The first major competitive series of BMX racing since the 1980s has been unveiled by a syndicate that has effectively relaunched the sport here in recent months.
Ratoath BMX and Cherry Orchard BMX have come together under the umbrella of BMX Ireland to create the new ‘2012 Irish BMX National Race Series’.
Details of the new national series have been unveiled this morning, with seven rounds spread over the season from February to September.
The series is points-based and will see race categories for riders from the age of five up to veteran.
The final round in September will be the national championship race, though this will be a demonstration event in the first year.
“It's great to have two clubs involved and two great venues,” said Eamonn Wyer of Ratoath BMX. “The earlier rounds are at the indoor track (in Cherry Orchard) which is great weather-wise.”
“The two tracks compliment each other nicely. Ratoath is big, tough and open, needing a skilful, fast and strong rider to win. Whereas Cherry Orchard is shorter tighter, less knarly and good gate position is vital. But as the recent race showed, that’s a recipe for incredibly entertaining and close racing action.”
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Liam Collins, the former road and track rider who has just opened the Cherry Orchard track said the racing there would be very exciting and close and would be particularly suitable for younger riders.
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“It’ll be intense and explosive. For the underage that will be particularly good; they’ll get good racing that they can develop and I really think some good riders are going to come out of this.”
“With our track it will be really close all the way down it; you will be racing right up to the line to try and win.”
Collins is planning a five-week league starting on the evening of Friday, January 27th. While that league will not be part of the national series, he believes it will be ideal preparation for riders of all ages to get some race practice before the national series gets underway.
Riders will need to pre-enter for his five-week league.
The national series begins with the first two rounds in Cherry Orchard, on February 26th and March 11th. It then switches to the Ratoath track for a meeting on April 15th, before going back to Cherry Orchard on May 20th.
The final three rounds – including the national championships demonstration event - will take place on the Ratoath track, on June 9th, August 12th and September 16th.
But before any of that, Wyer is holding BMX open coaching sessions at Cherry Orchard on Friday evenings aimed at teaching riders how to get away quickly from the electronic starting gates.
(Note: BMX Ireland is effectively a group within Cycling Ireland that will help to develop BMX racing in the years ahead.)
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