TAMWORTH BMX Club will be flying out of the gates at next week’s national titles in Brisbane.
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The club will have its biggest representation in years competing at the Sleeman Sports Complex, with nine riders making their way north.
Jack Davis will contest the 11 boys and 12 & U cruisers, Brooklyn Williams the 11 girls, Dan Morris the 15s boys and 15/16 cruisers, Lincoln Williams the 14 boys, Corey Whitbread the 17-24 years, Bo deBelle the 25-29yrs challengers, Oscar deBelle the six boys’ sprockets, Thomas deBelle the five boys’ sprockets and Mark Stones the 40-44 cruisers.
Davis and Williams will also race for the NSW Dynamites against the top three from all the other states on the Thursday.
Tamworth BMX Club president Paul Davis said it was the most riders they had had in a nationals since he’s been involved with the club – about five or six years.
“Generally we’ve sent two or three people,” he said.
It’ll also be the biggest nationals he’s been involved in.
“There’s close to 3000 entries,” Davis said.
He felt there were a few reasons for that.
Since the Olympics there has been a spike in interest in the sport. The World Championships this year will also be held relatively close to home – in New Zealand.
Qualifying for the Australian team for those will be an added goal to winning the national title.
“To do that you’ve got to make the semi-finals,” Davis said.
“That’s top 16.”
Williams and (Jack) Davis will also be riding for spots on the Mighty 11’s team to compete in the Test series in New Zealand in October.
Most of the contingent headed up to Brisbane during the first week of the holidays to have a training run and will have another few practice days before the competition proper starts on Friday.
There are a few things to get used to.
The track for one. The start ramp itself is 5m higher than at Tamworth, and the first straight is about 30m longer than Tamworth.
“There’s a couple of sections you’re going to have to jump to win,” Davis said.
It will also be a different sort of racing, he said.
“It’s what they call block racing,” he said. “They race in a three-hour period as opposed to a whole day.”
“It’s a lot more intense and changes how you do things.”
He said all the riders had been training hard and, after performing well at the state championships, would be looking to do well against the best in the country.
