JOEY GOUGH

Last weekend I headed out to Zwolle with Team GB for my first international BMX race in...errm... a long time!! Up until Christmas I worked a full time job, so without much preparation, this seemed like I could be throwing myself in at the deep end!! I just wanted to get out there and get stuck in.

The track didn;t look great when we arrived, there was a long pedally section on the 2nd straight which was a bit odd and a lot of the jumps were too deep and sharp. Turns out it rode that way too, and after practice, some jumps were changed for the better. I had just been getting used to the Pro Gate when I had this to contend with... gate was fine, but the gap between 'watch the gate' and the beeps/lights coming on was ridiculous. They could've played some greensleeves while we waited it was that long.

My gates were pretty awful. Still, I managed 2nd in my motos behind Speedy Ready. The third moto my bad gate really did cause me to get squeezed, though I managed to claw my way back from last to 3rd, which was plenty good enough to make the final.

The final was going to be harder to come back if I didn't get a good gate, with there being 8 riders on the gate. I had gate 3 or something and yeah I must have been pretty much last outta the gate. Somehow was left a clear run though and pulled back to 3rd by the first turn which I kept till the finish. Shanaze walked away with the win, wowing the crowd with her third straight manual, with the Danish girl in 2nd. It was a bit weird having not raced for so long, I didn't recognise many names except my GB team mates and dutch 4Xer Anneke Beerten who was also back on a BMX. Was nice to see another familiar face!

On Sunday I woke up feeling pretty crook and wasn't well enough to race, so I had to join the walking wounded of Bloomy and Liam and sit this one out. Liam had somebody ride into him after sliding out in Saturdays practice, turns out he cracked his shoulder blade. Ouch....wishing a speedy recovery to them both!

I've been shivering with illness for the last couple of days since I got back, but I think I am finally starting to shake it off now!