Carrbridge teen all pumped up after qualifying to ride for GB at bike world champs
A talented young biker from Carrbridge is getting all pumped up ahead of racing against the world’s elite in Switzerland this autumn.
Joe Paterson qualfied for the UCI Pump Track World Championships after finishing fourth in the recent GB qualifer in the North-east of England.
The 17 year old crossed the line in fourth place which was good enough to see him get a ticket for the plane.
The 2025 Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships takes place in Monthey in early September.
And the youngster admitted he is ‘buzzing’ following his achievement after heading to the qualifier earlier this month at Chopwell by Gateshead with no great expectation.

He said: “I just went down to give it a go and I ended up finishing fourth for the UK. I’m buzzing.”
He is now receiving backing from Velosolutions who develop professional pump tracks, bike parks and mountain bike trails.
Paterson said pump track racing is all about building speed and momentum including judging how best to take corners.
He explained: “The bikes are a lot lighter and they only have one speed - there are no gear changes.”
The teen got involved in the sport when a bike track was developed near his Carrbridge home.
“I started riding that and there were some great dirt jumps which I do as well and I moved into pump tracks from there,” he said.
“I have been riding bikes for 15 years so I knew that I had a talent for it once I got started on the pump track bikes.”
Paterson had to come through three solo timed runs and then into head to heads for the best 16 qualifying riders at Chopwell.
He was just 0.7 seconds from getting on the podium - losing out to the eventual overall winner - but his performance was still good enough to earn him GB selection.
His mother Shona said: “We are so proud of Joe, not only is he supported by family but by the community too.
“He has had a fearless attitude to biking from a very young age and continues to give his all to every event he enters.
“It’s hard to watch at times as he powers round the track. We are often watching through our fingers!
“Thanks also to Velosolutions for the support they have given Joe so far.”
She added: “Joe has always been an enthusiastic rider and has grown up playing on the dirt jump bike park in Carrbridge.
“When the pump track in Boat of Garten opened, he also enjoyed riding there.”
His first break came in 2023 when the Boat of Garten pump track hosted a regional time trial heat for under 16s.
Paterson and his friend Gordon Archer, also Carrbridge, qualified from that heat to take part in the national event in Glasgow, where they were placed second and third respectively.
In April, earlier this year, Paterson attended an open session at the new Fort William pump track which was sponsored by Velosolutions.
It was their talent scout at the event who invited him to attend the UK qualifiers in Chopwell where he excelled.
Since leaving school last year, Paterson has completed a pre-apprenticeship in agriculture and is currently working for Morrison Lawn and Landscape in Grantown.
Find out more about the world championships by clicking here.