Race Reports
Cherie Simpson Race Report - Queensland State Titles
Well it is this time of year again, state title time! This year, the Queensland state titles were held in Bundaberg, four hours north of Brisbane.
I arrived Wednesday afternoon, stopping in to look at the track on my way through to my accommodation. The Bundaberg BMX Club had put a lot on effort into the preparation of the track and the facilities, which made it a top quality venue. The track looked fast, smooth and had a very flat gate. I was looking forward to getting on the track and going for a ride, but I would have to patiently wait until Friday, for the official practice.
Thursday was a day off, with nothing happening at the track; we headed out to the Bundaberg Rum Distillery. We went on a tour around the factory and shown the processes of making Rum and the history behind the product. Leaving with a few souvenirs, our fun relaxing day off was over and it was time to put our attention to what we came here for...to RACE!
My official practice was Friday morning at 9:30am; and with only 30 minutes of track time, there was no time for taking it easy! The track was pretty basic, not many big jumps and with tight corners, it was a quick track to learn. The flat gate didn’t bother me, it was just another challenge. The only thing to get used to was the wind! But everyone had to ride in it, so there was no point complaining about it.
Saturday I went down the track to watch the challenge class’s race. They put on a great show, with some good racing moves and close finishes. This made me more eager to race! Sunday couldn’t come quick enough.
Finally it was Sunday! Let’s get racing! At 8:15am was our Elite warm up for 15 minutes, with racing starting at 9am sharp. Three motos and finals, let’s go! First moto, I must admit, was nervous. I came in 4th. I wasn’t too impressed with my result, but it was ok, I was still in for qualifying. Moto 2 was a bit better, coming in 3rd, it was an improvement on the last race, I was starting to get into my rhythm. Final moto I was neck and neck into the first corner, but being on the outside, put me up the top of the corner, leaving me coming in 5th place. This left with last pick in the final. Oh well, at least this will make my lane choice easier, ha! After a big break, watching the quarter finals and semi finals, it was FINAL TIME!!!!!!! I was in lane four, not a bad lane. Gate drops and it on! Coming down the first straight, I was in the top 2, into that first corner again. Lucky me ....I was on the outside... again... coming round the turn, I had one rider come underneath me pushing me up high, letting another rider under as well, this put me back to 4th place. Trying to make up the places, the finish line came too quickly and I finished 4th. I was very disappointed with my result. I didn’t train to come 4th!!! Oh well, this is the down side of BMX racing. Time for some new race tactics I think!
Over all, I had a fun trip. Corey once again had an awesome set up for us team members, with warm up bikes and bike stands; DK was the best set up of the weekend. I would like to put a big thanks to everyone that supported me and especially Corey Stafford, the DK team and our sponsors Bioflex supplements, LKI, Goodlife Health Clubs and Skull Candy. Thanks for your support guys!!
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Anthony Dean Blog from UCI Supercross London....
After a long awaited week and the big build up, the Olympic test event has finally arrived. Riders had the chance to walk the track and all I can say is its massive, from corner jumps to hips to a box jump. The track is by far the most intimidating yet. Group A practice were up first with all the top dogs set to test out the fresh built Olympic track, I was looking forward to putting my new DK professional to the test.
Practice went well for all, not to many crashes and in all the track flows quite well. For myself I felt great out there a little nervous at the start but as practice went on I felt more and more confident and comfortable on the new bike. Love it. Tomorrow is another 40 min practice session and then the Time Trials begin. Be sure to check back tomorrow and I will have an update to let you all now how it went.
Thanks for reading,
Anthony
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Beenleigh Shoot Out Series
DK’s Double WIN
Sunday the 13thof March, was the final round of the shootout series. It all came down to this last race. The day was filled with mixed weather, one minute it was raining, the next it was sunny and really humid. Coming into this race I had to perform well to maintain my lead in the series and to win overall.
Beenleigh track was in perfect condition. With the corners were hard and fast and the jumps smooth, the track was made for speed. This was why Beenleigh track has been a long time favourite of mine. Racing began at 10:30am, with my race results being 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1stand 1st. Finishing the last race for the day; I was very pleased with my results, as I knew I had won series. It was a brilliant weekend for DK with Alex Ulyate winning the Pro Men category as well as myself taking out the Pro Women’s category.
The DK Team is now in preparation for the Australian National Titles held in Cairns April 27th– May 1st.
Big thanks to DK Bicycles Australia and its major sponsors Loosekid Industries and Goodlife Health Clubs.
Shootout Round 6 Beenleigh
Cherie Simpson Race Report
Caboolture Shootout Round 5
The 26th of February was the 5th round of the Shootout Series. Heading north of Brisbane to the Caboolture BMX track, it was going to be interesting to see how the club had recovered after the January floods. Arriving at the track, The only signs that it had flooded were the markings on the buildings where the water level reached.
The track was in very good shape, smooth, fast and flowy. Last week Browns Plains ran thorugh racing quickly, but Caboolture stepped it up and ran the racing even faster. A few riders missed there races as it was run through so quick, luckily I wasn't one of them. My race results from my motos were 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st. This puts me in first place overall by 8 points. The final round of the Shootout Series will be held at Beenliegh on the 13th of March.
Track Attack 2011 VICTORIA (Race Report from Matt Dunsworth)
After racing in nerang, gold coast i was straight back down to Melbourne to get ready for a weeks worth of racing. There is 6 race meetings running throught from saturday and sunday, tuesday night, thursday night, and saturday and sunday.
DAY 1- eastfield bmx track. turned out that there was only 7 AA pros entered, so wasnt looking forward to the day racing being all on points! but at the last minuite 2 more people entered so it was back to a final. Went ok throught the motoes and quallyfied 2nd for the final behind Tom Siinmaa. Tom picked lane one and i picked lane 2. Oli hoarau was also going fast on the day so he was one to watch out for as well as Tom. Gate dropped and i poped out infront, and lead into the first turn with tom in 2nd. Came out of the first turn with about a 2 bike length lead and ended up winning by 3-4 bikes, Tom 2nd and Oli 3rd. Over all a pretty good day of racing and the track held together well.
DAY 2- south eastern bmx track. I was kinda looking forward to this track because i hadnt ridin there since track attack last year. Did about 2 laps and realized actually how tight the corners actually were. This track was all about the first straight, the chances of passing after the first turn in a main was not real good. Cruised through the motoes and got into the final. turned out it was Oli out of lane 1, Me in lane 2 and tom in lane 4. We all knew it was all about getting to the first turn. Gate dropped and all 3 of us all pop out pretty evenand to the from of the field. As the first turn comes up, i had about half a wheel on tom and oli. I came out of the first turn with the lead followed by Oli on my wheel. Tom got held wide and had fallen back to 5th ish. Race ended with me 1st, Oli 2nd and Tom 8th.
DAY 3 (night meet)- knox bmx track. After the weekend of racing, pulled up a bit stiff and sore. So on the monday i went to GOODLIFE health club to spin the legs on the stationary bikes. Then after 2 days rest from riding the first night meet was up. They had just put a knew gate in so i was keen to try it out at a big race meeting. Got there nice and early and did a good warm up before practice so i could get straight out there and do some strong gates and get used to it before racing. After practice i was feeling good with the gate and the track was in good condition. I had my bike running smooth and it was feeling really good, so all i had to do know was worrie about making the final but still feeling fresh. made the final and was coming out of lane 2. Oli had lane 1 and Tom lane 3. Ash Macutchon was getting some pull on down the first straight and i knew he was gonna be comming out strong from the outside. Gate drops, Oli unclips and goes to last, I hit tom out of the gate and fall back a bit. Tom, Ash and Bodi all pop infront. I get my self back up there in equal 2nd with bodi going into the first turn. After a bit of bumping in the first turn i come out in 2nd and bodi in 3. By this stage Tom has cleaned out and in front by 4-5 bikes. Oli and 'THE CABAGE' come together on the exit of the first turn and oli goes down. Coming into the last turn i was only 1.5 bikes behind Tom and decided to go for the rail and drag down the last straight because he was huggin the inside of the turn. I pulled up within half of a wheel of him then bonked a couple of rollers and that was the end of it, Tom for the win and me for 2nd. Oli 8th and ash 3rd.
DAY 4 (night meet)- frankston bmx track. Within victoria this is the track for the AAs. fast gate, big first turn, nice flowy rythm, and an awsome 'make or break' Pro section. turned up, had a look at the track, and it was looking good. I went and made sure my bikewas running smooth and feeling good, and it was, so once again i only had one thing to worrie aout and that was making the main. Made the final and feeling good. Oli lane 1, Tom lane 2 and Me lane 3. Gate dropped and me and tom had the pop and dragged to the first jump with oli only cms off piont. after the first jump i hit the lead just enought to qsueez around Tom into the first turn. I got through the rythm pretty good and i knew all i had do do was have a clean pro section and i was pretty safe. I got the first 2 perfect and didnt quiet get a clean manuel on the third causing me to loose speed for the last and having to have to boost the last, and just as im about to land, Tom sneaks up the inside and makes a clean pass. Tom for the win, Me 2nd and then rest was pretty mixed.
DAY 5- lilydale bmx track. Along with south eastern,i hadnt been there for ages and was pretty keen to ride the steep hill and fast gate. Track wasnt in the best condition and the corners were terrible. but thats bmx! Racing started and in the first race i wheel spun on the gate, smashed my knee on the stem and ended up getting a 4th in that race. Not a great start to the day. Next race i did the same thing, and was sitting in 4th comming into the last turn, did some bumpin and rubing with turbo turner and came unclippedand ended up 5th. Next race lead the whole way and then got scabbed on the line by 'THE CABAGE' and got a 2nd. I didnt think the day could get any worse with quilyfieing last for the main. During the break im sitting there having a bit to eat and drink, then i get called up to be in a run off. 2 to make the main and 1 to miss out. I won the run off and had last pick for the final. Gate drops in the final, i get an awsome gate and pop out next to Tom and oli. Going into the first turn Oli gets the lead, followed by me then Tom. race finishes like that.
DAY 6- park orchards bmx track. Big new hill, and new gate this was gonna be a good day of racing. Track was running pretty good. After a week of racing i was glad this was the last race of the series. we were all pretty tired and warn out. racing starded and everyone was riding pretty good. motoes were over and i was in the main. Oli lane 3, Tom lane 1, bodi lane 2 and me lane 4. Gate drops myself, tom and oli pop out in front all pullin pretty even, and into the first turn oli went under tom and i went under oli. Down the 2nd straight oli in front and me chasing oli and tom chasing me. Came into the pro section and make a bit of ground up on oli out of the turn but i 50-50ed the first pro because i jumped it way too low. Still got through the straight but tom and ash are right on me. I got swamped into the last turn and me and ash come together and my front wheel went over the turn and i crashed and ended up 8th. Tom high lowed and and ash bangin bars and pulled a 2nd, ash 3rd. Throughout the day some officials had came up to me and a few of the AA pros and had asked if for the presentation we were able to hand all the awards out the kids and other riders. Did that wich was pretty cool, then it was time for the AA pro to be called out. We knew it was out of Tom, Oli or me to win. Nothing was certain though because we had had 2 wins each throughout the series. It all got anounced and I WON the series, Tom Siinmaa 2ND and Oli hoarau 3RD.
Overall it was a good week of racing. I didnt have any major crashes, my bike was running awsome the whole week, and the weather was pretty good for a week of bmx.
The next couple of main races ill be hittin is SA state tittles and ACT tittles/pro bikes. So for me now it just back to GOODLIFE health club for some weight training and back onto the spronts toget ready for SA tittles on the 20th of feb!
Matt