2023 UCI BMX World Championships – Glasgow, Scotland
The biggest BMX race of the season is of course the UCI BMX World Championships. An annual event that attracts over 3,000 riders from all around the World and during the course of 1 race, determines who is the best rider in each age category.
As many of you will know, Scott has won the BMX World Championships twice before and has the covered rainbow jerseys hanging proudly in his house. The goal for this year was to add a third title. Very simple!
Our journey began early on Friday morning when we drove 5 hours north to arrive in Glasgow at lunchtime. With the first practice session at 17.00, we had plenty of time to get organised and ready to train.
Riders generally get 4 or 5 laps of the track on the first day. This year, team GB separated out some age groups to give us the maximum chance to get the most laps. Scott was lucky and he managed to position himself in the pens to get plenty of track time. The track was super technical and fast with huge jumps and berms. Scott loved it and he looked great on track. Things were looking good.
Saturday and it was the second practice session. The temperatures were high and the track speed moved up a notch. Lap times were 40 seconds and with so many jumps in that lap on this huge track, we were in for some interesting racing on Wednesday. Scott ended the session with some gates and full laps with all the jumps dialled. He was ready to race.
On Monday we had a training session to keep the legs turning. Scott was flying and we were all getting excited about the prospects on Wednesday.
Tuesday, and a complete day of rest. A boat trip on Loch Lomond, some great food and the stage was set.
Wednesday – Race day:
9am and it was final practice. 2 laps to get everything set and then game time. Scott looked great. Nice and smooth.
First moto. Scott made a great start and settled nicely into 2nd. It was a great start, but there was a long way to go until the final.
Second moto and his start was very good again. He battled hard and and again settled into 2nd. He looked really comfortable out there and we were excited.
Third moto and it was the same story. 2nd again! A good start followed by a nice lap. It was easily enough to qualify through to the eighth finals and things were looking good.
Onto the eighth final. Now it was straight knockout. Eight riders in a race and just four qualifying to the next round. Scott ended up with gate four. Ice nailed another great gate and he hit the first turn in third. He rode a good lap and crossed the line in fourth. Although that sounds like it was close, he had the race well under control and he saved some energy for the quarter final.
Quarter final. Gate 5. He was extremely confident and made his best gate of the day. 2nd into turn 1 and then the unthinkable. The leader rode Scott extremely wide. Nearly off the track. He got back onto the racing line in third but he had lost a lot of speed. He held third all the way to the final corner when the guy behind dived inside running Scott wide again. Then the rider in fifth dived back inside. Scott was in a drag race but unfortunately lost out. Fifth across the line and he was out. World number 18 for the year on BMX.
In the finish area, the frustration and anger was plain to see. Scott said: “The week has gone so well. I felt strong and my lap times were fast. Everything was set. Today, I have been in control all day. I just can’t believe that rider took me so wide in turn 1. That ruined my whole race. I am absolutely gutted.”
Racing is a roller coaster and whilst Scott wins a lot of races, it is always gutting when things go wrong. However. The great thing is, after bad days, we have the chance to turn it around a week later.
Our next event is The Malverns Classic. The Dual Slalom National Championships and the 4X National Championships. This is a huge weekend for us. We will be ready.
Thank you again for your support. Let’s go.
Speak soon.