Sticky Bottle article 29th Nov 2011

 

Capacity crowds and superb racing mark BMX’s triumphant Irish return

 

The pros get underway (Photo: Stephen Kane)

 

A massive crowd and almost 200 racers braved the cold, sunny weather in Ratoath, Co Meath, for the return of BMX racing to Ireland after a break of 25 years.

 

Riders from 4-years to their mid 50s spent the weekend ripping around the pristine new track, the brainchild of former Irish pro riders Shay McNally and Eamon Wyer.

 

Though a number of pros flew from the UK and put on a great show, it was a day that belonged to the domestic racers, young and old, who created a genuinely triumphant atmosphere.

 

Such were the sheer numbers that turned out that the local gardai spent most of the day outside the track trying to find parking spaces for the droves that just kept coming and coming from all over the country.

 

Wyer told stickybottle.com that Ratoath BMX club had been simply overwhelmed by the response to the new track and the programme of racing laid on on Sunday.

 

“It’s great to see so many kids came along and enjoyed it. It just goes to show that there’s serious demand out there and the important thing now is that this is just the start of what will be a lively scene; it bodes well for the future, that’s for sure.”

Former British national champion and former UK No 1 Kelvin Batey, who has now declared for Ireland, described the turnout as “amazing”.

“It’s genuinely incredible that the guys have gotten a track like this built in just a matter of months,” he said.

“Even with the biggest BMX clubs in the UK, I really don’t think you’d see these kinds of numbers. BMX took a dip for a good few years, but all you have to do is look around you here today to see that it’s back. It’s fantastic to see.”

 

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