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Napolitan looks to rebound this week
The Fitch grad could use a boost in the BMX Dirt standings as the Dew Tour’s second stop opens starting today.
AUSTINTOWN — Which Anthony Napolitan will show up at the Cleveland Right Guard Open this weekend?
It’s not a question of identity that needs answered, but of performance, as the 2004 Austintown Fitch graduate competes in the ASA Dew Tour at North Coast Harbor starting today.
The 22-year-old action sports athlete who didn’t reach the finals of the Tour’s first stop in Baltimore last month is counting on a better finish this week.
“I think I’ve got myself pretty well prepared for Cleveland,” Napolitan said of his expectations following 18th-place finishes in both BMX Dirt and BMX Park events in Baltimore — the first of five Dew Tour stops this summer.
Technically, Napolitan finished 15th in the prelims, but didn’t advance to the finals because three other riders bumped him down three spots.
“I was heckled by the wind in my first run and kind of got bollixed up,” he said of his first dirt run. “One of the jumps caught me off guard and I messed up.”
The second run was similar.
“It was a combination of my first run; I got messed up by the wind and blew it.”
Napolitan is hoping to resuscitate the form that enabled him to capture the 2006 Dew Tour’s BMX Dirt championship.
Has he lost his edge?
“No, not at all,” Anthony says.
Have other competitors expanded their repertoire and left Napolitan behind?
“No, not at all.”
But he does admit that the competition is tougher.
“I was checking out the finals from the sidelines in Baltimore. From what I saw it looked like a pretty competitive event.”
He was prepared to unveil a package of tricks in Baltimore, but couldn’t find the flow.
“I was planning to change up my runs a lot more this year, but wasn’t able to [in Baltimore]. Hopefully, in this second stop, I’m going to get switched up and throw some new flavor into the runs as long as the course and weather allow me to.”
Last July in Cleveland, Napolitan finished fifth in dirt. He’s eager to engage again.
“I’m pretty psyched about that,” said Anthony, whose dirt prelims are today.
He is also pre-qualified in the park event.
Napolitan’s younger brother, Ronnie, will be competing in the park event in Cleveland, but the 17-year-old must advance through an open qualifier.
Another area participant will be Cortland’s Craig Mast, who finished 11th in BMX Park in Baltimore. On the sidelines is Youngstown native Zach Yankush, who provides coverage via ESPN radio and Fuel TV.
Anthony hasn’t lost his fan appeal and continues to make appearances and shoot video for one of his sponsors, Levi’s.
Recently, one of those business trips was in Portland, site of the Dew Tour’s next stop in August.
He also has a new sponsor: Amp Energy drinks.
“I haven’t had much time to hang out because I’ve been real busy traveling and riding,” he said.
Some of that traveling included Estonia, where he competed.
Although a Dew Tour championship is the ultimate prize, Anthony earned a bronze medal in Big Air last August during the X-Games in L.A.
“That was my first time ever in Big Air,” he said proudly.
Prior to the Right Guard Open, the BMX Dirt’s top six are defending champion Ryan Nyquist, James Foster, Cameron White, Diogo Canina, Corey Bohan and Luke Parslow.
With a mistake-free start to create confidence, the real Anthony Napolitan could show up today, reach Friday’s finals and build on his performance in Baltimore.
bassetti@vindy.com