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BMX rider turned Olympic track champion Jamie Staff feels BMX has been left in the dark despite British cycling's resurgence in the velodrome and on the road.

Staff strarted on a Raleigh Burner in his home village of Brabourne Lees and went on to enjoy a seven-year professional career in the United States as a BMX rider.

The 36-year-old claimed gold at the 1996 BMX World Championships and topped the US national rankings in 2001.

But injuries took their toll and Staff quit swapped dirt for boards a year later before capturing team sprint gold with Sir Chris Hoy and Jason Kenny in Beijing.

BMX was added to the Olympic programme in the Chinese capital and twice world champion Shanaze Reade went to the Far East among the favourites before crashing in the final.

Fellow Brit Liam Phillips also made the trip and finished seventh in his heat and failed to progress.

While Great Britain collected eight golds on the track, Staff is adamant changes have to be made - from the top down - if a British BMX rider is to top the podium.

"In the BMX scene there's not too much support - a bit more now - but there's been a lack of facilities for many years and they're only just starting to slowly appear," said Staff. "It's not cheap - they just built a new track in Manchester and that cost more than £300,000.

"Hopefully a few years down the line it'll start taking off and the tracks are slowly popping up. With London 2012 the councils are starting to fund new facilities and that's great.

"I think it'll improve as the infrastructure moves on but you're looking six or eight years down the road.

Staff pointed to the example of Marcus Bloomfield as evidence that the sport is being neglected.

"Marcus is 28 and has done well in the past year but had to have several injections last year and it was looking very doubtful whether he would come back because he was hanging on to his position in the team by a thread, Staff continued.

"For some reason we're really struggling - whether it's the coaching or the riders who knows? We definitely need more youngsters coming through the programme but they're struggling to find new talent.

"Marcus has the potential to go to London and Liam Phillips is a really promising youngster but he keeps crashing.

"He's got potential but whether he makes it to the top we'll see. He's shown signs so hopefully he can carry that on.

"It's not looking great on the whole but it's more of a long term plan with the BMX to be honest."

Staff's switch to the velodrome was a major coup for British Cycling but is not a one-off and Reade has also turned her hand to the team sprint with equal aplomb, claiming Track World Championship gold with Victoria Pendleton in 2007 and 2008.

Hoy's first bike was also a BMX - but Staff admits his switch to the track was an easy decision and has never looked back.

"I was out in the States for a long time and physically everything hurt - the drive, passion and flame just burnt out," added Staff.

"I had played about testing with the guys on the track before so I knew that I had potential to become a track rider so gave it a go and after a few weeks I made the team.

"I love it but I don't prefer either now. When I was younger I preferred BMX and I would still do the same again.

"The track is more clean and professional and I like that - it's more Formula One as opposed to dodgems.

"Me and Shanaze are quite similar in that we're quite stocky people. She's got a lot of power and is very strong for a young girl.

"If you've got the bike skills then you can switch really quickly - the pedal speed is a lot quicker in BMX and that's crucial."

More Than The Games / Eurosport