PURNIM youngster Zayne Roberts lives and breathes BMX racing.
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When the five-year-old is not on his bike riding as fast as he can, he is watching his heroes 2012 London Olympics silver medalist Sam Willoughby, Anthony Dean and Bodi Turner on YouTube and Instagram.
His father Troy, 31, said his son's love for the sport was born when he was looking through the garage at the trophies and sashes he had won during his career.
Zayne's interest turned into a desire to ride like his father once did and next week he will join his father at the 2019 BMX Australia National Championships in Shepparton, which runs from May 20 to 25.
"Once we got him a bike and got him down to the track he did 100 laps," Troy said of the immediate enjoyment his son had on a BMX.
"From that point we couldn't get him away from it. He watches it on YouTube now and he follows Sam, Anthony and Bodi on Instagram. He just loves it."
The Grassmere primary student, who will ride in the five-six years sprocket class, said he "enjoyed going fast and having fun" on his bike.
Zayne's obsession for the sport renewed his father's love and desire to race BMX.
"I haven't raced for over 15 years but once he started I wanted to join him before I couldn't anymore," the father-of-three said.
"It's now like two best mates having fun together."
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Troy's last time racing at a national championships was in 2003 where he finished 10th. This time around he will ride in the 30-34 years class.
"It took me a while to get back into it and get the body in shape," he said of his return to racing.
"But we were able to get our gear from Luke Pretlove at Cafe Cycles and we got straight into training at the (Jetty Flat) track."
The pair train any chance they get and one of their favourite ways to practice is at home where they sprint each other up and down the driveway.
But the main instigator behind the pair holding onto their enjoyment is Karla, Troy's wife and Zayne's mother.
"A big thank you to mother and wife Karla for keeping everything organised, getting us to training every week and driving us around to make race meetings," Troy said.
The tanker driver said he hoped he and Zayne could inspire more south-west residents to jump on a bike and give the sport a go.
Warrnambool BMX Club will have seven riders compete at the national championships with the experienced Luke Pretlove, who is out to defend his national title in the men's 35-39 years cruiser class, one to watch.
In total, 1547 entrants from 99 Australian clubs, aged from as young as four and as old as 67, will race in Shepparton from Wednesday afternoon of May 22 until Saturday, May 25.
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