Scott Beaumont Interview

Published on July 6, 2009

Scott Beaumont has been riding bikes since the beginning of time, Well ok not that long really but not far off.

Since the age of 5 Scott has taken on the gates of BMX racing and has grown to be one of the biggest know names in British mountain bike racing (DH and 4X) as well as racing worldwide for his huge list of sponsors.  We caught up with Boom Boom at the recent Nps4x round at the new bike park in Bideford Devon and got his take on the year so far and the young guns to watch out for in 09.

Huckmonkey.com: Hows the year holding up for you so far Scott.

Scott Beaumont:  Yeah it’s going really good, well it started off amazing with a 7th at the first World cup round then ive had a few crashes since (I was took out once then the second time was kinda debatable if I was taken out or not). Then last weekend at Fort Bill I sort of bounced back and got a 10th which isnt amazing but still holds good points overall.

Nationally Ive won every round so far and have only lost 1 moto race at the beginning of the season. This is the forth round today and i’m really pleased with my performance I just need to take what i’m doing in the Nationals to the World Cup races and get some podiums now.

HM:  You have kept your Rocky Mountain deal for 09 but have they made any changes to your bike line up?

SB: The bike i’m riding today is a prototype and there are only 2 of them in the world (I have them both).  Rocky Mountain have used all my measurements and sizes to build this frame and they will not be going into production as they are made especially for me and my riding style.  They ride amazingly well and I really cant fault them whatsoever They really are just what I needed.

I’m not necessarily saying its the best bike for everyone but it’s perfect for me.

They have integrated the seat post to save weight and the tubing is made from super light alloy so there really is no weight to it at all. I’m also testing the new Raceface Next Carbon cranks which i’ve been told there are only 6 sets of in the world. We are testing them to ensure they are strong enough for single ring applications.  So in all honesty the bikes are really special and thats why I have 2, being protos we’re not sure of their true strength but so far so good. 

HM: Any changes to your sponsor line up for 09.

SB:  Ive joined Fox Racing (www.fox-europe.com)  for clothing this year as they have given me a really really good deal. They have put Marc Beaumont on their books as their Worldcup Downhill Rider and Me as Their Worldcup 4X rider. Its a massive change for me as I’ve been riding for Thor clothing for a fair few years now. Fox approached me and offered an amazing deal so I was in, You get a real good family feeling being part of the Fox crew.

HM: Yeah Fox have really stepped up this year what with taking on Dirt jumpers, You guys and the all round mtb legend that is Chris Smith.

SB: They really have, Ive never been this happy with a clothing deal before.

I also took on NeoGuard (neoprean mudguards that attach to your fork’s) ( www.rapidracingproducts.com ) which is pretty cool. I’ve known Craig for years and years and he’s a real cool guy with an awesome company that is going from strength to strength. Yeah so thats my 2 new ones for this year all the others ive retained for years and years.

HM: This is the first time you would have raced at TT Bike Park Southwest Extreme, What do you think of the track and what changes would you make?

SB: Considering this is their first attempt at a 4X track the guys have made a real amazing job of it. When I first came over in Feb it was just a sort of template and the guy’s were looking for ideas and stuff, since then the guy’s have moved and shaped so much soil it unreal. The soil here must be really hard to work with as well due to the real flinty layers just under the surface, the digging crew have grafted really really hard and its defiantly paid off.

Everyone here this weekend has been raving on about the track and a lot of the riders are saying its possibly one of the best tracks in the country. I personally think it is the best track in the country due to it being so much fun. The track is real wide with nice jumps, you’ve got the triple at the bottom on the last straight that’s huge if you wanna hit it and you also have small jumps for the beginners as well as the big tables for the guys who like jumping, its got it all really.  Over the next few years I reckon it will become THE venue for 4X racing.

The only changes I’d make would be to the first corner as it gets a little tight with 4 riders heading into it at the same time other than that i’d leave it how it is.

HM: Whats your favorite UK track?

SB: To be honest I really like all UK tracks at the moment as they are all developing rapidly. It’s a good time for 4X.

Redhill couldn’t get anymore smoother or fun to ride if they tried .

This Track (TT BIKE PARK) has just risen out of nowhere and will be the venue that people are talking about for month’s to come as it is so fantastic.

Blanford Forum Is great for me as a Worldcup preparation track as its real rough and real hard to ride with no flow whatsoever. A lot of people don’t like the track and moan about it all the time but I love it as it’s great for training and gives you a good workout.

Bridgenorth is my local spot and holds such good passing oppertunitys its amazing and I love racing there.

So rather than give you my favorite track I’d say 4X is developing so well and each venue has its own quailitys to offer and thats the way it should be. there is a lot of people working really hard on UK 4X at the moment and thats the key thing.

HM: Favorite Worldcup track?

SB: Ahh there you go, I always enjoy going to Mont St Anne, they don’t necessarily produce the best tracks but I always get a good feeling when racing there if that makes sense. The best tracks ive ever ridden were in Japan back in the day, although they were dual tracks back then.  The Japanese used to put so much money and effort into the tracks that there was no possible way of them not being the best in the world. More Recently Bromont last year was awesome and I really enjoyed riding the track there.

Again its a real good time for 4X and all tracks have bits that are better than the others.

HM: Who are the UK big boys to watch this year apart from yourself of course?

SB: ha ha ha Cheers, Theres loads really. Lewis Lacey is hot on my heels everywhere we go, hes going through the wars a little at the moment and is a a bit inconsistent with things not quite going his way (mechanicals etc). Lewis is destined for a good future for sure. I just want to mention a few others aswell. Nationally Duncan Ferris is awesome and if he could transfer it to a Worldcup he would be unbelievable. Tom Dowie and Pat Cambell-Jenner are also another pair that have great racing futures ahead of them.

HM: Any fresh blood on the scene you reckon will be up there in a few years.

SB: yeah defiantly, there is a couple of new girls that are going to shine. Jess Stone is the first, she’s only been riding for like a year. I saw her racing Bridgenorth a few weeks ago and i reckon she has an amazing future ahead of her. Jess is a downhiller and a phenomenal racer, when she came to bridgenorth she raced 4X and rode amazingly.

Katy Kurd is the second and again she’s from a downhill background but has more direction and skill on the 4x track than most other female 4x racers.

I really think these two have got a real good opportunity to get stuck in and do really well on the womens 4X scene.

HM: It’s good that you have mentioned girls rather than guys.

SB: The guys are always gonna fight for it thats the point, men’s 4X is safe but for the first time womens 4X has some shining lights.

HM: Do you have any rivals on the scene that you love to beat.

SB: Anyone who’s come from my era of BMX really. Cedric Gracia is always a good one as we have been racing since we were 5 years old. There is no rivalry as such but when you beat each other its like yeah yeah yeah 1 up.  I always look for him in qualifying as it always nice to get one over on him ha ha ha .

HM: Any plans to race DH this year.

SB: I’ve already done a few but to be honest with 4X picking up so well and taking off its hard to fit the DH in anymore. Worldcup schedules have got so crazy that you actually cant do both realistically. The qualifying for DH finishes 30mins before the 4X final so your so tired from the Dh that your in no fit state to ride the 4X.  Some people are trying to do both like Graves and Dan Atherton and are doing amazing but by the end of the weekend you can see they are really spent. I dont honestly think anyone will be doing both in the next few years if the UCI stick to these time schedulers.

I will be racing a few more DH races but my job and priority is defiantly 4x.

HM: Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions Scott and is there anyone you would like to thank?

SB: Cheers Cliff, Yeah all my sponsors,  Rocky Mountain, The Guys at RDH for my motorhome, Fox-europe for getting involved this year, fox suspension and hayes brakes as i’ve been with these two for years, Fat Face for my casual clothing, Raceface, I’m coming up for my twentyth year at Oakley so I better give them a good shout, Neoguard (who I mentioned earlier), Use and Sun Ringle.

My mum and Dad for supporting me and traveling the world week in week out and always being there for me, My girlfriend Holly for putting up with me never being there throughout the summer months.

And to anyone thats ever shouted for me at the races thats given me that extra drive.  Thanks.

Photo credits to Dave Richardson, June Beaumont and Cliff Barbeary.