15: You kinda came out of the blue, to people on this side of the world anyway, when you won the Worlds in New Zealand … we’re sure your sick of explaining it but tell us one last time … how and when did you decided to ride for GB after living in New Zealand for the majority of your life?

Ryan: I rode for New Zealand at the Birmingham World Championships but the following year they said I needed to be a New Zealand citizen to ride for them in New Zealand. I was only a few weeks away from having citizenship but I was told I would need a ‘stand down’ year to ride for New Zealand. Fortunately, British Cycling were happy to accept my entry to ride for GB given that it was an admin error that had nothing to do with me and that’s where my GB story starts …

15: Amazingly, you’ve won four W1 plates in a row … do any of them stand out more than others? Where any of them harder than the others to win?

Ryan: Winning in New Zealand for the first time in front of a home crowd stands out, but they are all special. Colombia was probably the hardest with the race delays and competition so that felt really good crossing the line in first place. None of them were easy!

15: How has your training and race approach changed from your first Worlds win in New Zealand to this years in Colombia? What does it take to win year after year?

Ryan: My training has got more structured each year after New Zealand and has certainly increased in intensity both on and off the track. This year I started working with my coach Tony Hoffman and that has put a lot more structure and rest into my programme which worked really well. It’s just a commitment to hard work to win each year.

15: Moving to the UK must have been a big adjustment? Was the move motivated by BMX at all?

Ryan: I still haven’t got used to cold and wet weather and tracks not being open all the time but I’m slowly adjusting. The good European race scene was certainly a bonus but the move back was for family reasons not BMX.

‘I will just be old enough for Tokyo 2020, it’s a huge ask but you have to dream to reach your goals.’

15: You added a European #1 in 2015, is Bordeaux on your 2017 radar?

Ryan: I slid out in the final this year and would really like to go back in 2017, however it’s too close to Worlds in Rock Hill, so will possibly skip it and head to the USA earlier. It’s a shame, the Euro Rounds and Champs are really good events and the atmosphere is electric.

15: You killed it at this year’s USA BMX Race of Champions & Grands in Tulsa, winning everything you entered … is it really the ‘greatest race on earth’?

Ryan: Grands overall was really successful for me. I had a few issues on practice day but got myself together once racing started. Grands is different as I’m out there on my own without family, so I have to really step it up with getting myself ready and bike ready through the weekend. It will help me back home as it means I can become more race independent. The weekend is up there as one of the best, it’s certainly the longest race on earth and I’d put it on the same level as Worlds. The other great thing about Grands is that I get to catch up with a lot of my friends from around the world that I only see once maybe twice a year. It’s good to hang out with the Kiwis who I have known for most of my BMX career.

15: The 13-14 Open final in Tulsa was amazing, you were out in lane 7 but opened up down the pro straight … can you remember what was going through your head in the first berm and into the second?

Ryan: I wasn’t worried as I knew I had good track speed and that if I hit the second pro straight sweet it was the fastest way through, so just focused on getting the speed to hit the straight the way I wanted to. I’ve had a few races this season where I’ve come from behind, Calais being the most recent coming from dead last, so I don’t get stressed out I just stay calm and look for the opportunities to pass. Ultimately I’m a racer and I like to win, so that drives you going round that first berm.

15: After your Grands win in 2015, the guys in your class must have been thrilled to see you back this year! Do you have plans to race a lot more in the US?  We hear rumors about you moving over if you can sort out visas.

Ryan: My visa ended up taking ¾ of this year to get resolved and that’s all in order now. I’m still in the process of planning what 2017 looks like for me and where I will race. The European scene is heavily stacked in the run to worlds and I’d be racing a year young in 15-16 boys, so that would give me some tough racing on technical tracks. However, I enjoy racing the American scene so would certainly like to be able to combine both. How and what that looks like is still to be decided …

BIKE CHECK:

Bottom Bracket: Shimano

Pedals: Shimano XTR’s & Avian Pariah flats

Brake Leaver: Box Components Genius

Hubs: Onyx Ultra SS

Rims: Alienation

Tyres: Tioga Fastr React 1.60 rear, 1.75 front / 100psi

Plate: Tangent W1

BIKE CHECK:

Frame: Speed Co. Velox Carbon Pro XL

Forks: Avian Carbon (prototype)

Bars: Cliq

Grips: ODI Troy Lee

Headset: Avian

Seat: Faithful ‘bent’ Box Components Echelon

Seat Clamp: Box Components Helix

Cranks: Avian Cadence

Bottom Bracket: Shimano

Pedals: Shimano XTR’s & Avian Pariah flats

Brake Leaver: Box Components Genius

Hubs: Onyx Ultra SS

Rims: Alienation

Tyres: Tioga Fastr React 1.60 rear, 1.75 front / 100psi

Plate: Tangent W1

15: What was your first impression when you switched to the carbon frame?

Ryan: The bike is a lot stiffer and more comfortable to ride. The support from Derek is great and I’m getting more Avian parts slowly being added to the bike which is good. The new forks are great and they look good also.

15: We think you were the youngest to do the full SX side in Manchester, the youngest to do the pro section in Chula Vista and at your home track in New Zealand, Cambridge BMX. What other firsts do you have in mind to cross off the list?

Ryan: I’ve never really looked at any of those things that way before. I wanted to do Manchester before I turned 14 and did it the day before my birthday. There are a lot of good younger riders in GB at the moment, so my ‘youngest title’ might not last too long there. I don’t really plan on doing things by age, if the opportunity arises then I will have a go at something.  My historical knowledge is not the best, so perhaps saying winning Nag5 or the overall amateur title as a Brit might not be the first time.

15: What’s the plan for 2017, where will we see you on the gate? Superclass in the UK?  Rock hill, and a 5th W1 plate must be the main goal at this point, right?

Ryan: At this stage Worlds is my biggest focus for 2017 and I would love to retain my title for a fifth year. In the run up to that I will be running some Championship race in the British Series, 15-16 Boys in the European Series and possibly some Pro Am in USA.

‘At this stage Worlds is my biggest focus for 2017 … I would love to retain my title for a fifth year.’

15: When are we going to see you race off the 8m hill? Have you got on the practice gate with any of the current crop of Elites? They won’t be looking forward to the day you turn 17.

Ryan: Unfortunately  I can’t race off the 8m hill in the UK or Europe until I’m Junior Elite. Being part of the ‘British Cycling ODA’ means I get regular track time on the SX track at Manchester. When the opportunity and riders are there I’ve done a few gates with the Elites and Academy riders and it’s a lot different heading down the ramp and first jump with more than one rider on the gate. I’ve got another two years before Junior Elite and I’m looking forward to it.

15: Have you started to dream about Olympic glory yet? Are we talking 2024?

Ryan: Definitely but 2020 not 2024. I will just be old enough for Tokyo 2020 and it’s a huge ask but you have to dream to reach your goals.

Follow Ryan Martin on: Instagram | Facebook

Photos: Ryan Martin | Derek Betcher | Speed Co |