World’s best to put Craigneuk to the test
Excitement is building in Craigneuk ahead of this Saturday’s UK qualifying event for the Red Bull Pump Track World Championships.
The Wishawhill Wood pump track beat off stiff competition from Glasgow’s Cathkin Braes track to host the event and as many as 120 riders will take to the track in hope of qualifying for the finals.
Among them will be a number of local riders looking to test themselves against some of the best in the UK and further afield.
Dan Scott, from community interest company Socialtrack, believes the event will be of huge benefit to the whole community.
He said: “What it does is put the track and the younger riders on the map and it exposes them to the highest level of competition.
“Some of the top riders in the world will be there so it’s an amazing opportunity for the youngsters. We have the Velosolutions top man and Red Bull bike commentator Claudio Caluori will be the race director, so it shows the level of interest.
“For this to be happening in Craigneuk is fantastic.”
The Craigneuk track joins the long list of qualifiers around the world including the United States, Canada, Chile and New Zealand.
Councillors gave their full support to the event at the track, which cost around £ 200,000, constructed by the Central Scotland Green Network Trust (CSGNT) in partnership with NLC.
Craigneuk councillor Agnes Magowan said: “I’m delighted that the track has been chosen for the very prestigious Red Bull heats for the World Championships.
“It is testimony to all the hard work done by Dan and his team in managing the track and Mike Batley and the Scottish Green Network Trust for building such a highquality track in conjunction with the Scottish Government and North Lanarkshire Council.”
The timed runs of the riders will begin at 1pm on Saturday.
The day after the Red Bull qualifiers, a community event will be held at the track starting at 2pm, so the youngsters can also get a chance to show their stuff.