Cochrane BMX Association racer Katie Scott is scorching the track right now.
The 12-year-old Manachaban Middle School student won gold on her home track Aug. 9 at Alberta BMX Association’s provincial race 6. She’s first in provincial standings in the Novice 12-year-old girl’s division with 980 points. In Sunday’s final moto, she was several bike lengths ahead of second-place finisher Briony Fokkens of Okotoks and appeared comfortable and in control over the entire event.
“Kind of an advantage having home track,” she said after winning the Aug. 9 final in her division. “You know it like the back of your hand.
“It was pretty easy. My one main competition wasn’t here, so I just kind of rode it,” she continued. She has the Alberta No. 3 plate on her bike for being third-best in the province in her group last season. The riders ahead of her last year aren’t in her group this season. One isn’t riding this season and the other is riding in a different division.
“There wasn’t much competition for me. I had quite a lead.”
The novice rider would like to advance to intermediate and expert racing in her age group, but she can’t assemble enough wins in a season to earn the upgrade. There are eight provincial races and season-endings “Grands” on the Alberta slate, but there’s a dearth of kids in her category racing locally. She races boys and older girls at club races.
“I don’t really win (club races) because I normally race older girls and boys because there aren’t that many people in Cochrane my age,” she explained. “So I only get first in provincials, and there aren’t enough provincial races to get enough wins in a year to move up. You need to get a certain amount of wins in a year to move up.”
So she’ll have to be content racing the five other girls in Novice 12 at provincial events and trying to improve where she can.
“Hopefully. Local races,” Scott said of earning enough wins to advance to intermediate in her age group. “But I’m not sure. Unless I start beating the boys here.”
For official results and standings, visit: bmxalberta.com
