Midlands BMX Gears Up For 2008
We've received a comprehensive round up of race dates, event news and a host of other newsy items from the Midlands BMX region. So if you're planning to race BMX is the area during 2008, here's what's going on:
Summer Regional race dates
March 16th -Round 1 -Bulwell
April 6th -Round 2 -Rotherham
May 11th - Round 3 -Mansfield (Midlands leg of inter regional with E.A)
June 1st - Round 4 -Chesterfield
June 15th * - Round 5 -Peterborough (East Anglia leg of inter regional )
July 6th - Round 6 -Rotherham
July 20th - Round 7 -Sheffield
August 3rd -Round 8 -Harworth (last round of 2008 Summer series)
September 7th - Harworth - MIDLANDS Champs
*Please Note the inter regional on June 15th at Peterborough
IS A BRITS & REGIONAL TROPHY qualifying round for Midlands riders.
2008/2009 Autumn/Summer series.
September 28th -Round 1 - Mansfield
October 19th - Round 2 - Bulwell
The 2009 summer series will start in the Autumn of 2008 with 2 races followed by a estimated 7 - 8 races beginning in the spring of 2009, there will be no regional rounds over the winter months November to February. With us not now running a winter series the region is looking to extend the amount of races within the summer series, So these 2 races are Brits & regional Trophy qualifying rounds for 2009. They will be raced at your 2009 race age & not your 2008 race age, with more race for the 08/09 season there will be a increase in the amount of rounds need to qualify for the 2009 Brits & regional trophies.
Midlands National events.
With the midlands holding 2 National venues this season its important that All clubs pitch in & help both venues over these weekends to ensure they Put on the best event possible. Can all parents/riders who wish to give up Some of there time during these events please either contact a representative From the relevant club or a member of the regional committee giving there Name & time they will be available to help out.
Regional / Brits qualification.
There are 8 rounds this year including the Peterborough inter Regional which will count towards the Brits & regional qualification. Best 6 rounds from 8 to qualify for your regional trophy - Best 6 rounds from 8 to give your regional ranking for the Brits 4 rounds from 8 to qualify for the Brits. If 1 round is cancelled the following ruling will apply - Best 5 rounds from 7 to qualify for your regional trophy; Best 5 rounds from 7 to give your regional ranking for the Brits; Still a minimum of 4 rounds from 7 for the Brits. Elite riders gain automatic qualification to the Brits as they don't have to hold a Regional ranking or regional No plate to race.
Race day information.
The following is the expected race day running times, these will where ever possible be adhered to at all regional races (with the running of a computer race system it is expected that we will get initial hold ups due to the imputing of data & these times my not be achieved on some dates)
Registration - 10.30 till 11.30
Gate practise - 11.00 till 12.00
Racing from - 12.30 onwards.
Price to race £7 for Expert £5 for Novice
Age Groups
Expert Classes Cruiser Classes
6 and Under 15 and under
7/8 16-29
9/10 30+
11/12 MTB to be condensed into cruiser classes
13/14
15/16 Novice Classes
17+ 8 and Under
30+ 9-11
Girls 9 + under & 10-12 & 13-15 12 and over
A rider's race age for the summer series is determined by there age on the last day of 2008 & not there age on racing. Parents/riders will have 10mins to check pre-moto sheets to ensure they are in their correct age category & contact registration if changers are required. Girls can either race in a girl's age group or choose to race the boys at either there correct age or 1 year below there race age.
Novice riders.
The cost of novice racing is £5 per race, each race is separate with NO end of season trophy as the riders will be rewarded after each race meeting. This change has happened to try to encourage more novices to the sport as most initially find it hard to do the required races to gain a trophy the old end of season way. The top 3 riders in the 3 novice age groups WILL RECEIVE a trophy on the day with the remaining novice finalist in each race getting a medal on the day.
Brits dispensation.
All dispensation requests must be into the regional committee in writing no later than the 3rd of August. A meeting for the 5th August has already been set for the discussion of these requests & any requests not received by then will not be considered. Dispensation will be considered for missed racers due to racing Euro & UCI rounds that clash with regional races, injury, work/holiday commitments & other National Series British Cycling events only & NOT one off B.C Cycling events. Dispensation for other none Cycling sports will not be given.
Rider/parents rules behaviour.
Last season saw an increase within our region of aggressive & abusive behaviour from riders/parents towards the finish line ladies & other regional/club helpers. This will not be acceptable & once a formal decision has been made then any continued aggression etc would result in the disqualification of the rider involved. Please note that a parent's behaviour could also result in the disqualification of
their Child.
Brits pack.
Over the last 2 seasons we have had what's been known as the Brits pack where each rider paid the region £5 for there Brits tee shirt & plate. This year this has Been dropped. Instead the plates will be very generously paid for by a donation from Mr Andy Restall. Currently Dan Clifford is looking at producing designs for the tee shirt, if anybody else has ideas on this design then they would be gratefully received, designs must be handed into a committee member by the deadline of the end of April. Orders for the Tee-shirt will then be taken at each regional race with the full cost of the shirts been taken to secure your order (price yet to be confirmed) the tee-shirts will be given out as normal with your plate at registration on Saturday of the Brits.