the Schoolboy 2 (13-16) B/C Championship with a pair of wins aboard his YZ250F. Hartz also took home top honors in Supercross 250 B and 450 B Championships. He then finished the week with a pair of wins to secure the Schoolboy 2 (13-16) B/C Motocross Championship and claimed the 450 B Motocross Championship with a 1-2 result.
“Mini O’s is one of my favorite races of the year and to show out with five out of six titles is incredible,” Hartz said. “I couldn’t be happier. We have been working really hard for this, and it feels amazing to prove myself and show what I can do! Now it’s back to work and onto the A class!”
Privateer Ryan Sampson had a standout performance as well, earning five class championships. In the 250 C Jr. (12-17) category, he took home both supercross and motocross championships with a sweep of all four motos. His winning form continued aboard his YZ250F as he claimed the 250 C Motocross Championship (2-1) and the 250 C Limited Motocross Championship (1-1). Sampson also showed strength aboard his YZ450F, winning the 450 C Limited Supercross Championship with a 1-2 result.
“I came into the week ready,” Sampson said. “My plan was to work hard, and I was hoping to win as many championships as I could. The race conditions were perfect, and that helped me get the job done. I had a lot of fun while I was there.”
Altus Motorsports/bLUcRU/Yamaha’s Lachlan Turner added another pair of titles to the tally. She started off the week with victories in both motos to claim the Women’s 12+ Supercross Championship and went on to secure the Women 12+ Motocross Championship with a 2-1 finish. “Winning the Women’s 12+ in supercross and motocross was super sick,” Turner said. “I’ve never been on anything like that Supercross track, and I just had fun out there. It was super different, and I had to ride a little bit differently, but I made it work. Overall, I’m super happy with the outcome!”
Also leaving this year’s Mini O’s with a pair of number-one plates was Jesse Furtado. The EBR Performance Altus Motorsports Yamaha rider rode his YZ125 to a pair of wins en route to the 125 (12-17) B/C Motocross Championship and once again, swept both motos to claim the Schoolboy 1 (12-17) B/C Motocross Championship. “I felt great this week at Mini O’s,” Furtado said. “There was some tough competition out there and some hard-fought battles, but I managed to pull through and go undefeated in motocross. Thanks to the EBR Performance Altus Motorsports Yamaha team and their amazing bikes. The bike was flawless all week!”
NSA/Rock River/Yamaha Amateur Factory Team’s Avery Long enjoyed a successful week in Florida, taking both 450 Pro Sport Championships aboard his YZ450F with a win in both supercross motos and a 1-2 score in motocross. As did SwanMX/ Charlotte & Bob Racing/ Moose/ Monster/ Dunlop’s Kade Johnson, who claimed the 250 B Limited Motocross Championship in convincing fashion with a sweep of both motos aboard his YZ250F.
The young Ryder Shumate secured the 51cc (4-6) Shaft Dr. Supercross number-one plate, while Triangle Cycles/Yamaha’s Brayton Kreglow claimed the 85cc (12-13) Limited Supercross Championship. Alessandro Carminati won the 125 (12-17) B/C Supercross Championship aboard his EBR/Altus Motorsports/Yamaha YZ125, while Thomson Home Services/ 110 Racing’s Michael Thomson took home top honors in the 250 C Supercross Championship and MX 6 Racing/ Rock River/ MX Tire’s Gavin Betts in the Collegeboy (16-24) Supercross Championship. Rounding out Yamaha’s Mini O’s class champions are SVC/ Gold Country/ FMF/ Dunlop/ Yamaha’s Jaydin Smart with the 85cc (9-11) Motocross Championship and Dreamland/ Dozerdays/ Factory Connection’s Luke Renzland with the Junior 25+ Motocross Championship.
“It was an incredible week at the Gatorback Cycle Park for our bLU cRU riders,” said Donnie Luce, the Amateur MX/ ATV / Off-Road Coordinator for Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. “We’re very proud of our athletes and are looking forward to continuing to build on this in 2025. We’d also like to thank our Trackside Support Teams - Rock River Powersports and Altus Motorsports - for their tireless efforts this week and their assistance with all the bLU cRU riders at the event.”
Stay tuned for the 2025 Yamaha Off-Road Racing Contingency Program information to be announced in early January.
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company's ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars (sold, serviced, and distributed by Yamaha Golf-Car Company), Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, three corporate offices in Georgia, as well as facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama. YMUS subsidiaries YMMC, based in Georgia, and YJBM based in Tennessee, each assemble and manufacture selected Yamaha brand products. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company, Inc. (YMSC) with subsidiary Siren Marine and divisions Bennett Marine (Florida), Yamaha Marine Rotational Molders (Wisconsin) and Yamaha Precision Propeller Inc. (Indiana), and Skeeter Boats (Texas) with its division G3 Boats (Missouri).
Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation, U.S.A. (Yamaha Financial Services), an affiliate of Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., offers financing solutions to support Yamaha Dealers and loyal Yamaha Customers nationwide. Yamaha Financial Services provides retail and commercial financing for the diverse line of Yamaha brand motor products based out of Cypress, CA and Marietta, GA.