In the first of a series of profiles on Manchester BMX Club riders and their bikes, we meet Ross Gill;

Ross Gill

Age; 26

Race category; 25-29 20”

How long have you been racing? 6 Months.

How did you get started? I needed a break from park riding, being the son of a racing driver I’ve always had a competitive edge but didn’t realize it was so easy to get involved in racing.

I also have to say thanks to my Girlfriend Angela for giving me a kick-start and telling me that I need to stop worrying about my tail-whips and make a go of it.

What has been your best memory from racing? Best memory so far from racing? Seeing as I only have very limited experience so far it’s not a straight forward question to answer. I’ve had some ok results; winning a moto at Preston and taking 2nd in the B Final that day, but my aim is to make A Finals consistently.

Which racers do you admire? Shaun Palmer; probably the best all round action sportsman ever! He said no to lycra skin suits in the 90′s, turning up on a hammerited Intense with jeans and a t-shirt on and smokes everyone.  Valentino Rossi; greatest of all time Laguna seca 2008 the corkscrew Nuf said! Steve McQueen ”Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting.” David Gill (my dad) raced karts and rode observed trials in the 70’s and 80′s and showed me that bikes and racing were cool. Finally Manchester’s Rooster for his constant optimism it’s dangerously contagious

What are your racing aims? Compete at Regional level and National level and podium at a national within 4 years

What has been the best advice you’ve been given in racing? All of the advice I have been given has been good advice probably everything MatthewGlynn.co.uk has told me so far and the immortal words of Joe Davenport;  “GET YOUR KNEE DOWN AND BLEEDIN’ HAVE IT!!!”

What advice would you give to riders new to racing? Get a bike get on the track and ride you’ll have fun and who knows you might surprise yourself and be faster than you think

The Rig

Although the pic shows a slightly earlier incarnation of the bike, you can see Ross demonstrating his skills!

Frame: S&M .38 Special 21″ TT

Forks: Primo Kamikaze

Wheels: Rear – Profile Hub (Ti driver) Sun Envy Rim, Double Butted spokes. Front – Demolition Anorexia Hub, Demolition Zero Rim, Double Butted spokes.

Bars: S&M Race XLT

Pedals: Easton Flatboy

Cranks: Profile

Gearing: 37/14

Stem: Thomson

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 at 10:59 am and is filed under Rider Profiles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.