Daniel Figueroa
DANIEL Figueroa has made the transition from motor to pedal power with ease.
And no one is more surprised than the Damascus College Year 10 student.
With minimal preparation, Figueroa has taken out a Victorian secondary school 14-15 years BMX title.
The Myrniong 15-year-old claimed the title at Knox on Wednesday, having progressed via the western zone finals at Geelong.
His achievement earns him the Sportz Biz junior sports star of the week.
It was only by chance that Figuero entered the competition.
“I saw in the school bulletin they were calling for students wanting to have a go..”
Figueroa had only ever ridden for fun previously, with motocross his major sporting pastime for the best part of 10 years.
He said BMX was certainly a lot different to motocross - much more physical.
He said the handling skills he had developed on a motorbike had been of assistance on the bike.
What made his achievement all the better was that he simply used his basic “old” BMX bike.
There was nothing highly technical about it.
It was simply a matter of jumping on and pedalling as fast as possible over a one-lap circuit.
“I just went for it.”
Figueroa took as break from competitive motocross this year, but is planning a return with the Bacchus March club.
He is not likely to be totally lost to BMX though.
He is thinking about getting in some practice sessions on the Ballarat Seabastopol Cycling Club circuit at Marty Busch Reserve.
The Courier Sportz Biz Junior Sports Star of the Week receives a $50 voucher courtesy of Sportz Biz, Ballarat.
Details on how to nominate someone you know are on the entry form below.