A WORLD Cup podium is something to savour for a long time, but claiming one in your own backyard? That’s a magical moment Bathurst’s Mitch Thompson was able to experience on Sunday.
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Thompson scored third place in the Newton’s Nation International Downhill Federation World Cup event at Mount Panorama to add another amazing result to his growing collection.
It’s the first podium finish in the global circuit for the Bathurst rider since his third place at Killington, USA, last year.
Only Mauritz Armfelt (SWE) and Kyle Wester (USA) beat Thompson to the top prize in Sunday’s open skateboard final.
Just several metres separated the trio at the Conrod Straight finish line in the weekend’s last event.
Thompson’s detailed recollection of the final paints a picture of a special race.
“It was amazing pushing it in behind Mauritz. I followed him into the Dipper, followed his line and tried to stick with him. He got a little bit of a lead but then I heard Kyle behind me coming into Forrest’s Elbow,” he said.
“He dumped a foot, and I could probably see the smoke if I turned around. We all scrubbed through Forrest’s and lost a bit of speed, but ducked back in behind Mauritz and tried to catch his draft.
“I caught a little bit of it but I popped out too early to try and overtake. Then Kyle came in and swooped me and almost got the win as well.”
The Bathurst rider was overwhelmed to find himself ahead of 91 other riders at the conclusion of the open skateboard contest.
“At my home track it feels amazing. I can’t explain the feeling,” he said.
“I’ve only been doing this for four years. It’s my first time at Newton’s and first time doing the track properly.
“I’m stoked with the podium. I would have been happy to get top 10 but even happier to be on the podium.”
Thompson (59.49 seconds) was one of just nine riders to break the magic minute mark in Saturday’s qualifiers.
He qualified sixth for the deciding 64-rider bracket and made a strong start by winning his opening two races.
The Bathurst rider finished second to Canada’s Alex Charleson in the quarter-finals, enough to see him into the semi-finals.
Brennan Bast wiped out at Forrest’s Elbow in the semi-final and Thompson swept past to win the race and book his spot in a home final.
“I knew that what separated first through to about 15th was less than a second,” Thompson said.
“I then knew that there was going to be tight racing and that everyone was going to be in the hunt.”