Brothers Excel in BMX

This fall, as a season of BMX racing came to a close, Robbie and Matt Webb each found themselves #1 in the state for their age and class in National Bicycle League racing. The boys, 6 and 8 respectively, also finished in the top 5 for New England.

The accomplishments came in just their second season of racing BMX, a common acronym for bicycle motocross. In the spring of 2010 they took the advice of Jan Tanner at and took that first ride at the Foothills BMX track in Torrington.

“They’ve been hooked ever since,” said the boys’ father Jonathan.

The boys like all types of riding and the BMX racing was their choice, not anything the parents pushed them into or had much experience with.

“It’s their thing,” Jon Webb said. “They picked it.”

And riding is a thrill, the boys said.

“It’s fun,” Matt Webb said. “I like going fast. I like to jump.”

Robbie said he’s been preparing for racing for quite some time now.

“I took my training wheels off at 3,” he said.

This year the boys joined Team Edge, sponsored by Bikers Edge, and participated in races at four tracks in the state and several others in the region. Racing and Sunday afternoon picnics became a tradition for the Webb boys and mother/wife Elizabeth.

“It’s a great sport, with tons of families” Jon Webb said. “It’s kind of one of those things. Now that it’s over, we’ll miss it.”

The Webbs are finding that their level of involvement in the sport continues to rise. The NBL and American Bicycle Association are nearly complete with a merger that would bring more riders and tracks into the Webb's circuit.

And next year the boys expect to move up from intermediate to expert class. Jon Webb is also planning to become more involved in the operation of the Torrington track. It even factored into his decision not to seek re-election to the Board of Education.

And of course there’s already been a couple of new bikes and plenty of parts, bike stands, poster and trophy-clad bedrooms and some greasy hands.

“It’s taken over our lives — but in a good way,” Elizabeth Webb said.