Braintree Bullets’ talented riders will be bidding to make home advantage count when they look to keep their club in the hunt for a second national BMX title in three years this weekend.

The Bullets riders will be showcasing their skills to a home crowd when the HSBC UK National BMX Series comes to their Deanery Hill track in Braintree on Saturday and Sunday.

More than 700 of Great Britain’s top BMX riders, including Team GB Olympic stars, will be coming to the town to compete in the two rounds held over the two days.

Braintree are currently lying third in the team standings and head coach Julian Allen said there is still a chance of winning the title they captured in 2015 - if they can keep their heads and use knowledge of their home track to power to glory.

He said: “I’d say we probably have about six guys who are in with a definite chance of winning over the weekend and that would be fantastic on their own track.

“We travel all over the country most weeks and this will be a chance for them to show what they can do in front of local people and family members.

“There’s a lot of pressure on them, though, so it’s not going to be easy for them.

“Some will say that being at home is an advantage and that’s true as they know the track, but there’s the extra mental pressure.

“If they can block that out and they can do what they do week-in week-out then it could be great for us.

“It’s still quite close at the top of the team standings with only four rounds left.

“We’re currently third, which is where we finished last year, and I don’t see a problem with us holding on to a top three spot.

“Another podium finish would see the club right up there nationally, but we are still in with a shout of taking the win - if we can get a strong show at home.”

Racing starts at noon on Saturday until about 6pm, with Sunday’s action running from 10am until about 4pm and Allen said members of the public could watch for free, but he warned that parking in the area was expected to be very tight.

“It’s sizing up to be a really good weekend,” he added.

“We were pleased to be in a position where we could put ourselves forward to get this and it shows the growing strength of the club that we have got to host these rounds.

“It is prestigious for the club and also the town.

“We are expecting to have over 700 riders over the weekend and looking through the list of those registered, all the top ones will be coming along with a couple of British Olympic riders.

“It’s a big undertaking for the club but we’ve had great support from Braintree Council, who have helped us with logistics and local company Tamdown have got right behind us as well to help us out.”