Race Report: 2024 Lloyds Bank British Cycling BMX National Series – Round 9, Birmingham

Scott Beaumont

Round 9 – 1st

The 2024 BMX race season concluded at the weekend at one of Scott’s local tracks – Birmingham. The preparation was prefect and the track looked immaculate. Kudos to the Birmingham Club for all the hard work they had put in to prepare the venue.

Saturday – Round 9.

The plan for Saturday was simple. If Scott won the race, he would seal up the 2024 National number 1. A title he has been focused on all year. He has worked tirelessly to win this overall and we were now fighting for it.

After signing on and registering his transponder for racing, Scott took to the track for his practice session. Just a couple of laps were needed to get up to speed and he was ready to race. 

Scott got off to a good start in his motos. He had a good lap and crossed the line in 2nd. He led the whole lap but just eased off the gas into the finish. The second lap was perfect and he took the win from start to finish. He also set the fastest lap time so far. In his third moto, he went even faster and took the win again to move into the final as the number 1 seed.

All was going to plan. Now it was time for focus as the pressure started to mount up.

In the final he took gate 1. The start beeps echoed out around the arena and the gate dropped to the roar of the fans. He made a great start and rocketed towards the first turn. Taking the holeshot into turn 1 he had control of the race. Down the second straight his lead began to build and he rounded turn 2 to start heading for home. Into the final turn and he was increasing the speed. It was a faultless lap, just when he needed it. Crossing the finish line, he set the fastest time for the day and with the win took the overall title.

Scott was very happy:

“That was an awesome race. My best lap of the year. I am so stoked to win today and seal up the national number 1 title. I gave 100% all year and we have done it. Come oooooon!”

The team were ecstatic back at the team motorhome. Scott focused on the Lloyds Bank British Cycling BMX National Series this year and to win the overall is incredible. We are so happy that we get to race with the number 1 plate in 2025. 

A huge thank you to all our sponsors for your support. We couldn’t do this without you. We have the best equipment and support that any rider could ask for.

Now it’s back to 4X. The team are already driving through Europe on their way to Czech Republic for round 2 of the 2024 4X ProTour. We are in form and excited to go for the win again this weekend.

Full report early next week.

Race Report: 2024 Lloyds Bank British Cycling BMX National Championships 2024

Scott Beaumont

National Championships – 4th

Last Friday, the 30 fastest BMX riders in the UK were invited to Birmingham BMX track for the inaugural Lloyds Bank British Cycling BMX National Championships. For the first time in BMX, British Cycling would be awarding the National Champion with the ability to wear the union Jack sleeve to signify being National Champion. 

The National Championships takes place in every other cycle discipline. It is a single race event where the winner claims the title of National Champion for the next year. It is the race everyone wants to win and finally, it has arrived in BMX.

Scott is an 11 times National Champion in 4X, so for him this race is a very big deal.

The team were excited and Scott was proud to be invited as one of the 30 riders.

The preparation was prefect and the track looked immaculate. Kudos to the Birmingham Club for all the hard work they had put in to prepare the venue.

On Friday afternoon we arrived and parked the team Adria Motorhome, before a few warm up laps of practice. Everything went well on track and we were ready. We were focused on trying to win this title!

Racing started at 7.30pm. However. So did the rain! Conditions were extremely tough, but it was the same for everyone and we focused on the job in hand. The format was a little different to normal BMX races, but the same as we use at 4X ProTour. Straight knockout. Finish in the top 4 and move onto the next round. It’s ruthless and gives no room for error.

The gate dropped in the first qualifying round and Scott battled into turn 1. With an eye on the slippery conditions he slipped into 3rd and held that to the finish line. Riders almost needed tear offs on their goggles; the spray was so bad. But the speeds certainly didn’t reduce! Lap times were close to track records, even in the poor conditions.

In the semi final, Scott made a great start and led the race from start to finish to book his spot in the final. It was a dominating ride and set us up for the last race of the evening.

In the final, Scott made the decision to go wider on the start than normal to give himself space in the slippery conditions. The gate dropped and the drag race to turn one kicked off. Scott swooping in from the outside, almost got there but didn’t quite make it and found himself pushed high in turn 1. He battled back on the second straight and moved into 4th. He held this to the finish.

“That was a hell of a night. Conditions were as bad as I’ve ever known! I am actually really happy with 4th. Our big race is tomorrow where I can seal up the national series title.”

So that was it for Friday. It was back to the motorhome to prepare for Saturday.

On Saturday it was the penultimate round of the 2024 BMX National Series. The equation was simple. If Scott won, he would claim the title with a round to spare. Full press release about that follows.

A huge thank you to all our sponsors for your support. We couldn’t do this without you. We have the best equipment and support that any rider could ask for.

Race Report: 2024 British BMX Series – Round 7 & 8, Manchester

Scott Beaumont – Lloyds Bank British Cycling BMX National Series 

Round 7 – 2nd

Round 8 – 4th

The 2024 BMX race season continued during the weekend at Platt Fields BMX Facility in Manchester. It is a brilliant track and one of Scott’s favourite venues. The preparation was prefect and the track looked immaculate. Kudos to the Manchester Club for all the hard work they had put in to prepare the venue.

On Friday we arrived and parked the team Adria Motorhome, before a few laps of practice. Everything went well on track and we were ready.

The racing started on Saturday with round 7. After signing on and registering his transponder for racing, Scott took to the track for his practice session. Just a couple of laps were needed to get up to speed and he was ready to race. 

Scott got off to a good start. After a few weeks racing 4X, there is always an adaption back to the BMX. He had a good lap and crossed the line in 3rd. The second lap was much better and he took the win. He also set the fastest lap time and took a commanding win. In his third moto, he went wide in turn 1 and slipped to 4th. It wasn’t a problem though as he easily qualified for the final.

In the final he took gate 4 – a perfect line to turn 1. He made a great start and rocketed towards the first turn. He didn’t quite get there in the lead, but came out of turn 1 in 3rd. On the second straight he moved into 2nd. On the third straight he carried a lot of speed and into the final turn went for it down the final straight. Across the finish line he missed the win by 0.002 seconds! 2 thousandths of a second!

Scott was very happy enough:

“That was an awesome race. I gave 100% and I’m happy to take 2nd. A perfect start and I’ll be looking for one better tomorrow.”

It was then time for food in the Adria motorhome and a relaxing night to regroup ahead of round 8 on Sunday.

Sunday Round 8:

Sunday morning arrived and we were ready to go again. Riders were allowed to do a couple of laps of practice ahead of racing. Scott made it count with a solid lap that looked as strong as his Saturday laps.

Onto racing and Scott was looking strong. His first heat was a great lap to get the day started. He made a good start and was able to secure 2nd in that race. In heat 2 he came from the outside but got a bump on the first straight. He was able to hustle and across the finish held on for another 2nd. In the 3rd heat, he rode his best lap of the weekend and took the win.

In the final he chose gate 4. He made a good start and into turn 1 he slotted into 2nd. Down the second straight he moved level with the leader, but in turn 2 that rider rode Scott to the top of the turn. That opened the door and others dived to the inside. Scott slipped back to 4th and was able to hold on until the finish line.

Commenting after the race, Scott said: “That was a wild race! I was so close to the win, but that guy nearly rode me off the track! It’s all good and just racing, but we were close to the win today. We go again in 2 weeks at the final weekend with rounds 9 and 10 in Birmingham. I am stoked to be leading the overall points and looking to secure the title and number 1 plate”.

Thank you to all our sponsors for your support. We couldn’t do this without you.

2024 4X ProTour Round 1 – Val Di Sole, Italy.

On Friday 14th June, Scott Beaumont lined up on the gate in Val Di Sole, Italy for the 2024 4X ProTour race at this iconic venue.

The track in Val Di Sole, as always, was immaculate. The preparation that the team there had done on the track was incredible and we were excited to get out there.

Riding as well as he ever has and fresh off the back of regaining the UCI Number 1 in the overall World Rankings, Scott was here to win.

The week started with a drive over to Italy in our Adria motorhome. Driving through the incredible dolomites always gets us excited to arrive in Val Di Sole. Arriving on Tuesday night, the team set up the team area on Wednesday morning and then went to check out the track. With a few great changes, it looked amazing and Scott was excited for practice to start on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the organisers asked Scott and a few others to test the track ahead of official practice on Thursday. Fresh floodlights had been placed on the track so lighting needed to be tested ahead of the event starting. The track was riding brilliant. The best it has ever been. Scott hit all the jumps and looked extremely comfortable out there.

Thursday rolled around and it was qualifying day. As the new World Number 1, Scott would qualify as the last rider. 4X is a brutal sport. Just a single lap determines the top 32 riders to qualify. If you crash, make a mistake or have a technical problem, your race is over before it has even started. It is a pressure cooker for the riders.

Scott was focused and as he left the start and looked on point. He looked perfect on track – as good as he ever rode this track. Fast, smooth and precise. Crossing the finish line, he had the sixth fastest time. The team were happy with that result as less than a second separated the top 6.

Friday Night – 4X ProTour Round 1:

It was time to start racing on Friday night. With thousands of fans rolling into the venue to watch the 4X, the sun set, floodlights came on and everything was ready.

After the first hour of practice for Scott, he was ready to start racing.

Scott lined up for his first round on gate 1. He made a perfect start and led the race from start to finish. It was a great start to the evening and settled all our nerves. Onto the quarter final and this time he had gate 2. He made it work perfectly and took the lead into turn 1. In turn 2 he drifted a little wide and was passed. He hounded for the lead all the way but had to settle for 2nd.

In the semi final, Scott took gate 3. He made a great start and went into turn 1 in 2nd. Bar banging on the second straight unfortunately put Scott into 4th and needing to catch up quick. Scott rode an incredibly smart race, carrying speed but he crossed the line in 4th. Gutted to go out in the semi final, but in 4X, riders go back to the top for the small final – to determine 5th – 8th positions.

In the small final, Scott took gate 4, to give himself space. The gate dropped and Scott got the initial lead but couldn’t get all the way across. In turn 1 he was then ridden a little wide and slipped back to third. He was being hounded by the rider in fourth all the way and was defending all his lines, not carrying speed. Then in turn 5, the rider infant of Scott crashed and he had to take avoiding action, being passed by the rider behind him in the process. Scott crossed the finish line in 3rd which would give him 7th for the evening.

In the finish area Scott said:

“That was one of the best 4X races I have ever raced in. The crowd were incredible. The track was perfect. I am proud of how I rode all night and whilst I am disappointed with 7th in the final, I have gained some valuable points for the overall title. 4 weeks and we go again in JBC.”

Whilst that is correct, our next race was the very next morning in Switzerland for the European 4X Series!

Finally we want to thank all out team partners and sponsors. Without you this great performance would not have been possible. We have the best sponsors and an incredible presence at the events. 

We are forever thankful for the opportunities you give us and want to sincerely thank you all.

Lloyds Bank British Cycling BMX National Series Rounds 5 & 6 – Cumbernauld, Scotland

Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2024 British Cycling BMX National Series took place at Cumbernauld in Scotland. An incredible facility for BMX at the side of a football stadium.

We arrived on Friday afternoon, parked the Adria motorhome, set the team tent up and then it was a couple of official practice sessions. The weather was, shall we say, breezy. However the show must go on and with a better forecast for the weekend, the team decided to utilise the Friday session to get used to the flow of the track. With a strong cross wind the session was simply about pumping around the track to lock in where the jumps were and look at some lines.

Saturday: Round 5

Saturday morning rolled around and it was time to get the show on the road. The weather was better. Cloudy, no rain and less wind – but still very windy!

In BMX riders have 3 qualifying races – called motos which qualify riders through to the knockout stages of quarter finals, semi finals and then the final.

Scott’s day got off to a good start, finishing 2nd in moto 1. His speed was on point and he looked strong. In the second race he finished 2nd again, leading the race from start but overtaken in turn 1. In his final moto he had a nightmare, wheels-inning on the start gate and starting last. He worked his way back to 4th which was good, but the day up to this point was certainly challenging.

In the final, Scott took gate 4. Due to his qualifying positions he found himself wider than he wanted to be, but was determined to make it work. Making a great start Scott powered down the start, and went into turn 1 in 2nd. He hounded the leader all the way but just couldn’t make a pass and crossed the finish line in 2nd.

“I am happy with that race. It’s been a crazy day till now so to finish 2nd adds good points to my overall. I gave it my all and 2nd is all I had today. I have had a great day and it’s amazing to be racing in Cumbernauld again” said Scott in the finish area.

Sunday: Round 6

After some great food on Saturday night and a decent sleep in the team Adria Motorhome, it was time for round 6 on Sunday.

In the motos, Scott looked more on it. He finished 1st, 2nd and 1st in his motos and was able to progress to the final with the 2nd choice of gate.

In the final, with 2nd pick, Scott took gate 2. He made a great start and rocketed down the start straight. It was tight in turn 1 but he came out in 2nd. On the 2nd straight he drew up alongside the leader but couldn’t make the pass stick. Unfortunately losing some speed, he fell into the clutches of those behind him and on the last straight unfortunately slipped back to 3rd across the finish line.

“That was a tough day and not what we are here for. I am riding fast and feeling good but this weekend just hasn’t gone our way at all.”.

Many thanks to all our team partners for your support.

All photos by Tony Twist.