Two New Zealand elite BMX Racing riders will carry the plate of Oceania Champion on to the UCI world circuit after winning their respective titles in New Plymouth at the weekend.
Paris Olympian Leila Walker, a teenager for another month, and fellow Cambridge rider Bennett Greenough won their respective elite titles at the championships, both dominating when it counted.
With a dearth of elite male entries, the title was decided on points over three motos, with Greenough winning all three of his motos. The Cambridge rider saved his best for last with a commanding effort to claim the title over Australians Jesse Asmus and Oliver Moran.
“I am pretty stoked. I have had a big off-season as I have not raced internationally since May last year so it was good to be back racing with the lads,” said Greenough.
“I took things lap by lap , and strung things together. I could see the benefits of the work in the off-season and happy with how things went and looking forward to the season.”
France-based kiwi professional Michael Bias finished fourth, with his title hopes dashed in the opening moto when he was speared wide off the track, recovering to finish in last spot.
Meanwhile Walker, who produced an outstanding Olympic debut to make the semifinals, enjoyed two wins and a second in her motos, but stamped her class in the final, grabbing the holeshot out of the gate and dominating from the front.
“The day was competitive, mixed in with the under-23s and elites, with some young and developing girls from Australia,” said Walker. “I was super happy to come out on top with some strong, tight racing amongst the girls.”
It was double celebration in the Greenough household, with 17-year-old Lily Greenough, a junior world championship medallist last year, finishing runner up to Walker in the final, with the field comprising elite and junior riders.
She held her own to grab a moto win with a third and fourth before an impressive final, edging out Rotorua’s Megan Williams and winning the junior honours.
However the title honours were shared with a large Australian contingent, with South Australian Joel Marsh claiming the honours in the under-23, picking up two wins in his motos, second in the semifinal but producing the goods in the final to edge out compatriots Jordan Callum and Joshua Jolly in a photo-finish.
Queensland’s Isabella Schramm edged out Te Awamutu rider Brook Penny by the slimmest of margins to win the under-23 honours. They shared the spoils in the motos and in the combined final, Schramm pipped Penny by 3/100th of a second to earn the title.
Sydneysider AJ Donald was the class of the junior racing, unbeaten throughout the day over three motos, semifinal and final despite a tight battle with fellow Australian Preston Murray.
The Oceania Championships, staged by BMX New Zealand, and hosted by the New Plymouth BMX Club, attracted over 500 event entries from elite to age groups, with strong racing in excellent conditions at the Bell Block facility.
Photo: Cole McOnie (maxaltmedia.co.nz)