Race Report – National BMX Series – Telford

Last weekend USN Racing went back to their roots and dusted off the BMX bike. In preparation for the 2018 4X Mountain Bike National Championships which take place in Falmouth in just over a week’s time, part of Scott’s training for the last month has been on the smaller bike as we keep his legs spinning fast in the build up to the championships.

So, we decided to go and race rounds 7 and 8 of the 2018 HSBC BMX National Series at Telford. After 2 years off the BMX bike and only a day available to ride the smaller bike on a track in preparation for the race, to say Scott was rusty would be an understatement. He initially looked like he had never ridden a bicycle let alone a BMX! It was just a training weekend and he had to keep that in mind, but the racer in Scott obviously wanted to do well.

Practice went well and every lap he gained more confidence. In BMX you have 3 qualifying races. Amazingly Scott won all 3 on my way to the final. In the final he chose lane 1 on the inside. The gate dropped, and Scott took the lead. On the second straight he made a small mistake and 2 riders were right on his back wheel. In turn 2 he was passed and ran wide from the pass unfortunately slipping back to fourth. Scott was able to hold that position all the way to the finish. It was a mix of emotions. So near but yet so far.

Sunday rolled around and Scott had a second chance. Similar to Saturday’s race Scott won all 3 qualifying races. For the final he again chose lane 1. The gate dropped, and Scott found himself leading again. He rode a perfect second straight learning from the mistake on Saturday and held the lead through turn 2. In was on the third straight that he came unstuck! A small mistake lost a lot of momentum and in the third turn Scott was passed again in a similar way to Saturday. Unfortunately, he slipped back to fourth again.

It was a fun weekend and the team looking forward to the next rounds of BMX National Series at the end of August in Gosport near Portsmouth.

But for now, it is back to the mountain bikes as we look to defend the 4X National Championships in Falmouth on August 18th.

Full report from that race in the week afterwards.

Images: Sandra Smith/Abi Taylor