Richo is the newest member of the Unit BMX team, and although he may not be winning Dew Tours, he is an amazing trails and street rider, and one of the nicest guys around.

He used to have a wild set of trails on the Gold Coast that him and the locals worked hard on, and had looking sweet, but due to the recent freak weather on the Coast the trails have been levelled! Everyone is gutted, and until a new set of trails gets going, it is a long 4 hour drive to Maryborough for a good set to ride.

Richo and Cooper headed north last week for a cool session, and this short video is the product. Unfortunately Cooper had a fall while gapping some of the ghetto ramps which resulted in a broken knee cap, so the footage is limited. Cooper told us today he will be catching up with a surgeon this week which should finalise whether he needs surgery or not. We will keep you all posted on that, but in the meantime enjoy the clip!

• By Allan H

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Rider: Steve Dart    Photo: Chris Pitts

Our friend Steve from Freerider Magazine gives us his review on the re-opened Black Duck Valley Moto tracks...

I’m heading to Black Duck Valley Moto X track and trails for the first time since it closed last year. Its dark and I pack my YZ450, riding gear into the van (along with packed lunch and Red Bull). As I merge onto the M1 it’s just starting to become light as I join the fleet of tradies and machine operators heading to work on a Saturday. It seems fitting that I have Pink Floyd’s ‘MONEY’ playing on my CD player. All these guys are heading to work to make their money, while I’m heading to BDV to spend mine!

I turn off the M1 heading west towards The Warrego Highway, a 744 km fully sealed stretch of highway (leads you from the Queensland’s capital, Brisbane), through the fertile Lockyer Valley and out to BDV. I feel the temperature drop a few degrees see fog and mist hover over the plain lands.

I arrive at the front gate to Black Duck Valley to see the BDV sign nailed to a tree across from the main entrance. I follow the signs directing me to the house office to see only one ute with two bikes perched in the back. It’s not your normal BDV morning sign on frenzy of crew trying to fill out forms and buy ice and drinks. It was eerily quiet and a bit surreal.

I begin to fill out pages of documentation which will be the nucleus for the induction I’m about to sit. Not to go into too much detail on the induction – Pete covers off everything from park rules, park responsibilities, riders duty of care and personal responsibilities. Pete delivers the induction with passion and no nonsense in his demeanour. The one thing that is strikingly clear is that if you don’t follow the park rules and fuck up once – you WILL never ride the park and its facilities again ever. It’s a stance I support Peter 100% with.

After the induction and park protocol is understood and you’ve signed a waiver that you are riding – At your own risk. I drove my van along the unsealed road to the start of the camp ground. The guy directs me to the main Moto tracks (Tracks 1 to 4) and notions me to stay off Pete’s newly sown grass that is now the 5 hectare camping ground. As I slowly drive up to Track 2 (Novice to Advanced) I notice the tracks are in perfect condition. It’s just gone 9.30am and there is only the sound of one motocross bike far in the distance – most likely track 4. Usually by this time on a Saturday morning every track would have 20 plus bikes ripping around the freshly groomed runs.

I kick my bike into action and the anticipation is now in full flight. I descend onto track 2 and begin my laps with no one else in sight. This is fucken unreal I scream to myself inside my helmet, as I round the corner to see the freshly groomed 55ft step up and fly up and over into the next rounding berm, and fly down the drop off into a another corner...

After five laps I run over a metre long carpet python, which I have disturbed from its slumber in the knee high grass alongside the track. I’ve been blasting around track 2 for a good half an hour and I start to see a few more cars starting to roll in. As the sun rises higher into the mid morning sky the track is tacky fast and too myself. No fucken way – this place rocks! BDV is in its full glory.

When you meet Pete, ask him why he wanted Black Duck to reopen. It’s a heartfelt reason and worth hearing.

Black Duck Valley facts -

Due to popular demand pay on the day will now be available for a trial period effective immediately. You will need to go the Registration page fill out the Registration Form, read the Induction Format and print off both documents before you come to the park and yes we take cash on the day.

New Pricing for day use- under 8yrs=$10 , 8-12yrs=$20 , 13-18yrs=$40 , over 18yrs=$50. per day Pay on the Day pricing for Camping =$10 per Day per Person including non-riders
Water over crossings leading to the Park, please use caution whilst crossing. All enquires to Peter at BDV (07) 5462 9116

The park has-

• Four adult tracks ranging from novice to advanced.
• Three intermediate to advanced level junior tracks.
• Two novice tracks to cater for junior & adults.
• One pee wee tracks, these catering only for very young children riding Pee-wees fitted with training wheels.
• Trails: There are two trail / enduro loops.

Click here to view the Black Duck Valley website
  

• By Allan H

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