NOT even a freak accident and suspected cracked ribs could stop Bendigo BMX sensation Matthew White firing at the ABA Grand Nationals in the United States.
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The 15-year-old rising star picked himself up and dusted himself off after a spectacular crash early on at Tulsa to claim a podium place.
White's front wheel came off mid-race in a 15 boys' expert quarter-final and he flew over the handlebars head-first onto the track.
"I didn't think he was going to be able to race on, the footage of it is horrendous," White's father, Michael, said.
"He went over the handlebars and ploughed his head into the ground.
"His feet come around and almost hit him in the back of the head.
"It was terrible, but he was able to race again later in the 15-16 boys' open, he made the final and finished third.
"I got some reports back from America that he got a lot of respect from the Americans for getting back and racing."
White's bad luck in such a big event has stoked his motivation for another crack next year.
"He was doing so well in his quarter-final sitting in second place and it's just a shame that he's had the crash because his goal was to try and win it," his father said.
"But they've said they want to bring him back out next year to do it again and he enjoyed his time over there."
