Osaka Calling!

[Mikku]

No, not Naomi Osaka, the Japanese/American tennis player who recently won the US and Australian Opens, but the city of Osaka, the second largest city in Japan. If you equate London with Tokyo, then Osaka is bit like Liverpool. Anyway, unlike Tokyo, Osaka has not 1 but 2 bmx tracks and this week I visited both of them for the first time, with a view to racing there this year. The plan was to have a practice session at the first track, Oizumi and just have a wander round the second, Kishiwada, as you can't ride there without joining their insurance scheme. However, it had rained overnight, so I wasn't allowed to ride at Oizumi!

I did, however, take lots of pics and found some vids of the tracks. Enjoy!

Oizumi video link:-

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Kishiwada video link:-

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[Mikku]

Some Oizumi track pics:-

[Mikku]

& some Kishiwada pics:-

[Mikku]

Here are some pics from Sunday's race meeting at Oizumi:-

[Mikku]

Some more pics from free practice:-

[Mikku]

& some actual race pics!

[Mikku]

The cruiser class was one of the most competitive classes of the day.

[Mikku]

A couple more for ya!

[BMX1973]

Those tracks are  class 

[Drawn]

That Oizumi Track looks like it would be good fun.
Looks like it has some good challenges on there and is built for everyone.

[Mikku]

Yeah, I'd have to say that of the 5 tracks that I've now raced at over here, Oizumi is my favourite one, even though I've only raced there once. It just has a nice flow to it and is challenging without being too scary. I'm always going to have a soft spot for Midoriyama, being my first track and the one I know the best, but Oizumi pips it. Just wish it was a bit bloody closer, but you can't have it all!

[Mikku]

Was back at Oizumi on Sunday. Didn't take many pics but did manage to snap the start of the cruiser main.

[Mikku]

Took some pics at the first round of the Oizumi Winter Series the other Sunday.

[Mikku]

Some more from another race, also taken from the top of the second berm:-

[Mikku]

And a final set from the main of the over-30s mixed class, which obviously I didn't make!

[monkian]

Great pics Mick. Looks like an awesome track too

[bmxmatt1974]

Great pics, track looks fun.. Did my 3rd race after 10 years off Saturday at Bristol, 16 in my class and managed 3rd in b final.. Showed me how unfit I am 😁
Only the one pic of me racing, nearest the camera

[Mikku]

That's excellent ^^^ mate! Now you have no excuse not to start a race blog thread to record your exploits! It gets kind of lonely being the only "active" racer on here!

Great pics Mick. Looks like an awesome track too

Cheers mate! Yeah, it has become my favourite track - just wish I could get some more practice time on it. May have to take a day trip down there just for that purpose. Actually, come to think of it, I could also visit Kishiwada (the other Osaka track) when I'm there to make the most of the journey. I feel a plan in the pipeline!