BMX star Quillan Isidore on learning to stay cool ahead of new season

Quillan Isidore has been impressing in training (Copyright: SJS Photography)

Being talented on two wheels is not enough to keep you upright and ahead of your rivals in the heat of competition flying round bends at 40mph.

It's something Quillan Isidore learned very quickly in his first pro season in BMX. Lots of bumps, crashes and injuries are motivation enough to inspire new ways of doing things.

The 19-year-old Sky Academy Sports Scholar has been busy preparing for his second campaign with plenty of time spent with his coach in and out of the saddle.

Here are Quillan's latest words.....

I had a great break over Christmas & the New Year, spending time with friends and family and I was able to recover and go into a fresh block of training fresh and recuperated from being ill, which tends to be standard procedure every year.

But the hard work is just beginning.

Training has got off to a good start where I've been able to pick up where I left off before the break. I'm making massive improvements on the bike. I'm feeling more confident and refined, which was the main target.

My coach Marcus and I prioritise more bike time over being in the gym for this exact reason. Reflecting on last year, the major issue was not being able to control my bike under pressure and at high end speed.

It's shown as I've gone faster in my lap times than I did at last year's World Cup. So I'm pleased - I've got to be doing something right!

Looking ahead to this year, the targets are to put what I'm doing in training into racing and stay clinical and precise throughout the lap.

This means I'll be able to keep my cool whilst under the pressure of other riders around me, minimising mistakes and landing every jump to perfection. This will reduce the number of crashes I have, hopefully!

Obviously, the Olympics is the big goal, but I have a few stepping stones to get there first. A target of making the European finals and World Cup finals is a must to make qualification.

Quillan is not getting too carried away thinking about this summer's Olympics

However, I'll be taking it one race at a time so I can keep myself as composed as possible.

I've joined a new BMX Race team called the Pure Bicycle Company as I wanted a professional set-up at UK races which should help my performance - so I'm very happy in that department.

Because it's a pro team, I will be provided with all the support needed for a race so I'll be able to focus solely on my riding. It's got a great team environment with everyone helping out, which always makes the day more enjoyable.

Other than training and racing I'll be visiting a few primary and secondary schools to give speeches and Q&As which I'm looking forward to and hopefully inspiring some students to go on and do great things not just in sport, but anything they apply themselves in.

I'm next competing in Manchester on March 11/12 where it's the start of the 2016 British BMX Series with rounds 1 and 2 at the National Cycling Centre.

I'll be also heading to Zolder in Belgium for a week in February ahead of the European round at the end of March for a training camp. I'm very much looking forward to this as it's one of my favourite tracks I've ridden and raced.

WHAT'S COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS..............

JAN 16 - MARCH 5: Siobhan-Marie O'Connor, Australia

JAN 23 - FEB 1: Savannah Marshall, training camp in USA

JAN: Lucy Garner, in Australia for start of road cycling season

FEB 3-5: Jack Bateson, Bocskai tournament in Hungary

FEB 3: Mark English, racing in Dusseldorf 

FEB 4: Rio Olympics - 6 months to go

FEB 6-7: Elise Christie, World Cup in Dresden

FEB 13-19: Quillan Isidore, training camp in Zolder, Belgium