Jack Davis has described reclaiming his national number one plate as a “weight off my shoulders”.
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The Tamworth BMX rider took out the 16-years boys final in Saturday’s Australian Championship in Bunbury after finishing second in the Oceania Contintental Championships during the week.
“The win really meant a lot to me. There’s a lot of hard work that has gone into it,” Davis said from Western Australia where he is staying on with his family for a well-earned holiday.
He will be straight back into it though when he returns, as he eyes off the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan in June.
“That will be a cool experience to go over there and ride,” Davis said.
The Farrer student headed to Bunbury looking for redemption after unluckily crashing out in the final last year and failing to defend the coveted national title he finally won 2016.
He got his campaign off to a good start in the Oceania championships.
After winning all of his mottos, Davis was then placed third in his semi-final before taking silver behind Western Australia’s Corey Taylor.
Using the championships more for a bit of track time, Davis said he drew a lot of confidence from how he raced.
“I rode really well that day. That made me feel pretty confident,” the NIAS Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club Lonetsar athlete,
“Going into Saturday I knew there were a couple of things that needed to be modified.”
Elaborating, he spoke about going into certain corners at tighter angles and doing a few differing things over different jumps.
Following a similar script to the Oceania champs, Davis was first in his first and third mottos and was second in the other. He then won his quarter final before finishing third in his semi.
“I chose the inside in the semi and the kid on the gate outside of me had a great day and blocked me out,” Davis said.
It was enough to get him into the final, which was the important thing.
He chose one of the middle gates for the final race and had the quickest reaction time of the field of 2.375secs.
“I had a really good gate and took advantage of that. I moved across and was basically leading the whole lap,” he said.
He clocked 33.305secs, which was his fastest time of the day and comparable with all the older age groups.
It was also a fantastic weekend for Zac Whalan.
Competing in the 11-years boys, Whalan finished fourth, picking up his first Australian plate.
Mark Stones meanwhile secured eighth position in the 45-49 men’s cruiser division.
Fellow Tamworth BMX club member Daniel Morris didn’t fare as well, finishing fifth in the 17-24yrs quarter-final to just miss the semi’s.
