Why thank you!
By TMX Archives on 11th Nov 03
I'M FAT and I've always loved my food. So it's no wonder I've always taken heart from the term 'a kid in a sweet shop'. I'M FAT and I've always loved my food. So it's no wonder I've always taken heart from the term 'a kid in a sweet shop'. At the moment that's just what I'm like - only this time I'm not stuffing myself with cola cubes and pear drops, then driving my mother delirious as the effects of an E-number overdose pumps through my veins.Oh no, this time I'm hyped and feasting on the satisfaction of being involved with the British GP on the Isle of Wight. Once again Jonny Douglas Hamilton - the lord of track building in the UK - and myself will have direct input into the track design for the race at the end of May and this time the training reins are off and we can run wild with cool ideas.A while back members of the FIM and Youthstream came over to the island to inspect the site and go through all the developments we have planned for the track. With the British championship earlier this year our hands were tied with what we could and couldn't do at Gore Basin. The ACU rules for track safety don't allow for breath-taking triples and killer whoops - but holy smoking plums, the FIM's and Youthstream's do!That kind of news is music to my ears and blood-pumping 'tastic to Jonny's Y-front region. When we first designed the track, what now seems waaay back due to the speed in which this whole GP thing has progressed, we knew we couldn't overload the circuit with real technical, challenging obstacles. If we'd done that we would've never got our track certificate - we wanted to go crazy but we had to remember that even in this day and age some riders still don't like jumps, whoops and stuff like that.I can remember one racer standing on the whoops for hours on the Saturday afternoon before the British round and he was mortified about how he'd tackle them - worry was etched into his forehead. To me that just proved the point that we need more challenging tracks in the UK. I know the tracks have to remain safe but it's still more than possible to build obstacles that are difficult yet safe.Every GP rider has improved just by being a GP rider - I know I did - because of the tracks that you have to race. That alone improves your skills. The ACU do a great job with insurance and safety for the sport but they definitely need to change the rules and regulations about what obstacles you can have on a track. It's frustrating having over 12 inches and not getting the most out of it (I'm talking suspension travel of course)!Anyway, I think I can speak for Jonny when I say that you'll not be disappointed with the circuit when you roll through the gates for your dirty weekend of MX action. JDH is currently in a rich vein of form as he's been flat-out over at Matchams - I've heard he's got his bulldozer so wired he's turning quicker laps in that than on his bike.I've gotta say, Matchams is looking awesome. The place has been a sleeping giant and anyone with an ounce of knowledge should've always known this place could be one of the best MX facilities in northern Europe. The lads have been putting in hours and hours of work bringing it right up to scratch - and it even looks like they're going to bring the SX track back up to spec and possibly even roof it over. How cool would that be? Supercross in the dry but with no fumes making you want to chuck ya ring. I hope they do and everyone starts using the place again - hopefully they'll get some major races.It's certainly a good time to be an MXer down 'ere. For too long it's been at least a few hours drive to find anywhere decent to ride or race - now there are two blinding circuits right on my doorstep.I'm excited about getting back to riding, especially as I'll be on a new team. This year has been another fun packed one as I'm still enjoying my riding. Huge thanks for that goes to Steve Dixon, all his team staff and Baz for giving me a brilliant bike to race because it made such a difference. I even pulled off a holeshot and nearly made a few more and that speaks volumes for the bike to pull my guts from a standing start.Although they're always calling me a silly little ***t, I must also thank Revs (Mr Stolen BMX) and Bronco for seeing me through with their moral support. Also Ash and the wonder that is Fox. The Doc for the snazzy Smith goggles, Wayne @ Eastpak for all the tough bags (not birds), Globe for keeping my hooves warm, Muc-Off for keeping the dirt off me and Rosco for helping me to realise that I am normal after all!Obviously, I must also say a huge cheers to my family and, of course, my beautiful girlfriend who's been a constant rock...blub, blub, blub (sorry, I'm doing a Gwyneth on you)...not forgetting anyone who's had the decency to remain talking to me even if I have been spilling beer all over them. I'm sorry if it's too emotional, you'll have to excuse...blub, blub, blub...me!Jeffro