ONE year riding hard out in the dust driven arena of competitive BMX bike racing has led to the selection of young Blake Ross in the national team.
Ross, 8, is one of four riders from his Papakura BMX Club that are on their way to the UCI BMX World Championships in Peitermaritzburg, South Africa, from July 29 to August 1.
Ross is a student at Cockle Bay School and lives in Whitford. Other Papakura BMX Club riders heading to the BMX world champs are Nicole Wright, 16, Zoey Fleming, 11, and Jayden Fleming, 10.
The New Zealand team is made up of 45 riders, aged from six to 65, and they will be some of the expected 2000 competitors at the Pietermaritzburg event.
“We’re very happy to have Blake Ross riding in our club and this year he raced in his first BMX national champs,” says Bryan Scott, president of Papakura BMX Club.
“His efforts were rewarded, as he now holds a New Zealand 7 ranking as an eight-year-old. This has made him eligible to race in the 2010 world champs.
“The club and its family wishes him all the best and encourage Blake to ride hard but play fair.
“BMX is once again a fast growing sport in New Zealand due to our top riders doing well overseas including Sarah Walker, a double world champion.”
Ross, who also plays junior rugby at the Pakuranga club, is thrilled to be riding for New Zealand, after qualifying by racing and placing well at five meets during the summer months at Whangarei, Christchurch, Papakura, Paeroa and Rotorua.
His dad, Mark Ross, says Blake still enjoys recreational BMX riding at Pigeon Mountain on a Friday evening, but wanted to race competitively and they decided to join Papakura.
“The starts are so important,” says Blake, talking about what he needs to do in South Africa.
He says in BMX racing, once riders are at the front of the field, the emphasis is on peddling as hard as you can and riding tight lines to keep ahead of the chasing pack.
Ross is grateful to MR Motorcycles for new Fly race gear, Bike Barn Botany and Crupi BMX frames.
For more information on the Papakura BMX Club, including club nights that start on Thursdays in August, phone president Bryan Scott on 021-230-5223, or visit www.papakurabmx.co.nz
