Alans BMX Grand Prix Invitational, Presented by Supercross BMX

On September 5, Alans BMX and Preston Pirates BMX Club put on something the UK had not seen before: a 16-rider Pro/Am Grand Prix invitational, four finals, random gates, real prize money, sidehacks, and an 80s freestyle demo on the finish straight. Supercross BMX presented the event. We are the bike sponsor of the Alans BMX race team, and when Alan Woods told us what he was planning, we did not need convincing.

Why we backed it

Alans BMX has been in the business for 45 years. Alan Woods was UK BMX National #1 in 1981. He is making a film about where BMX started in Britain and where it is now, and he needed a race that would show just how fast today's riders are, men and women, on a proper track. Supercross put up the £500 winner's prize and our name on the event because this is exactly what we want to support: a shop that has spent four decades keeping riders on bikes, a club full of volunteers, and a day built around fun rather than points. not to mention we have been a Sponsor of Alans BMX Racing team from the early 2000's when Kye Whyte picked up his Dual UK #1 Plates and now again with Alan's amazing group of riders. 

That is the whole idea at Supercross. We support the fun in BMX. We support the shops that hold the sport together, and our riders do the same.

Kye Whyte drove two hours to sign autographs

Kye Whyte was on the original invite list. Days before the race, he and Ross Cullen had to pull out to avoid any risk of injury ahead of flying to China for Olympic qualifying points. Kye could have stayed home. Instead he made the two-hour drive to Preston anyway, not to race, but to be there. He spent the day signing autographs, taking pictures and talking with the kids who lined up to meet him. Ross did the same at his local track, serving coffee to the spectators.

An Olympic silver medalist giving up a day off to stand at a club track and make a few hundred kids' year is what a factory rider looks like to us. Kye has been on Supercross since he was eight years old, and today he rides the Vision F1x in his own British Racing Matte Green for the Supercross BMX Factory Team. We could not be prouder of how he represents it.

The format

Alans BMX race team manager John Bentley sent the invites and balanced the field between the in-form National Series riders and the British Cycling program. Sixteen riders, four finals each, gates drawn at random by Sqorz. Everyone was going to get an outside gate at some point, so everyone had to race tactically. The Preston track is a great leveler.

The women

Bethany Shriever rallied the field herself and brought the British Cycling riders with her: Emily Hutt, Sienna Harvey, Lily Chiziwa, Emie Seward, Megan Gerrard, Betsy Bax and Megan Roy. Beth did what Beth does. Four finals, four wins, and she was not just fast, she was a pleasure to be around all day. If you are racing BMX right now, take note of how lucky you are to be riding in the same era as Bethany Shriever.

Behind her, Sienna Harvey was the story. She got aggressive into the turns, took 2nd in the first two finals, dropped to 5th from gate 8 in final three and fought back to 3rd in the last one to finish 2nd overall. Emily Hutt, still on the road back to full fitness, rode through the pack all day for two 3rds, a 2nd and a 4th and missed 2nd overall only on countback. Betsy Bax finished just off the podium in 4th with a 2nd in the final race. Emie Seward and Megan Roy showed real speed on the clock, and Lily Chiziwa and Megan Gerrard stayed right on the pack. Women's racing in the UK is fast, competitive and aggressive, and this field proved it.

The men

With Ross Cullen out, the door was open. Tyreese Bradshaw, the current UK 17-29 #1, walked through it. He won final one after Brynley Savage got the drop on the gate, had a wobble to 4th in final two, then came from gate 8 to win final three and won final four to take the overall and the £500 Supercross prize. He had Ross Cullen worried about his lap record.

George Hunt, the current Superclass #1, rode aggressive all day and made moves when it mattered for two 2nds and two 3rds and 2nd overall. Brynley Savage had a 3rd and a 1st before backing off in final three, admitted he had not ridden since the Worlds in Australia, then regrouped for 3rd in the last final and 3rd overall. Cal Strickland, the newly crowned British Champion and 2022 Masters World Champion, finished 4th and pulled a move in the second berm in final three to pass two riders. Ross Sharp, the wildcard on a comeback ride after ten years, took 5th. Jared Hill came up from East Anglia on his way back from injury and finished 6th after a spill in final four. Theo Peterkin sorted his own train from Peckham, never gave up, and put in a 29-second lap in final four. Alex Brookes took a knock to the head in final two, kept racing, and threw in a berm move anyway, because he is Alex Brookes.

Sidehacks and an 80s freestyle demo

A few gates of sidecar crews traveled down from the North East at short notice and put on a show, including one final that ended in a dead-heat photo finish. Even Beth Shriever had a go afterward.

Then, for a scene in the film, the finish straight turned into 1985. Tom Justice, Tom Russell and Harry Gorman rode a retro freestyle demo on a five-foot-wide BMX Action Trick Team-style quarter pipe and trick ramp, joined by Tom's 7-year-old son Jesse and 9-year-old Vitor Owens. Most of the racers at Preston had never seen anything like it, and the race community stood open-mouthed. That is the point Alan was making with the film, and one we agree with: it is fine to have a full carbon race bike, and it is fine to have a park bike too. BMX is one sport.

What the riders said

"It was a fun experience and I fully enjoyed myself. It was great to get involved with the BMX community and show case some fast and interesting racing! Great vibes and great atmosphere." Bethany Shriever, Olympic Gold Medalist, Tokyo 2020, World Champion 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2026

"It was a sick event, racing was fast paced and super close on a tight track. Having only short breaks throughout made it a super entertaining show." George Hunt, UK Superclass #1 2026

"I absolutely loved the event. The race format was brilliant and made for some really exciting racing. I'd definitely love to see more events like this in the future!" Sienna Harvey, GB Olympic Development Rider

"It's not often we get a chance to race in a format away from the norm. The event was a breath of fresh air with great prize money on the line too! I hope there's more of the same next year." Cal Strickland, current World plate holder, 2022 Masters World Champion

"Absolute class event. Bringing the best out of BMX. Both great to compete and spectate." Tyreese Bradshaw, World #4 and current UK 17-29 #1

"Great event, enjoyed the racing, definitely one of my favourite races of the year! Need more events like this!" Brynley Savage, World plate holder, current W5

"With only a month to put this together as part of the film we are making, Preston Pirates were absolutely amazing to work with and I must thank the riders who made a commitment at such short notice and at the end of a grilling season." Alan Woods, Alans BMX, UK BMX National #1 1981

"Considering it was put together as a unique filming opportunity for the film, it ended up being a fantastic event in its own right." David Arnold, film co-producer

Thank you

Alans BMX Grand Prix Invitational presented by Supercross BMX, co-sponsored by Alans BMX, PWR Motors and Junction 4 Sports Village. Thanks to Preston Pirates BMX Club chairman Romney Whybrow-Parker and every club volunteer, to John Bentley and Leanne, to Dave Arnold who built the ramps and is co-producing the film, to Sam Davies-Bate for hauling the ramps, to Neil Stewart on the mic, and to Adam Livesey for the track photos. Ideas are already coming in for more events like this. We are in.

Full results on Sqorz: Women and Men. Find Alans BMX at alansbmx.com and Preston Pirates at prestonpiratesbmxclub.com. Follow Kye at @kyewhyte and the team at @SupercrossBMX. Looking for a Supercross dealer near you? Use the dealer locator.