Until last Thursday, Jackson Tobias had been forced to travel to compete in his favorite sport.His parents have chauffeured him around on four wheels so he could show off his talent on two wheels.So when Tobias heard that the Warren County Fair would be bringing BMX bicycle racing to his hometown, he was especially thrilled.“I liked how they built the track at Warrenton,” said Tobias. “(The race) was fun.”He was one of 81 riders taking part last Thursday, many hailing from the St. Peters BMX club along with Tobias.To Tobias, who competed at Nationals in Tulsa last January and is currently ranked second in Missouri in his division, it’s a lifestyle.For others, the Fair offered a chance to ride their bikes somewhere other than around their town or farm. Thirteen new participants signed up, including Jacob Kelly of Warrenton.“It was really fun,” said Kelly. “Going around the corners was kind of sketchy because of all the loose dirt. Wiping out a couple times sucked.”Tobias, who is sponsored by the Doublecross national team, has aspirations of a Top 10 finish in state. The ultimate goal for a BMX rider would be qualifying for the Olympics, but for most that’s a longshot.Jake Sherbno is currently the only professional in the St. Peters BMX group.“When I was little I was always jumping curbs in front of my house,” said Sherbno. “Ever since I started riding I’ve been hooked.”Now Sherbno rides a $2,000 bike paid for by his sponsors and travels the country competing in national races every other weekend. He’s proven his merits in California, Canada and most recently, North Carolina.Sherno says being a pro is a full-time commitment that requires taking excellent care of the body and mastering technique.“You use your whole body when you’re out here,” said Sherbno. “You’ve got to make sure your legs, upper body and core are all in good shape.”The flashiest tricks and highest jumps may appeal to the crowd, but they aren’t the recipe for a successful race.“You can work on manualing, just trying to get the fastest line through every jump,” said Sherbno. “You don’t really want to go super-high. You want to stay low and fast and work on turns and passing.”Sherbno says BMX doesn’t discrimate in terms of age, with two-year-olds beginning on training wheels to anBut partaking in the thrill of BMX doesn’t have to break the bank or consume the schedule. All that’s necessary is a bike, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and helmet. It was that simplicity that allowed Kelly and other locals to enjoy the track for a day at this year’s fair.

The Warren County Fair will feature BMX racing for the second year in a row Wednesday night.

Derrick Forsythe photo.