Come autumn, BMX riders from across Illinois will be headed to Elgin for the 2025 BMX State Championship, which is being held for the first time at The Hill BMX track at the Elgin Sports Complex.

“This is quite an honor. We’re thrilled and super excited that we’ll be welcoming the top riders from across the state,” track operator JoAnne Mulvihill said of the event scheduled for Sept. 26-28.

The honor of hosting the competition each year goes to the top ranked BMX track across the state from the previous year. Last year, it was held at Rockford BMX, Mulvihill said.

This is the first time in the track’s 35-year history that The Hill, a nonprofit run by volunteers, has been selected to host, she said.

Mulivihill said the ranking list is made by USA BMX, a consortium of about 300 tracks across the U.S. and Canada. Tracks are evaluated using a point system that factors in such things as the number of races hosted and the volume of BMX riders participating in those events.

Points are also awarded for the number of new riders a track is able to bring to the sport and for riders competing in their first five races.

In addition to naming The Hill the top track in Illinois, USA BMX also ranked it fourth in the Central Region, which encompasses Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois, Oklahoma and Texas, and at ninth among all tracks in the U.S. and Canada.

“The success of The Hill’s program for beginners — the Elgin BMX League — played a significant role toward being ranked number one in the state for the first time ever,” Mulvihill said.

This spring’s beginners league, which ran in May and June, had 86 riders, she said. The program is designed for novices ages 4 to 15 and their parents, who can ride if they choose and serve as support crew members during races.

The five-week summer session began Wednesday, and is still accepting participants, Mulvihill said. Sessions are from 5:30 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday through July 30 and the cost is $189 per child, which includes a jersey, bike plate, use of loaner bikes and helmets, and a pizza party with awards at the end, she said.

“A fall free open house is Aug. 20. League sessions start Aug. 27 and run through Sept. 24,” Mulvihill said.

The following weekend’s state championship, which spectators can watch for free, will feature races for various age groups.

About 500 BMX riders are expected to participate, and could generate more than $150,000 in revenue for Elgin-area businesses, according to Explore Elgin Area sales manager Ryan Cortez.

“The championship is expected to bring thousands of visitors to the area and provide a significant economic boost to local hotels, restaurants and businesses,” Cortez said.

Explore Elgin Area is helping with the marketing and promotion of the championship and organizing hotel room blocks for those attending. The nonprofit tourism agency has helped promote other events hosted by the track over the years, Mulvihill said.

“They’ve been amazing with their support,” she said.

Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.