Pompton Lakes Boy, 6, Racking Up BMX Racing Titles

POMPTON LAKES, NJ – At six-years-old, many kids are just learning how to ride a bike, but a Pompton Lakes boy is miles ahead of them and racking up the titles at BMX competitions

Isaiah Salerno began racing when he was four years old, getting his start at the 2017 novice race at a BMX competition in New Paltz, NY, his dad, Daniel said.

“He was always really into racing, from the time he could stand and walk. He started riding a bike very young, just after his third birthday, and was always wanting to race with it: against us, against older kids, against anyone. It seemed like BMX would be a natural outlet for that impulse,” Daniel said.

Isaiah, who will be starting first grade at Lenox School in September, has competed in hundreds of local, regional and national races over the last two-and-a-half seasons, according to his father.

“He averages 40 to 50 races a year and has over 20 career victories,” Daniel said.“For most of the local races, there aren't any six-year-old intermediate class riders for him to race against, so he has to race older kids. Those races he usually is near the back of the pack. But when he gets to race his own age and class he is usually in the top three.”

This past weekend, he came in first at the Triple Point New York State Qualifier in Schenectady on Saturday.The night before, Isaiah placed second in the charity Race for Life, also in Schenectady at Tri-City. He then wrapped up the weekend with another first place win, down in Howell at Central Jersey BMX, Daniel said.

Daniel said he and his wife, Carey, often received surprised reactions from people when they learned that kids as young as four years old compete in the sport.

“Now that he's 6, people are interested, of course, but it's just another youth sport. I think most people are surprised BMX still exists!” he said.

Luckily, the couple’s only child has never been seriously injured, but Daniel said there’s been “some nasty looking crashes.”

“He wears a full EVS protective body armor suit on his torso and a motocross rated full face helmet at all times. Injuries can and do happen, though, like in any sport,” he said.

Daniel said his son idolizes the older kids on his team, the Racer Army Eastern Brigade, and hopes to achieve what many of his teammates have.

“John Del Vecchio and Joseph Bufardeci of West Milford are 11-year-old expert class riders, which means they have over 30 career victories. To Isaiah, they are superstars. They are like his big brothers and his coaches all rolled into one. He hopes to be as accomplished as them one day,” he said. “Then, there's Johnny's sister Lindsay Del Vecchio, 9, who just moved up to intermediate by winning a National in Pittsburgh. Then there's the deadly duo of Travis, 8, and Ryan Keller, 10, of Morristown, two of his best friends in all of BMX. They are both defending state champions for their age and class, which is exactly what Isaiah hopes to be this year.”