MOUNT Isa BMX superstars Bradley Leonard and Bill Woodward will represent Queensland and their hometown when they compete at the BMX National Championships this weekend.
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The championships will be held in Brisbane at the Sleeman Centre complex across four days of competition.
Bill, who is nine years old, goes into the event as a two-time state champion having taken out the Queensland and Northern Territory titles last year with only one week between each achievement.
The Black Stars junior rugby league player has been a BMX rider for six years after catching onto the sport with his friends.
“We just came down to the dirt track with some friends every week,” Bill said.
Bill’s fellow Pure Young Guns team member Bradley, who is 12 years old, was attracted to the sport seven years ago when he first saw the large humps of dirt waiting to be ridden over.
“I saw the jumps and wanted to ride them,” Bradley said.
“It’s just the thrill. A lot of my friends do it so there’s a social atmosphere too.”
While they both have the dream of becoming professional BMX riders, they also share the same coach, Rod Green, who is based in Townsville.
“We do phone correspondence and send him videos,” Bradley said.
Bradley, who aspires to emulate Australian BMX rider Anthony Dean, is now feeling that the hard work on the track is finally paying off.
“I’m finally getting up to the top end of the sport. I got through to the semis last year and just missed out on the finals,” Bradley said.
Bill, who is a student at Sunset State School, gives credit to his coach and another special someone who helped pave the way for his BMX dream.
“I would like to thank Rod Green my coach and Fiona Mundie, who helped me get into the Pure team,” Bill said.
Bradley, who attends Good Shepherd Catholic primary school, is also thankful of the endless support he’s received.
“I’d like to give thanks to Brett Peterson from Mount Isa Mining Supplies,” Bradley said.
After the national titles, the two Young Guns riders will have their sights set on the Far North Queensland Zone trials on June 6-7 before the state titles held in Cairns on September 19-20.
