{"id":119070,"date":"2018-07-27T08:53:18","date_gmt":"2018-07-27T06:53:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press-release-bradley-cox-steps-out-of-a-legends-shadow\/"},"modified":"2018-07-27T08:53:18","modified_gmt":"2018-07-27T06:53:18","slug":"press-release-bradley-cox-steps-out-of-a-legends-shadow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/press-release-bradley-cox-steps-out-of-a-legends-shadow\/","title":{"rendered":"PRESS RELEASE: BRADLEY COX STEPS\u00a0OUT OF A LEGEND\u2019S SHADOW"},"content":{"rendered":"

PRESS RELEASE: BRADLEY COX STEPS\u00a0OUT OF A LEGEND\u2019S SHADOW<\/a>: <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Bradley Cox – a legend in the making. Photo: www.zcmc.co.za<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Bradley Cox \u2013 the name on every National Cross Country fan’s lips after an intense weekend of racing in Swaziland. The MOTUL Alfie Cox Racing athlete conquered a 320km route of uncharted forests and technical terrain to storm to the overall victory on Saturday.<\/p>\n

In a tight field of South Africa’s top racing talent, the win comes espcially sweet for Cox. In amongst the crowd of supporters was motorsport legend Alfie Cox, who was the first the embrace his son at the finish line.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrad is filling his dad’s boots!\u201d<\/em> – was a line that was repeated in the pits as the event drew to a close. Alfie thinks differently, however, and explained:<\/p>\n

\u201cCan’t be too easy for him, there’s a lot of expectations! But he knows he has to do it for himself\u2026 knows he doesn\u2019t have to do anything for me. I don\u2019t have to live my dreams through my child \u2013 I\u2019ve done it. The motivation to train doesn’t come from me, that’s all him. He’s becoming his own champion!\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not a boast, but a statement of pure contentment. We chat to Bradley about what it’s been like to be raised by the legendary Alfie Cox, and how he’s dealt with the expectations to be like his father as he pursues a motosport career of his own:<\/p>\n

I think the first question on everyone\u2019s mind is what it was like to grow up with a motorsport legend as a father?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It has its pros and cons. At the end of the day you just see him as your dad, with all his funny jokes and goofy mannerisms \u2013 except everyone wants to take pictures with him.<\/p>\n

What were some of the stand out moments of your dad\u2019s career that were especially significant to you as a child?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was quite young when he was at the peak of his career, but one of the stand-out moments was definitely in 2005 when he did his last Dakar Rally on a bike. I remember being at the finish line waiting for him, and KTM had put on such a massive finale event.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Alfie and Bradley Cox savour victory in Swaziland. Photo: www.zcmc.co.za<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

At what point did you embrace\u00a0the Cox racing genes and decide that this sport was something that you also really wanted to pursue?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I got my first bike at 5 years old, but I wasn\u2019t too keen on racing in the beginning. In 2005 I decided that I wanted to give it a try, and the bug pretty much bit immediately. I was very into motocross back then, and did pretty well in my junior career. When I was 14 I won a championship in my first year as a senior rider, and I knew then that I wanted to make a career out of this sport.<\/p>\n

How have you dealt with the kind of pressure people place on you as \u2018Alfie\u2019s son\u2019 in an extremely competitive racing world?<\/strong><\/p>\n

My dad never put pressure on me growing up, and he was proud of me no matter what place I finished. He\u00a0always told me that he\u2019s achieved what he wanted to in his career, and doesn\u2019t have to live out any dreams through me. I think that\u2019s why my passion for riding never fizzled out, because I\u2019ve always been racing for me.<\/em><\/p>\n

What is your ultimate motorsport dream and how do plan to go about achieving that? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Since I was a little kid, I\u2019ve always wanted to be a World Champion. I\u2019ve taken different routes in my career, but the goal is still the same \u2013 to be the elite in the motorsport category that I choose.<\/p>\n

What does it look like to YOU to \u201cfill Alfie\u2019s big boots\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always done motocross, so that\u2019s never really been an issue \u2013 until I tried Roof last year. That event was the first time I ever felt the pressure of trying to do what he did. But I have to make my own path, and I can\u2019t get distracted by the outward pressure people place on me. Winning is just an awesome feeling, and not because I\u2019m trying to fill my dad\u2019s boots, it\u2019s something I enjoy experiencing.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Bradley Cox conquers technical terrain in Swaziland. Photo: www.zcmc.co.za<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

You saw a massive\u00a0breakthrough in Eshowe this year when you took the overall win.\u00a0Tell us about the build-up leading up to that moment? <\/strong><\/p>\n

That was really a special moment. A lot of people don\u2019t know about the backstory though \u2013 I had just come back from a really tough three years in Europe. I was really tested with injury after injury, and didn\u2019t achieve what I set out to do there. So eventually I came home, and really struggled mentally in 2017 to get back into things. I lost all my motivation and nearly threw in the towel. I took some time off, and realised how much I missed riding. So I signed up for three disciplines \u2013 offroad, motocross and enduro. My dad had obviously stood by me in those tough times, and really believed in me. So in that moment in Eshowe, he embraced me and we both knew that the hard work had finally paid off.<\/p>\n

What kind of role does your dad play in your riding career?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s actually funny, he never trained me growing up. It was only when I started trying out enduro that he\u2019d show me the odd skill or give me a tip here and there. As I\u2019ve gotten older, I ride with him more, but he still never really \u2018trains me\u2019. I see him more as my mentor, who walks a road with me and gives me the best advice on race days from his years of experience.<\/p>\n

What is the biggest lesson you have learnt from your dad?<\/strong><\/p>\n

He always taught me to \u201cmake a plan\u201d, whether I face a situation in life or a situation on the bike.<\/p>\n

As you continue this generation of \u2018legends\u2019 in your own unique away \u2013 what kind of legacy do you hope to leave in the motorsport world?<\/strong><\/p>\n

If someday I can match my dad\u2019s legacy, then that\u2019s really cool. But at the end of the day, I just want to ride my bike for a really long time and be a role model to the younger generation in my own way. It\u2019s actually really simple – I love motorbikes, they\u2019re the coolest thing on earth, and I want to be involved in this world as much as long as I can, wherever that may take me.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A special moment for the Cox family at the finish line. Photo: www.zcmc.co.za<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Source:<\/strong> MyPR<\/a><\/small>
\n<\/p>\n

Submit your own Press Release<\/a> or get free content for your publication.<\/p>\n

Video – How to post your Press Release on MyPR:<\/strong>
\n