The final round of the British BMX Series was held in the home of British Cycling at the National Cycling Centre, Manchester. There was some hard and fast racing across all classes and the Elite men spoils went to the hard-charging Ryan Stack for the first time this year.
The premier class saw just five riders on track due to various international commitments and injuries for a number of riders, and it was left to Pure Racing’s Ryan Stack to conquer the challenging Manchester track.
All races were to count through the days racing and it went down to the final moto of the day to separate the field.
Off the gate, Stack charged down the first straight with Stay Strong’s Paddy Sharrock on his shoulder. As they hit the second straight Pro Section, Stack pulled a narrow margin ahead, but enough to take command of the race. They barrelled through the rest of the track and down the last straight, Sharrock closed the gap which left them to dive across the line, less than a bike length apart. On count-back, Stack had taken the day’s win by one point from Manchester’s Jacob Roberts and Sharrock was third.
After the race Stack said: “I had a decent end to a good season overall. I’m happy to win today in Manchester and then finish third in the overall rankings in Elite.”
The year’s class win went to Dan McBride who sat out the event, but commented: “I’m really happy to take the national title this year, thanks to everyone along the way that's made it a special one. Onwards and upwards.”
In the Championship women’s class Haro’s Abbie Taylor wrapped up the national title in the class with another win. Taylor won five out of the ten rounds across the year, but was pushed hard in the final round by the visiting Dutch girl Ruby Huisman.
Taylor had the start she needed in the final and lead into the first turn, but Huisman had the second straight on her side and closed Taylor down to open up a duel for the second half of the lap. Taylor then pulled ahead down the third straight and rounded off the season in fine style. Huisman chased hard to take second and Manchester’s Valerie Zebrokova took third for the British Cycling academy.
Huisman, who made the podium at the 2014 World Championships, added: “I’m happy to race in Manchester, made it second and get my first cheque. Congrats to Abbie Taylor for taking the win.”
Liam Brown wrapped up the Championship Men’s title with a win for Doublecross in Manchester. He didn’t have things all his own way though as Meybo’s Jordan Smith lead out the final down the firs straight. Brown then took the lead back through the first corner but Smith then pulled back level down the second straight. Brown again took the lead in the second corner and then pulled ahead through the third straight rhythm section to take control of the field and romped home for the win. Smith held on for second and the Braintree BMX Club and Aggro Racing pair of Oli Cutmore and Taylor Andrews kept things smooth to take third and fourth.
There were a number of riders who not only took wins on the day, but wrapped up class wins for the season.
Some of the standouts were Callum Chard Maple from Tiverton in the 8s, Betsy Bax from Bristol in the 7-8 girls, Emily Hutt in the 9-10 girls, Callum Edwards from Wrekin in 13-14 cruisers, Scott Dominguez from Cornwall in 15-16 cruisers, Dave Ives who took a clean sheet for the 30-39 class win which was matched by Louise Abbout in the over-30 ladies cruiser and Darren Reidy in the 40-44s.
Keon Smith-McDermott dominated the 11s class. Brynley Savage saved the best until last in the 15s as he took his first win of the year. One of the closest classes was the 16s with Braintree’s Ryan Hutchinson needing the win to claim the title. Off the gate he went head to head with fellow British Cycling apprentice Wilfred Njuguna to slip into the lead and claim the class win and national title.
