Kiwi international Scotty Columb has been racing in the United Kingdom this season, but a quick trip to Belgium was just what the man from Queenstown needed to break up his routine.

He writes in to report on his latest adventures.

“I have been over in Belgium for the past week doing some riding with JC6, Jake Nichols and the infamous Bubbles or Bubbl’e as they say in Europe. But let me tell you we should have been at the beach because it has been hot, too hot for riding dirt bikes! We went trials bike riding the last day I was there at a place close to Antwerp, which was the highlight of the week sooo much fun!

“Arriving midday Friday in Dover, my girlfriend Toos and I headed north up the M1 towards Birmingham. This trip normally takes three and half hours but it turned into a seven-hour trip with traffic everywhere, I was ready to return to NZ, I tell ya what. The traffic jams are terrible but we finally we arrived home. Later that evening I caught up with my parents who have been over here on holiday, so that was cool to see them.

“Sunday the 28th we had a round of the MMX British open at Blaxhall sand pit in South East England, it was a scorcher of a day which I love. The English aren’t used to the sun and turn into pink lobsters when they’ve seen too much, I find it hilarious seeing all these sun-burnt people at the races.

“Qualification I was fourth. Quite a sandy track Blaxhall pit with a few rocks, jumps and to-iigght like a tiger…

“Race one I was second round turn one and into the lead after turn two. I led for half the race riding well. Then being passed by Brad Anderson who snuck inside and took me over the berm, re-entering the course Kristian Whatley clipped me and I was back in third. He did wave to say sorry which I thought was awfully polite.

“Riding with those boys we had a good pace and I was reeling them in when I encountered a few problems, First I hit my gonads on the tank and was short of breath for a little then I had a problem with my rear shock which made riding at race pace simply too dangerous on the rough course which allowed Carl Nunn to slip by, I crossed the line fourth.

“Race two was another good start, third, but I went back a couple of places. Not losing touch with the leaders a few riders went down I managed to slip into third and started catching Nunn. All of a sudden I rounded a corner and found Anderson on the ground so now I was in second with three laps to go. However with one and a half laps to go I got a little off line and couldn’t jump a table top allowing Anderson to get by, finishing third and third overall for the day.

“Overall there were a lot of good things from the day which I am relatively happy with, starts, speed and my injured thumb didn’t give me too much grief so am looking forward to getting out on the bike this week.”

Main photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com