New Crit, Who Dis?

MAV Crit 2025 – Inaugural Edition Recap

This past weekend marked the inaugural MAV Crit in Norman, and let’s just say—it overdelivered on every front. From production quality to payouts, crowd energy to course design, this was a first-year event that felt like it had been on the calendar for a decade.

The streets were fast, the courses well thought-out, and the atmosphere electric. The community showed up in force—lining the barriers, cheering for breaks, and flooding the vendor area. With exceptional payouts, a top-tier racing vibe, and an invested audience, MAV Crit set a new standard for what a regional crit can look like.

Salty Dogs – Cat 3 Recap (Saturday)

Jonathan, Mark, and Brent lined up for the Cat 3 race on Saturday, and the Dogs came to race. The strategy was aggressive from the gun: attacking early, chasing moves, and even taking a crack at a $100 prime—though, in classic crit fashion, a misheard announcement cost the squad a precious match.

With 2 laps to go, one rider had a gap of 30 seconds. Heretic Racing formed a chase train, and Brent smartly slotted onto their wheels. When they flipped the script with a reverse leadout and sent Danny up the road, Brent burned a match to bridge across solo, a monster effort with the pack looming.

Once he made contact, Danny sat up to recover, and Brent, completely gassed, the bunch caught Brent. Aiden smartly attacked and would solo in for 2nd place. It became a field sprint for 3rd.

Jonathan showed off his finishing chops with a strong 11th place out of 55+ starters. Brent was proud of his effort and happy to animate the race. And Mark—well, let’s just say starting a running program four days before race weekend made for an... educational experience.

Sunday Racing – Results Delivered

Jonathan started the day with a bang, taking 2nd place in the Masters B race with a smart and patient ride.

Later, Jonathan, Brent, and Mark lined up again for the Cat 3/4. The race lit up early with four riders getting away, and despite Brent and Jonathan working hard to organize a chase on the front, the break held strong.

Still, the Dogs made noise: Brent won the field prime, with a big assist from Jonathan who helped set it up.

With 4 laps to go, a moment of teamwork opened a door—Jonathan controlled the group with 2 laps to go, then Mark made a move with 1 to go to control, a while Brent was being protected on Jonathan's wheel. On the final lap, an opportunity opened out of corner 4, giving Brent a clean launch. He jumped hard, created a sizable gap, and held it to the line by a bike length, finishing 4th overall and 1st in the field.

Big rides all around, and smart racing that showed what the Dogs are made of.

Off the Bike

While the crew battled it out on course, Dustin took on mechanic duties, stepping up in a big way to keep the event running smoothly and racers rolling after mishaps. A true behind-the-scenes hero.

Meanwhile, Brendon has been laser-focused on his new job, taking a brief step back from racing to recalibrate and gear up for later-season goals.

Final Thoughts

MAV Crit absolutely blew past expectations. For a first-year event, it was nothing short of impressive—and we’re already looking forward to next year. If this was year one, the sky’s the limit. Everyone involved did an amazing job. Kudos especially to Aaron Dyer and Chad Shanks over at Neighborhood Bicycle Shop.

The Salty Dogs came to race, support, and represent—and we’re leaving Norman fired up for the season ahead.

We’ll be back in action this coming weekend at Tulsa Tough, with riders lining up in both Cat 3 and Masters fields. If you’re out there, come say hi—and keep an eye out for those blue kits animating the front.

Until next time—keep it fast, keep it fun, and keep it Salty. 🐾