The on-track action is promising to be fast and furious during this year’s Weipa BMX Club racing season, according to president Jeremy Plate. Photo: Facebook (Weipa BMX Club).
With a month to go before the gate drops on top of the hill for the first time in 2024, this year’s Weipa BMX Club racing season is already shaping up as action packed.
While club officials are waiting for the Cape York wet season to clear in order to undertake annual remediation work on the Rocky Point track, president Jeremy Plate said it was a great time for budding junior riders to consider the sport.
“As soon as we can get this track worked on, we’ll get the season up and running,” he explained.
“The season doesn’t finish until the end of September, so we’ll just keep an eye on it and try to predict what the weather’s going to do.
“It’s a great sport, and it’ll be from Mini Wheelers, which is virtually three years of age, up to under-16 or U17 here at the moment, so we’ve got 10 or so age divisions.”
Wet season inundation has left the track covered in weeds and grass, and in need of a re-topping to make it suitable for racing and, while the club waits for a break in the weather, Mr Plate outlined his plans for the season, including an ambitious push to take riders to Cairns to compete.
“It does make it a little bit tricky up here,” he reflected when asked about the difficulties in getting riders and bikes to competitions outside Weipa.
“We have, over the years, taken people out to trial and have a crack in the big smoke with it [and] there are a few people who take their children out here and there.
“We’d like to do it this season, if that’s achievable.”
With about 10 age divisions on offer, from Mini Wheelers to under-17, there will be plenty of racing options for Weipa BMX fans during the 2024 season. Photo: Facebook (Weipa BMX Club).
Mr Plate said the club would be hosting a number of come and try events once trackwork had been completed, adding the feeling for riders looking down the hill from the starting gate was something that had to be experienced.
“It’s pretty surreal [on top of the starting hill] at times,” he said.
“It’s good for the kids to be able to have their fun on a Friday night and challenge each other on the track.
“We’re going to be running a couple of come and try days, so come down and have a ride around; we’re going to be doing the gate, and you can do a four-week trial before signing up for the season.
“We’re still a month away, just the way things are at the moment.”
For more information about the come and try days, check out the Weipa BMX Club Facebook page.
