Jonny Bellis (Olympic Academy Rider, 2007)

Olympic Academy Feature (2007 Intake): >>>>

A Silver (above) and Bronze medal at the World Junior championships and a ride at the Commonwealth Games were just two of the highlights for the Isle of Man's Jonny Bellis this year. He is one of four riders to make it onto the Academy and says that after two weeks, it has been busier than what they expected it would be.

"It's very different to the ODP camps where you get up, ride your bike and then go back and chill out. Now its get up, make your own breakfast, ride to the track, do the session. The night before you have to be thinking ahead and asking yourself 'what am going to be eating before lunch the following day'? So the night before you're making your own pasta for after the track session".

"So on top of the training and other things we have to do during the day, there are all these other jobs that have to be done like cooking, washing and its 10 at night before you know it and you're straight to bed. So the days are pretty full on at the moment."

As for the work load on the bike compared to the ODP, Jonny says its pretty much on level terms but adds they have been told that it will progress upwards and that in a few weeks, the really hard work will start so they are on form for the LA World Cup and Manchester World Cup.

"At the moment, we're slowly getting into it" Jonny explains. "We have new bikes so we have to get the positions right first and while doing that, we're learning things like recording our measurements so you have a record you can hand to the mechanics when you change bikes again."

Right: Competing for the Isle of Man at this years Commonwealth Games.

Having had to relocate from the Isle of Man to Manchester, and asked if that has taken some getting used to, he says "this is what I have dreamt of doing and the opportunity is there now to get where I want to be. I knew leading up to this that I'd have to deal with leaving home and learn to look after myself but you just get on with it because this is what I love doing."

It's also a learning process living in the same house as the riders they have ridden with for two years on the ODP. "We are still learning about how each other operates" Jonny admits. "We know now when so and so needs their own space, or they are mentally struggling so you can help lift them and vice versa. Being with Ben (Swift) in the house is also useful because he can help us avoid the same mistakes he made."

All part of the job, Jonny prepares his bike for the track league.

On their relationship with their coach, Jonny says they see him every day at the track and then he'll also pop round to the house from time to time to drop kit off and see if the house is tidy. "You know where you stand with Rod. He's tough but fair. You can tell when he's not happy with something you're doing but he doesn't go mad and shout, he just tells you to come on and next time to do this which I think is the best way".

Jonny says he's looking forward to building on the experience he has had this year where he began with a good ride on the track at the Commonwealth Games and now this winter, has Track World Cups to look forward to. "To make it to the top you have to be able to perform at senior level although I don't think there'll be high expectations of us first year lads. We'll be there to learn from the whole experience of doing a World Cup and maybe the following year, get the results."

"If you look at Geraint and Cav, they rode the World Championships at 19 so the World Cups will give us the experience we need to go into events like that."

Finally, the programme isn't just about track racing but preparing these riders to be pros on the road. Part of this will be going to Italy to race. As Junior's last year, they had a small taste of that but come March, the lads will be off for a long year on the road.

"I can't wait to be living out in Italy" Jonny explained. "Coming from the Isle of Man, the road is what we do but I enjoy both track and road. Over the next few years I intend to work my socks off and if I get a pro contract a few years down the line like Cav and then great, if I don't, I can look back and know I gave it everything and there is nothing else I could have done."

Jonny and Steven Burke get down to some study at the EIS as they learn Italian ready for when they go to Italy next March.