Ligonier’s Sahara Robinson wins Seven Springs Peewee Bike Race

Sahara Robinson made history over Memorial Day weekend, becoming the first girl to win the Peewee Bike Race in the American Woods Racing Championship Series at Seven Springs in the Red Bull Mountain Scramble.

A rising fifth-grader in the Ligonier Valley School District, Robinson, 11, races dirt bikes in the 65cc mini-A-class. In her victory, she competed against riders from Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia in a regional race.

The Seven Springs race is her favorite, and she said it felt amazing to be the first girl to win the race. Robinson led the entire race and said getting an early lead took the pressure off.

“At the end, I only had to pass a few more lappers to get to the finish,” Robinson said.

Robinson, who has rider number 777, finished the first lap in 5 minutes, 8 seconds, the second lap at 12:05, the third lap at 18:32, the fourth lap at 25:19, and the fifth and final lap at 31:57. She finished 31 seconds ahead of the second-place biker, Brooks Buly (32:28).

Her mother Tami Robinson said everyone was rooting for her during the final lap.

“I was pretty excited for her,” Robinson said. “Everyone there was pretty excited for her. They were all yelling and screaming for her.”

Before every race, she makes sure she stretches and exercises. Robinson said staying loose and running before each race helps her. She also attributes her success to practicing and enjoys riding dirt bikes in the woods near her house.

Sahara’s father, Eric Robinson, also raced in dirt bikes, inspiring Sahara to do so.

Her mother said she and her father ride dirt bikes together often, which has helped her prepare for races.

She also said Sahara had a passion for dirt biking from a young age.

“She’s been riding ever since she was a baby,” Tami Robinson said. “Since she can walk, she was on a bike, so it’s pretty much all she ever did.”

In 2018, she competed in her first race at Coal Hollow in Wellsville, Ohio. She finished in first place in her class.

It was just the beginning for her. Robinson travels all over the east coast competing in races. Her mother said it is a joy to be able to take her on trips to race.

“She races in all different places like Pennsylvania and West Virginia,” Tami Robinson said. “She does some of the nationals. She goes down to Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.”

Sahara has her eyes set on the next test.

“My goal is to win the Peewee championship this year,” she said.