By Steve Bigham

Eight Newtown residents recently competed at the BMX National Bicycle League (NBL) Grand National Championships in Louisville, Kentucky. Two of them – Ciara Simek and Troy Simek – rode their way to national titles in their respective age groups.

Ciara, 12, and Troy, 14, are believed to be the first brother-sister combination in the history of the sport to each earn national championship honors in the same year. The two athletes, the son and daughter of Joe and Debbie Simek of Pond Brook Road, are both “factory-sponsored” riders and have been competing since they were tikes.

“They are both so talented. It must be in the genes,” noted Marc Cartisano, 42, who also competed at September 1-2 national championships, finishing 20th.

The Simek duo will likely compete in the World Championships next July. The event, also to be held in Louisville at an indoor arena, is scheduled to be televised on ESPN2.

At Nationals, riders from all over the country converge on one track to compete for top honors. The races consist of 55-60 second sprints over obstacles, tabletop jumps and loop-de-loops.

“It’s similar to Motocross,” said Cartisano, who manages the Bicycle Goodie Shop on Route 6 in Bethel. “You have to do well in three heat races in order to qualify for the main event. Then, they take your best five races throughout the season and add in your score from the main heat for a final score.”

Cartisano has been racing for eight years and has traveled to the nationals five times, always managing to rank among the top 20 in his age group.

“I plan to continue on as long as the body holds up. You have people racing from ages 3 to 60,” he said.

Most of the Newtown riders train at the Bethel Supercross Track at Mitchell Park in Stony Hill. And that track will be the place to be this weekend as riders compete in the Yankee National event.

According to Cartisano, BMX riding is on an upward movement. The ESPN-televised X-games have helped increase visibility in the sport.