So I've been riding for around about a year now. I have yet to break into the top half of the field on most races and for next year ill be moving up to my first year in junior. Do you think it would be possible, if I was really determined to build up enough skill over the next two or three years to be accepted into expert, if not at the end of the junior category, then after my first year of senior?
Im learning to drive soon which i hope will mean I can ride a lot more, and im thinking of reducing my working hours and quitting one of my two jobs to give me more time to ride.
So what do you lot think? Impossible to do? If I really make the effort and get out downhilling three or four times a week will it be enough?
Thanks, feel free to discuss, I don't mind being hijacked.

If you are riding a Kona Stinky you are going to struggle, it depends what races you've been doing. If you havent been getting into the top half at regionals then, almost definatly not going to happen. If your talking about nationals then, maybe you could do it, but the step up from Youth to Junior is quite a large one. Work hard and you could probably do it.

Cheers for your input guys. So are there any expert riders on here that remember what standard they were at when they first joined junior?

yea it is a big step, im in there too next year  , mind you ive been riding alot more over the last year and i watched some of the filming i did a year or so ago and its unbelivable how much me and my mates have improved, so i would say its easly possible if your riding the maximum you can thats for sure, but then agayn there is a very high competion in juniors, a few of them are doing world cups! but if you have the right frame of mind i see no reason why not....


and remember... practice makes perfect 

iawn da benda...cont

your driving that digger on your own now

anythings possible, but if your not even in Juniors yet your have a couple of years until your old enough to ride Expert
so don't worry about it for now, just ride lots and have fun. I think riding as many different places as you can really helps.
but you young guys seem to pick up being fast pretty easy :'(

I would also say this, Expert does have some world cup class riders, but if you look at the national results the expert cat also has riders only capable of mid (senior) table results!!!!!!!!!!!! not quite right in my eyes but everyone is entitled to an off day

I was in exact same frame of mind a few years back, wont you need the money from your job to learn to drive because its f*kin expensive! I dont think anyone realy moves up loads further than when they first entered but could be wrong, youl have to have a crack at it and see for yourself or yol never know. If i were you though, i wouldnt let it take over your life, know what i mean? Keep a balance or it could end up destroying your esteem if you dont succeed. TIP, try and beat that bloke that always comes 2 infront of you, that way your more likely to be grinin on the way home than misrable because you cant get to the podium. some are just faster than others, thats just the way it is from what ive experienced.

Lol, thanks for bringing this up again mate.
Riding over winter and getting a new bike (Giant DH Comp) seems to have made me a lot quicker though. Going from the bottom of the leaderboard at most races I was in 11th place, quarter of a second off the top ten in junior at hopton last weekend on my first run, with one crash and getting stuck behind somebody on the last section. Though i need to work on my physical fitness as I was too tired for my second rund and dropped down to 15th.
Thanks again for the input fellas