28/01/2021
Probably a somewhat unnecessary post but one I haven’t made yet and so I will now make. My time in competitive racing is over. I’ve given all I can and have no more left to give. Whilst I’m sure it won’t be the last time I’ll race as I will continue to compete in the Coleby Downhill Challenge as it’s run by good friends of mine - I will no longer seriously compete in world championships or anything on that scale.
From 2012 until 2019 I dedicated everything I had to sport that took me in with open arms and developed an incredible love story that brought so many amazing memories and allowed me to achieve so many things. From competing in two World Championships (finishing 9th and 4th in them respectively) to organising and competing in the British Championships (2 time Runner Up).
With my brothers old BMX bike in tow, I travelled the country with some good friends and had some fantastic times, and admittedly some not so good ones too. I’ve no doubt my legacy in gravity racing will undoubtedly be the countless crashes I’ve had over the years 😂 - Priors Marston springs to mind as well as simply magnificent cartwheel or three at Gurston 🤣
I always took my racing very seriously, and always attempted to get the very best out of myself and my bike on every run I rode. I had some out-of-this-world support from sponsors who I’ll be eternally grateful for. I attempted to bring as much exposure to the sport as I could and if I benefitted from that at the same time then happy days. Everything I did, I did with professionalism and honesty and to the best of my abilities. I rode my heart out at every race, and had an unrivalled passion for my racing - and I apologise for absolutely none of it and regret absolutely nothing.
I very proudly organised and ran the British Championships for two years which I still believe were successful, despite not continuing into 2018 and onwards. I believe everything I did at the time was right and true to myself and was for the good of the sport. And while the way I used to go about things In how I competed or organised may not have been well received or popular, I don’t regret any of it and am proud of what I achieved. I do not regret the professionalism I brought to the sport, for the press releases or the sponsors or the media coverage or any of that.
One thing I do believe was wrong is when I came out, I said I would be the next British Superbike champion. Frankly, that was stupid, ignorant, fanatical, unrealistic and downright childish to say and made me look a fool to those who have dedicated their lives to motorsport when all I did was Chuck myself down a hill on a BMX 😂 So for that, I apologise.
The reason I have taken the decision to walk away from all forms of racing is simply because I fell out of love with it all. I have no passion or desire for the sport or racing in general anymore. I achieved all I could, and have rediscovered in recent years my love for football and have now dedicated myself entirely to playing football and being the very best I can be at that like I wanted to when I was younger.
I have some fantastic memories from those years I competed and have a trophy cabinet full of everything I achieved. But it’s time to close that chapter in my life and move on to bigger and better things.
Thank you to everyone who believed in me across the years, including Ian Round who mentored me from day one and proved to be a great friend and fantastic rival. Thank you to everyone who sponsored me across the years including Spada Motorcycle Clothing, 151s, Xpress Coffee, Rich Energy, West Sliders, Goodridge, Savage Squirrel, among others over the years.
A special thank you needs to go to JD Ellison who supported me, sponsored me, mentored me and believed in me from day one. Not many people can say their racing hero supported them like he did. James would go above and beyond to make sure I had all the best gear and imparted wisdom that helped me grow into the person I am today. I will forever be grateful for what James did for me and will always be in debt to him.
Thank you to Craig Debrick for building my second bike for me, and to Brett Phillips for that brilliant season as part of GravityBike HQ - the best gravity bike team in the world. To Stef for having me as part of the 3223 Racing team in my final year of racing and helping me become the 4th best on the world in 2019.
There’s a million and one people I could thank but I’d be here all day 😂
Ciao Bella, Stay Safe, See you on the Hill.
Zack x
