KERANG’S Chris Barnes has officially claimed the 2016 Loddon Mallee Hume BMX Series win, but his title run could have been over before it began.
In the five events he participated in, he managed to score three first placings, one second place and a sixth in Wodonga.
Arriving late at a new park without practice put the seasoned competitor off his game — handing him his worst result in three years.
Despite the setback, Barnes wasn’t stopped on his way to the title — winning the grand final run at Kerang at the weekend.
“My number one goal is to always have fun with friends and to meet new people, I don’t get too serious at the events,” Barnes said.
“I want to ride the best I can, but it is mostly to put on a show to entertain people and showcase our sport.
“Towards the end of the competition, I was comfortably in first place, so since it was there for the taking, I decided I wanted to ride as hard as I could and win the series again.”
Barnes won consecutive titles in 2015 and 2016, taking his first win back in 2013.
Despite finishing second in 2014, Barnes has proved himself to be quite the competitor when it comes to the sport he treasures so greatly.
During the final two weeks, Barnes narrowly finished second — behind Kerang’s Ryan Woodier — in Swan Hill before his title nabbing win.
While enjoying his sport and the limelight, Barnes said he was still pushing himself to do more.
“This year I wanted to push myself and link together my harder tricks which may not work at first,” he said.
“In previous years, I have always tried to put down a solid run to get points on the board, then try maybe one or two harder tricks.
“I did a lot of stuff I hadn’t done in a competition format this year, which is the most satisfying for me.”
