Tamworth City BMX Club has it's biggest, and arguably strongest, contingent of riders for a long time racing for BMX Australia National Championships glory in Shepparton this week.
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Dan Morris, Jack Davis, Zac Whalan, Mark Stones, and Wallis siblings Brooke, Ethan and Lachlan will take on the country's best for the coveted No.1 plate.
Good results at the most recent round of the State Series at San Remo has given the Tamworth contingent a timely confidence boost.
Morris won both his 20-inch and cruiser classes and Whalan was first in his 12-years 20-inch while Brooke made her first final of the series, and Davis was second in the superclass men in his first race back since breaking his collarbone in a race fall in the US in March.
Racing against the clock to be fit for the nationals Davis, who won the the 16-years boys national title last year, said the shoulder has "healed up nicely" and feels like he is back to the level he was before the injury.
Physically anyway. The mental scars can take a bit longer to heal and are the toughest thing about coming back from a fall like he had.
"You lose a lot of confidence, especially after a serious injury like a bone break," Davis said.
"But you can't let that affect you, you've got to trust the process."
He described reclaiming his national No.1 plate last year as a "weight off my shoulders" but will face a much tougher ask this year after stepping up to the junior elite category.
Five of the riders competed in the Welcome to Victoria BMX meet on the weekend, and had some strong performances. Brooke Wallis was seventh in the under-13 girls, and Davis fourth in the men's junior elite while Whalan won the under-12 boys.
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On the back of his performance at San Remo it has Whalan well-placed for a shot at another national plate. Last year he finished fourth in the 11-years boys to pick up his first Australian plate.
"I'm feeling kind of nervous but good at the same time," he said.
"What I got last year has given me the confidence for what I can do this year."
After a bit of a slow start as he adjusted to the change from clip to flat pedals, he has got stronger as the season has gone on.
He has placed in all of the state series rounds and currently leads the 20-inch division.
For Morris his excitement is two-fold. As president of the club he's thrilled to see so many riders competing. It's the most they've had that for at least 13 or 14 years.
Personally he said it is probably the best he has felt going into the nationals for the last three or four years.
"I've been riding the most I have and been consistent too," he said.
The start can be where a race can be won and lost, and Morris has been trying some new things with his starts to try and squeeze out any advantage that he can.
"The difference between a good start and a bad start can be 500th of a second," he said.
Stones is a nationals veteran. This year will be the 19th he has attended.
The man affectionately known as 'Stoney' will contest the 45-47-years cruiser class.
"Last year I came home with a No.8 plate which was fabulous for me," he said.
"I'm going there to hopefully come home with the same or maybe go one better."
He has battled a bit of a foot injury this year and hasn't been able to compete at his full capacity, but is fit and ready to go.
Brooke Wallis will meanwhile race in the under-13 girls, Ethan the under-11s and Lachie the under-9s.
The Tamworth contingent will be among 1547 riders from 99 Australian clubs racing over the four days.
Racing begins on Wednesday with the inaugural Pro Spectacular, which Davis will ride in.
The cruiser and challenge age group classes will then be held on Thursday and Friday, with the elite classes wrapping up the championships on Saturday.
