HURON — After a very successful inaugural event a month ago, MX at the DEX is set for Round 2, which is slated for Saturday on the South Dakota State Fairgrounds.

“I think the turnout of athletes is what we expected for our first event,” said event organizer Tom Glanzer of Huron. “The track, our crew and the logistics of race day couldn’t have gone any better and the crowd was packed into the place.

“We had people, who have been around motocross for over 40 years, tell us our event was amazing and as far as production and professionalism, it was only second to Monster Energy Pro Supercross events,” he said. “I took that as the highest compliment, because that is what we set out to do, get as close as we could to a top level professional show on Day 1 with way less money.”

More than 300 competitors in three different divisions were on hand for the inaugural event in January. Glanzer is expecting an equally impressive field of riders for the second in a 4-event schedule on Saturday.

“When we were telling people our vision for this event, I don’t think everyone understodd what we wanted to do, and if they did, they probably didn’t understand the scope of grandeur that we were going for or think the community of Huron could pull that off, but we did and we are on the map now as a dirt bike destination,” he said. “The athletes that come to Huron, consider the DEX their home track for the winter months, and they are all a big part of the family.”

Riders will be competing in pro, amateur and pee wee classes during the event. While the professional riders put on a heck of show, the pee wee classes and those in between are equally entertaining.

“Phil Holsing from Faulkton is one to watch. He just came off of a broken foor and technically isn’t even cleared to ride yet, but won all three classes he raced in during Round !. We think he is feeling OK!” Glanzer said. “Tucker Vincent, Jesse Frost and Phil Warkenthien are always fun to watch on the big bikes, but I think everyone is looking forward to the 50cc class. One of the best battles during the first round was a couple of boys and a girls on 50’s just chasing each other.

“The other one to watch is the women’s winner from Round 1 — 16-year-old Hailey Johnson — she is the Minnesota AMA motocross series champion from last year and its is so much fun to watch her in the women’s and the open classes,” he said.
Riders and fans will be greeted Saturday with a totally different track set than the one that was used for Round 1 of MX at the DEX.

“Indoor motcross tracks are less finicky than any outdoor race sturface. We decide how much water they get and when they get it, it only takes a few minutes to clean up any spot on the track that needs attention so yeah the track held up,” Glanzer said of the track for Round 1.

“For Round 2 we are going to start the same, but turn right instead of left and run the track almost backwards,” he said. “We will change up features and adjust as we need to, but that is the nice things about motocross you can get into a skid steer and change what you don’t like. So Round 2 will be a brand new track design that nobody has any laps on.”

Round 2 will include all the fan-friendly festivities that were included with the first event. Practice begins at 10:15 a.m., with qualifying races scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m.

The last-chance qualifiers will close the afternoon session.

Doors will open at 5 p.m., for FanFest, which is a prelude to the main events.

“Don’t come late and expect to just find a seat, the place will be packed again. Come to the FanFest check out the vendors, walk through the pit area and talk to the athletes and their families,” Glanzer said. “The pre-show on the track starts around 6 p.m., and in Round 2 we are doing a salute to the original motorcycle club in the Huron area, the Prairie Ramblers. Some of the members are going to come to the event and we will honor them and what they did for the Huron moto community.

“I can’t tell you how many people that you would never see at any other race event tell me they can’t wait for Round 2,” he said. “Motocross is different, it is so fast, and there is always action. You don’t shut down the race for someone spinning out or wrecking, you just keep on going, so I can see how people were absolutley entertained all night.”

Opening ceremonies are slated for 6 p.m., followed by the first of 26 main events beginning at 6:30 p.m.

“I think the fans that came for Round 1 found out it really is bigger than just the races,” Glanzer said. “The FanFest, the food, drinks and desserts were amazing, the light show to start off the event is unmatched by any venue in the region and add a little music and motocross racing and you have a very entertaining night for only $15.”

The admission is good throughout the day of the event.

“We know this is a top ticket event in our community and we plan on entertaining you,” Glanzer said. “Huron will probably never get sports/entertainment type events like Huron College athletics was or a semi-pro level hockey team like Aberdeen or Watertown have. We have our high school sports, we get the State Fair once a year for concerts, and now MX at the DEX is coming in big.”