Two-time World BMX Champion Shanaze Reade, currently out of action due to a shoulder  injury,  surprised  young  BMX  riders  at Birmingham BMX Club on Wednesday  3  June  when  she dropped in to watch their training session at Perry Park in Birmingham.

Renovation  of  Perry Park BMX track has begun and will continue in 2010 as British Cycling and Birmingham City Council await news on their bid to host the UEC European Championships in July 2011 at the city’s BMX venue.

If  successful,  the  bid  will  give a new lease of life to Perry Park BMX track  and provide the city, its residents and athletes with a state of the art International BMX facility for generations to enjoy.

This  bid  forms  part of Birmingham’s new cycling strategy which also sees the  city  bid  for  the  2012  UCI BMX World Championships at the National
Indoor  Arena  (NIA),  the  last  major  international BMX event before the London 2012 Olympics.

Holding  the  UEC  European Championships at Perry Park in 2011 will enable the  city  to  test the infrastructure, transport and logistics for the UCI BMX World Championships in 2012.

Shanaze  commented:  “It  was  great to check out how the reconstruction at Perry  Park is coming along and I’m really looking forward to training here once  the  track  is  complete. It was brilliant to see the kids enjoying a good  training session. Some of them were with their dads who used to train on  the very same track when they were children. The prospect of riding the BMX World Championships here in Birmingham in 2012 is so exciting”

Ian  Drake, CEO of British Cycling, said: “We are eagerly awaiting the news from  UCI  and  UEC regarding both bids and we have created extensive plans with  Birmingham  to bring these prestigious international BMX competitions to the city and the UK.

“Both  competitions  would  bring  new  levels  of  investment to the city, helping  us  grow  the  discipline  in the UK, encourage more youngsters to exercise and position Birmingham as a key player in BMX in the UK.”

Councillor  Martin  Mullaney, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture said  “We  are  delighted to be making a joint bid with British Cycling for the UCI BMX World Championships in 2012. The event would support the city’s cycling  strategy  and further highlight Birmingham’s reputation as a world class sporting city.

“This  event  could  bring a huge economic impact to the city and allow the people  of Birmingham to watch the best BMX riders in the world just before
they  compete  in  the  Olympic Games in London. The lasting legacy of this event means that new BMX facilities will be built in Birmingham and help us find the next generation of BMX riders.”