TOP class national BMX racing comes to the area this weekend when Mansfield Wheels BMX Club hosts two rounds of the British Cycling BMX National Race Series.
Hundreds of competitors and their families and fans will converge on Market Warsop where the Mansfield track is based.
There are 12 rounds in this year’s National Series and it is rounds four and five that are being held at Mansfield.
Round fou
r will take place on Saturday and round five will take place on Sunday.
All riders start off by racing three motos each. A moto has up to eight riders racing around the track at the same time.
The top scoring riders move on to quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals. Schedules:
Saturday
Registration: 9am-noon.
Open Practice: 9-9:45am - Male 6-14, Female 6-15, Cruiser 12 to 13-15. 9.45 until 10.30 Male 15 and older, Cr 16 and older, Jnr and 25+ female.
Gate Practice: 10.30-11am: Group 1 (Cruisers). 11-11.30am: Group 2 (Female 6-15, Male 6-10). 11.30-noon: Group 3 (Male 11-16). Noon-12.30pm: Group 4 (Junior Male/Female and older)
Opening Ceremony: 1pm. Motos: 1:05. Quarter-Finals: 4:15. Semi-Finals: 4:45. Finals: 5:15.
Sunday
Practice all classes 16 and under 8:30-9:15am. Practice all classes 17+: 9:15-9:45am.
Opening Ceremony: 10am. Motos: 10:05. Lunch: 1:30. Quarter-Finals: 2:15. Semi-Finals: 2:45. Finals: 3:30.
Outside of the specified practice and race times indicated above, the host club has the right to close, or limit access to, the track. Also, since no first aid or track marshals will be available outside of the official times above, the rider/parent/team manager takes full responsibility for any incidents that may occur.
l On Friday evening the club will be holding official track and gate practice from 6.30-9 pm, at a cost of £2.50 per rider.
The club has worked very hard to secure funding to offer additional activities throughout the week leading up to and over the national BMX weekend.
In partnership with British Cycling, they will be working with a number of primary and secondary schools this week, leading up to the event.
l On Saturday the club have organised the first ever Novice Team Racing Championships which starts at noon. Sixteen teams are involved in this special knockout event, whereby the winning team will receive over one thousand pounds worth of awards and prizes.
Also on Saturday they have a wheels BMX street festival happening between 2pm and 7pm in the skate park arena.
There will be some of the best wheels enthusiasts competing in a variety of exciting competitions. If you fancy yourself as a bit of a street specialist, you are more than welcome to come along and take part.
l The excitement and popularity of BMX racing have caught the attention of the International Olympic Committee and BMX is now an Olympic sport.
Britain have two Olympic challengers this year, namely Kelvin Batey and Shanaze Reade.
The full article contains 526 words and appears in Ashfield Chad newspaper.
