REPORT 1 - BUILDING UP TO THE BIKE SHOW

This is an Interview with the winner of Hop Idol round three, two weeks before the Bike Show.

What’s your name and where do you come from?
Matt Barlow from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire

Age?
21

Why did you decide to enter Hop Idol this year?
I’ve followed Hop Idol in MBUK in previous years and always perceived the standard to be way above that which I was riding at. This last year I’ve been able to ride everyday and push myself more than ever and my friends really convinced me to enter the competition. I’d been making a few trials videos and really getting into filming and editing so I picked out my favourite and sent it to Giles with a CV.

Did you have more time on the bike this year because you’re a lazy lay about student that does essays at the last minute?
Erm…no comment on that, my Mum might read this!! (laughing)

How did you feel when you were invited to a Hop Idol qualifying round?
I’m not sure to be honest. Surprised I think! At first I wasn’t even sure if I could go. It was midweek and it would mean missing all my lectures and you know how committed I am to those (laughing).
I thought, even if nothing comes of it, it was a chance to meet new riders and get into the hallowed pages of MBUK.

What was the qualifying round like in Kent?
My main recollection of it is that It was great fun but really really tiring. I travelled from Bangor into central London and back out to Swanley. Tackling the London tubes at rush hour is always tricky but with a bike it’s a nightmare. Worse still was the fact that when riding from one station to the next the London street riding was amazing and I had to ride straight past it so I didn’t miss my connections!!
Following that with a 10hour day of meeting people, riding and interviews, I was fairly knackered at the end of it all.

Were you surprised to get through?
I one sense yes because I went there knowing my main weakness was natural riding therefore not really expecting to get through. On the day however I was really pleased with my riding and would have been very disappointed not to get through. I tried to hit the lines fast and smooth, like I would ride street, with very little hopping and hopefully the judges liked it.

Do you think you can win at the Bike Show with a more street orientated course?
My tip for the Bike Show would be to look out for Jack Meek as I think he is the strongest rider to qualify so far. Having said that I firmly believe any rider could win on the day, that’s the beauty of the competition. As we saw at NASS 03 you can be the best rider but you can’t win if you get a flat tyre or snap your forks ten seconds into your run. Also I think nerves will play a big part in it on the day. None of us who have qualified are used to 2,000 people watching us ride!

Good luck at the Bike Show, and is there anyone you’d like to thank?
I’m guided by a force much greater than luck (laughing).
Yeah I’d like to thank my friends and family for encouraging me to enter but in a more immediate sense I’d like to thanks Giles for putting on the event and Ian Drummond, Chris Ratcliffe, and Chris Towes for been so friendly and such a good laugh throughout the day. Special thanks must go to Steve Behr who was really friendly, helpful and patient with us. It was such good fun to work with such a top bloke.