When did you start riding and why?

Well, I have been racing Bmx since I was four, but I rode my first two wheeler bike at two and a half! Not bad! I got involved with BMX through my older brother, Chris - I used to get dragged along to watch him race every Sunday and I think my Dad got fed up of me moaning about being bored and brought me a bike, I must thank him for that one day!

What titles have you won?

I won my first National title at Five and have won about 7 since, including the 1999 and 2000 Elite Women National titles. I have also won 6 British Championships, one of them in 1998, my first year in Elite Women (someone once told me no one had ever done that before, but who knows???). I have made a fair few European Championship finals and was well chuffed to get 5th in the 1999 European series in my first year in junior women. As for world rankings, I just can't seem to make the final, always 5th in the semi!

What are your ambitions in BMX ?

Well, to get the one thing that has evaded me for the past fifteen years and make a world final! I have no problems with the Euro's, but I always seem to screw up at the Worlds. And apart from that really, just to keep on winning. 2000 was a tough year - I had my A-levels to take which didn't leave much room for training and I felt under par this season. But I am taking a gap year between college and Uni at the mo and trying to get in as much training and riding as I can. I would love to get the double next year, Brits and National series, but it will be hard. Another huge thing for me is to learn how to jump - I do it but badly, fear is not my problem just lack of skill! But I have a good coach now and maybe it will have improved by the start of next season (but then the boys would have no-one to laugh at!!!!!!).

Why did you switch teams for this season ?

ooooh - tough question!! Well I would have to say that GT gave me 3 good years, it was a fun team to be on. But when Jez called me with an offer from The Right Track, HARO, it was too good to turn down. All the other guys that had be asked to join the team I know and get on with well and I just had a feeling it would be fun! The only bad thing about being on the team is that means I will have to be nice to my Dad has he is riding for them too (only joking, I love him really!) Chris and Jez have been really supportive and I am really looking forward to the year ahead!

What has been your worst injury ?

My worst injury has to be breaking my collar bone - that really hurt and it couldn't have come at a worse time. I broke it a week before the World Championships in Melbourne, Australia at a World Cup race, I was winning too which sucked even more! Apart from that I have broken both wrists and a few fingers - cuts and bruises come as standard when you race BMX!

What has been your favourite bike and why ?

I should say my Brand new Haro Which the wonderful Right Track Haro have just given me - but I would be lying as I haven't had a chance to ride it properly yet what with it being winter and all the rain we have had! But it is a lovely bike! My favourite would have to be the Titan (they don't make them anymore few you youngsters who won't remember them!) I had when I was 12, it was so nice to ride and believe it or not I could actually jump on that bike! Shame they don't make them anymore!

Do you think you will ever make a living out of BMX ?

As much as I would love to be able to make a living out of BMX, it is very hard and not many girls do it! It would be great to know all I had to do everyday was train and ride, but I doubt it will ever happen. Money and sponsorship deals are scarce, especially in England! America is the place to go! I would love to go out there, just for a few months to race but BMX racing will never provide a living for me (I doubt I will ever be good enough anyway!). I only know one girl who has managed to make BMX her life and that is Natarsha Williams - she is an amazing rider and I respect her a great deal!

There is a rumour that you will be coaching at Bradford in summer

I love coaching and it is something I want to do more of. Chris has spoken to me about coming up to Bradford, but whether that will involve coaching I am not sure, but I hope so. (Ed. you can bet on it if Chris has anything to do with it all your talents will be used)

Most male riders would love a BMX ing girlfriend have you had a BMX boy and does it work ?

I did have a boyfriend at BMX until last year, but things just didn't work out! There are some nice lads at BMX but not many are boyfriend material! But I do find it hard to have boyfriends outside of BMX as they don't seem to understand why I spent so much time away or training, but the guy I am with at the moment thinks its great to have a BMXing girlfriend !

Do you find scabs attractive ?

I hate scabs, I just pick them to get rid of them quicker!

What has been the most embarrassing moment of your life?

That's I tough one as I am dead clumsy and am always making an idiot of myself, but there is nothing more embarrassing than rimming a set of doubles when everyone is watching, and I do that all the time!

Anything else you would like to tell the world ?

I suppose I would just like to say thanks to a few people…first of all my Dad, cause as Angry as he sometimes gets I have him to thank for a lot of my success, also my mum cause she is their with a shoulder to cry when something goes wrong and my brothers too for encouraging me…well sometimes! And finally, a big thank you to my New sponsor Right Track Haro and lets hope 2001 is a wicked year!

DIRTY GIRLS

AN INTERVIEW WITH

KATIE DAYSON

Do you ever ride trails ,skateparks or flatland ?

Since I am not the best jumper in the world I have tended to stay away from trails, but recently my brothers have convinced me that it will improve my riding skills and I have been to our local trails a few times this winter. It is fun and makes a difference from being on a track! As for skateparks - no way, it is hard and the thought of making a fool of myself in public does not appeal to me! I love watching other people ride though.

What else do you enjoy doing?

Aside from BMX I supose I am pretty much an average girl! I love going out with my mates, drinking too much and then dancing all night! But I am just getting in training for University. I am a shop-a-holic and spend way too much money on clothes. As for other sports, I love to swim and as much has I hate to admit it, I love going for rides on my MTB, but BMX will always be my priority!

Have you ever considered MTB as a career ?

I have dabbled my hand in MTB racing, I have down quite a few downhills, a few Slaloms and one Quad descender It is fun and the MTB girls hate it when you come along and beat them, but the atmosphere isn't the same as BMX. Racing against the clock is boring and the descender tracks are badly build (nothing personal meant to those who built the tracks!), I think I will stick to BMX!

Why don't more girls ride BMX?

That is a question I am always asking myself! I think because it is such a male dominated sport, it can be quite daunting for girls. The thought of crashing or doing something wrong and embarrassing yourself in front of a guy is too much for most girls. If we could get more girls into BMX at a younger age when embarrassment does not exist the maybe more would stick around when they get to my age! But a lot of girls give up because they don't won't scabs anymore or because their boyfriends want them to stay home for the weekends! We do need more female Bmxers and to help I encourage the ones there are already as much as possible! And maybe the guys could help by not laughing or taking the piss out of girls, encouragement is always good!