South BMX Region, 2023 Series, Round 1 - Cyclopark

Summer racing was back this weekend, but summer hadn’t got the memo. 34 riders, with a few riding two bikes, made their way to Cyclopark down in Gravesend for the opener of the 2023 South Region BMX Series.

Great to see so many people under the Hawks gazebo for the season opener!

Before we get to how everyone did - let’s take a moment to note that the next round of the South Series will be at our home track, Hayes Hawks, on the 16th of April. Our round is special, as it will be the first Novice round of this year. If you’ve never raced, it’s the ideal opportunity for you to get out there and show everyone how it’s done on your home track. If you’ve raced before and you’re perhaps taking a slight break, maybe now’s the time to dust off those dancing shoes.

Overall, it was a good day - fantastic to see so many people out, and lots of people wearing Hawks jerseys (there’s an order open at the moment if you’d like a race jersey for this season). There were some younger riders out too, and I got to have some conversations with some of them in the pens during practice - Ethan in particular provided me with some great conversations. You can see some lovely friendships between the younger riders - it’s really fantastic to see. Hopefully they get to stick at the sport, and those friendships grow as they all go to more and more races in various parts of the country.

🥇 It was Iris and Zoltan who shone brightest on the day, each going the whole day without dropping a lap. Iris tested herself in the final though, it has to be said, but her skill and clinical manuals helped her deliver when it mattered most. Well done to both of you.

🥇 Cody, who also came home 1st in his Final, would have joined Iris and Zoltan with a clean sweep too, were it not for the 2nd place he took in his second Moto. Cody showed strength throughout the day though, often finishing more than a second ahead of his competition - he was half a second ahead in his final. Looks like it will be a good season ahead for him.

🥉 Shaun and Conor both made it onto the third step of the podium. Shaun put in some impressive laps in the Male 19 - 29 class, with a 3rd and two 2nds in his Motos. It’s always enjoyable watching Shaun on a bike - another that based on yesterday’s results alone, looks strong and set for the season. I’ll confess to not seeing any of Conor’s laps - sorry Conor!

Anita, Tate, Nate, Benjamin, Malachi and Neil all made the A Final too. Anita grabbed 5th in the Female 17+ category and 4th in the Cruiser Female 30+ category. When I spoke to her afterwards, it sounded like she’d had an enjoyable day, battling in with some stuff competition, and that she was going to be spending some extra time at Cyclopark between now and the National which is in a couple of week’s time.

Tate had looked incredible all day, with a brace of 1st places in each of his Moto, and a 2nd in his Semi Final, couldn’t quite pull it together in the Final, but still managed to grab 5th place.

Nate, who’d also looked incredibly strong throughout the day - a sign that all that extra work he’s been putting in is paying off, also made a 5th place in his Final.

Benjamin who’s Semi Final was a re-run of his first Moto, with a slow gate leading to him getting boxed in, joined Tate in the Male 13 A Final, and came from 8th out the gate to a 6th across the finish line.

Malachi had also looked strong all day, with a 1st, a 3rd, and a 2nd in his Motos, and a 2nd in his Semi Final, couldn’t quite pull it out the bag in his Final and was beaten by some strong competition. Malachi came home in 6th.

Not to be outdone by the youngsters, Neil Stewart, racing in the merged 50+ category, grabbed an 8th place finish.

Johnny Half A Job (JHAJ) was joined by Charlie who was out on his cruiser and his 20”. The Cruiser 15-16 category was 8 in total, and so went to a 4th Moto finish. Some good lap tines from JHAJ, who managed a 2nd place in his second Moto. Charlie, got a well earned 3rd in his third Moto, and what he describes as a literally satisfactory (your guess is as good as mine) whip over the tabletop on last, to finish 5th.

Georgia, racing for her first time as a Hawks rider, was joined by Cameron, also racing for the first time in the South Region as a Hawks rider, each made it on the top step for 1st place in their respective B Finals. Joel, who’s no stranger to racing in a Hawks jersey, and was someone who I thought might have made an A Final, also joined Georgia and Cameron as a 1st place finisher in a B Final.

Those three were joined on a B Final podium by Penny, Michael, and Kyran - first on his cruiser and then on his 20”.

Also making a B Final were Finn, Zahir, Chay, Flynn, Harvey and Aidan.

There were 10 riders who, owing to the stiff competition that the South Region enjoys, all missed on out on a final - those riders were Oscar, Oliver, Maisie, Haydn, Ethan, Charlie (on his 20”), James, William, Richard, and Austin. Despite this though, I saw most of these, after this, and they were all okay - and apart from the obvious disappointment, said that they had had a good day.

Hope everyone got home safe - thanks for turning out in such large numbers! Looking forward to seeing you all on the 16th April for Round 2 at your home track, Hayes Hawks. Tell your friends!