Jarrad Drizners – 2012 BMX Nationals Report.

Where: Blue lake BMX Club, Mount Gambier, South Australia.

When: 17 – 22 April 2012

Age Class: 13 Boys

Name: Jarrad Drizners

This year the Nationals were in Mount Gambier, a track that I had ridden previously and enjoyed.

Friday the 20^th of April, it is the race I have been training a whole year for. A lot of hard work has been put in for the Nationals this year, and like every other year it seems to have paid off.

The 13 boys class was in the second block. I had battles to the line every race and at least made up one position on the line.

I finished with a  2^nd, 1^st & 1^st. In my last moto I tried extra hard to get a good time for the quarter final gate picks.

To make the quarter final was my first goal and I achieved it. I had first gate pick and I chose gate 2, finishing strong I came 2^nd and was into the semi finals.

My second goal had been achieved and I was very happy the way I was riding.

I had fourth gate pick in the semi final and I chose gate 4. The sun was starting to get low so I switched to my tinted lenses so that I had a clear view of the second straight.

With all riders keen to get into the main final, there were a few crashes in this race. I was lucky to get through without any incidents and had a clean run into 4^th place.

My main goal of making it into the final had been reached, I was extremely happy. My older brother ran all the way around the track in bare feet just to congratulate me.

I knew that I would get either pick 7 or 8 for the final, which was going to be ok so long as I ended up with gate 8. Most riders were choosing the inside gates, so I figured if I could come out of 8, stay wide, and then swoop or high-low in the first berm then I could be in a good position down the second straight. Unfortunately I didn’t get to pick gate 8 and was left with gate 5. With riders towering above me on either side, I felt like the meat in a sandwich. Once the gate dropped I didn’t get the best snap, and the riders around me closed the door for me to get a clean run down the start hill. It was going to be tough to make up a position in such a big strong field. I finished 8^th in the final which had some very big powerful riders, I was very happy with the way I rode all day , trying my hardest in every race.