PRO’S LIFE
Oscar Griffiths
Not quite a pro yet, but this GT Viris youth team rider is well on his way
“Racing bikes is the best, but it definitely isn’t straightforward! I came into this year of racing after a solid off-season of hard work, and I was excited to see what I could do at the races. Unfortunately, while shooting for GT and MBUK, I misjudged a turn and ended up breaking my collarbone. I was gutted because it meant missing out on the first few races and losing the fitness I’d trained for. I treated it as a one-off and was riding again within seven weeks, but while I was back (mostly) physically, I wasn’t quite mentally ready to go straight into full-gas hot laps.
“With less and less pain, I got into the racing groove and was back, beginning to get better results – like during a great weekend in Germany, when I won an iXS Cup race! We then went out to Morzine, France for some insane riding. I was improving on the bigger tracks every day and loving it, looking towards the last few rounds of the National Downhill Series, when I’d finally get a chance to do my best. Just as I felt I was back physically and mentally, I made another simple mistake (on a fireroad!) and broke my other collarbone. I couldn’t believe it – I was going to miss the whole season, between the two collarbones. I was gutted.
“This season hasn’t even been close to how it was supposed to go, but I’ll learn from my mistakes and try to lessen the chance of these crashes happening. I’m keen to do some hard work in the off-season, before my first Junior season – and hopefully some World Cups!”