Despite the challenge in a red light covid environment, BMX New Zealand will host the national championships in Hamilton this weekend.
While overall numbers are understandably down significantly on a usual championship, organisers are pleased to have around 550 riders from 27 clubs throughout the country, with practice on Friday and competition over the weekend at the upgraded track at Minogue Park-Forest Lake.
Riders have travelled from Southland, Alexandra and Cromwell in the south and from Whangarei in the north for the championships.
Organisers have strict protocols in place for riders and their support, splitting into separate morning and afternoon groups on both Saturday and Sunday. Instead of a rolling competition across the various classes over two days, it is now essentially four different complete events with four defined spaces over the two days.
“There’s been countless hours of planning and a huge workload for the host club in Hamilton,” said BMX New Zealand executive director, Dion Earnest. “After the morning session is completed, there is a complete facility clean before the afternoon classes come in.
“That’s a huge amount of additional workload, but we want to ensure the competition is safe for competitors, and at the same time ensure they can go racing.”
The elite competition takes place on Sunday afternoon, with eight riders in both the combined elite and under-23 for male and females.
North Harbour’s Michael Bias, a World cup quarterfinalist when the competition ran fully in early 2020, will defend his title. The 27-year-old is a seasoned professional who was ranked in the top 35 riders in the world in 2020.
Major competition will come from Te Awamutu’s Cole McOnie along with a group of talented under-23 riders led by New Zealand representatives Rico D’Anvers and Bennett Greenough, both from the powerful Cambridge club.
Fellow international Rico Bearman is currently based in USA where he competes with a pro team in the USA ABA national championship series.
Tokyo Olympian Rebecca Petch is set to defend her female elite title with competition from Hamilton’s Caitlin Georgantas and last year’s junior elite international Baylee Luttrell, also from the host Hamilton club.
There are a number of titleholders returning, none more so than Cambridge rider Leila Walker, who has won a multitude of national and world titles, and moves to the junior elite category this year.
Other titleholders returning include Ben Anderson (East City) 11 years, Lucas Matene (Mountain Raiders) 12 years, Cooper Richardson (North Harbour) 15-17 yrs cruiser, Dave Mohi (Rotorua) 50-54 yrs, Rico Ryan (East City) 10 years, Deacon Connor (North Harbour) 13 years, Adam Coker (East City) 35-39 yrs cruiser and 20”, Steph Hoek (40-44 yrs cruiser, Jai Matene (Mountain Raiders) 9 yrs, Finn Cogan (East City) 15 yrs, Allan Frank (Tauranga) 30-34 yrs and Meg Cannon (Cambridge) 12 yrs.
Placegetters from the world championships competing include world No 2 Luke Brooke-Smith (Cambridge) 14 years and world No 2 Tim Ferguson (Cambridge) 40-44 yrs, while Waitakere’s Toni James (Waitakere) was 4th in the 25-29 years cruiser and 5th in the 20” at the world championships.
Competition starts on Saturday morning, although under the red light restrictions, spectators are not allowed.
There will be live streaming with the link found on the website.
CAPTION: Michael Bias leads Rico Bearman on his way to winning the 2021 BMX Nationals.
Details: www.cyclingnewzealand.nz/events-and-results/national-events/bmx-new-zealand-national-championships/