RABRACING.COM

After 2 days training over at Lytham on Monday and Tuesday it was across to Preston for training Wednesday and Thursday. The training at Preston proved very intensive and with other Preston Academy riders on the coaching including Euan Hunt and Ross Cullen they all pushed each other to the limit. Ryan had been wanting to clear the double going into the first corner for awhile and after watching Euan and Ross clear it he was determined to get over it and with abit of banter from everyone he did it and came back with a big grin on his face.

Ryan and Alex attended a full days coaching session at Lytham BMX Track today. The action started at 11am and they where both still riding the track at 5:30 and had to be pulled off the track, much to the annoyance of them both. The session at Lytham was concentrated on basic bike skills i.e pedal position, gate positioning and pumping. Both Ryan and Alex find these sessions really useful to go back to basics and not forget the basic bike skills that are needed to improve as an overall rider. At the end of the coaching day a race was put on for everyone with both boys in the same race, something that hasnt happened since their days in the 6& under`s. The racing brought back some really good memories for them both as it was bar banging action right from the drop of the gate. With a 5 race format going into the final race it was 2 races each and the winner of the final race would take family pride. The action in the final was action packed with the lead swapping on more than occation but it was Alex who took the spoils much to the dismay of his elder brother Ryan.
They are both back again tomorrow and Ryan will be looking for revenge thats for sure.

Ryan and Alex would like to say a big thank you all its sponsors for their support throughout the 2010 season. Its the first time they have been in a team enviroment and have enjoyed having the older riders to look up to and help them along the way. A big thank you must go to Ben Thombs and Kelvin Batey (joint team managers) for always being their willing to help and advise and also to Rich at Source for supplying what is a fantastic race bike.

Sunday is the Midlands Champs at Nuneaton and with both Ryan and Alex currently the holders of the respective titles they are both looking forward to competing in the event. Ryan still has a sore knee from a crash at the North Region Club Championships but will hopefully be fully fit for the weekend. Alex has just come off the back of a good win at Preston with his best race of the year and will be looking to carry that good form into the Midlands Champs and hold onto his title.

Ryan and Alex competed in the North Region Club Champs at the weekend and helped their club retain the title. With their new club tops on and a fantastic team atmosphere around it was going to be a good days racing. Alex competed in his own age group after riding all year in the 8 Boys and came away with a fantastic win to help the club on its way to the title. Ryan rode us and age group in the 9 Boys and competed against some A main national riders. Unfortunately a fall in his second race and a subsiquent knee injury put pay to Ryan pushing the top guys but still cam away with a deserved 4th place.

This week is the North Region Club Championships and after a few track changes down at Preston prior to the event Ryan and Alex have spent 2 days this week trying the track out. The final straight had 2 extra rollers put in to test the riders even more and within a few hours they both had the track dialled in. The straight now has a step up, roller, double, roller and double and Alex was the first to dial it in with a smooth rhythm of jump (table top), pump (roller), manual (double) and then a fantastic pick up double manual over the roller and final double. Not to be outdone and having watched his brother ride the straight so smooth Ryan followed him with the exact same. With a rest day tommorrow before a big coaching session on Saturday its all sytems go for the Club Champs Sunday.

Sunday 17th October both Ryan and Alex will be competing in the 2010 North Region Club Championships. This week will be a nice relaxed week in preparation for the race. Both boys won their age groups last year to help Preston win the title and will be looking to repeat that this week. At regional level they have both been riding up an age group but with them both riding for the club and trying to help them do it again this year we wont know until the day what age group they will be riding in.

Ryan and Alex will be working with Ex Multi World and European BMX Champion Dylan Clayton over winter to get them ready for the start of the 2011 season. A full training programme has been set up focusing on every aspect of their racing from skills sessions to intensive coaching with a view to getting them ready for 2011.

After 2 weeks out with an injury Ryan took his first steps towards getting back to full fitness. With a relaxed session down at his home track in Preston with a few of his friends he didnt feel any pain and said it felt good to be back on the bike.