British Cycling, in partnership with Manchester City Council and UK Sport, has announced that tickets for the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup will go on general sale at 2pm on Tuesday.
The event, which last year saw the finals unfold in front of a sold-out arena, is expecting to attract record crowds when it returns to Manchester this April 2015.
Such is the anticipated demand from fans that this year’s event will be staged on the evening of Saturday 18 and afternoon of Sunday 19 to accommodate the increasing number of families and BMX enthusiasts keen to attend from outside the region. Previous years have seen the event staged on a Friday and Saturday night.
Anticipated to lead Great Britain’s BMX team is Olympian and 2014 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup champion, Liam Phillips. The 25-year-old BMX star generated roof-raising applause when he took victory in Manchester earlier this year.
Activity commences from 4pm on Saturday April 18 when doors to the world-class BMX centre will open to adrenalin fuelled crowds looking to watch riders jostle to qualify for Sunday’s finals in three rounds of motos. The top ranked 16 men and 8 women will then race the clock in the Time Trials Superfinals.
Activity resumes from 2pm on Sunday April 19 when the doors re-open to what promises to be an action packed final.
Attendees will see the world’s top 64 men and 32 women race from the eight-man gate, elbow-to-elbow through the rounds to claim victory in Manchester. An autograph session will open both days of the competition, offering fans the chance to meet with some of the best athletes in the sport.
Speaking on the ticket announcement and new event format, Jonny Clay, British Cycling’s cycle sport and membership director, said: “The UCI BMX Supercross World Cup attracts a strong family audience.
"In moving the event to a Saturday and Sunday we hope to better accommodate their needs and provide fans from across the UK with the opportunity to watch the best BMX riders on the planet compete in Manchester.
“Following what has been an impressive year for the Great Britain BMX team, we’re expecting a strong response to tomorrow’s ticket release. We encourage fans wanting to secure their place and be a part of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup action to get their tickets early.”
The Manchester spectacle is the opening event in a five-stop global series which will also see rounds held in Papendal (Netherlands), Engelholm (Sweden), Santiago del Estero (Argentina) and Rock Hill, South Carolina (USA). It is the third time the city and world-renowned BMX venue will play host to the international event having staged successful events in 2013 and 2014.
The event is part of UK Sport’s Gold Event Series, which aims to bring over 70 of the world’s most prestigious sporting events to the UK by 2019, backed by British Cycling and Manchester City Council. Ticket holders can expect a weekend of adrenaline charged racing from some of the fastest riders on the planet.
Single-day tickets for the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup are priced from just £7. For further event information and to purchase tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk/britishcycling.
