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BMX Racing National Series Recap: May dominates, Marsh and Hughes split the honours

15 Apr 2024 | 12:19 PMBy: AusCycling

Bella May stamped her authority as one of Australia’s best Superclass riders with back-to-back wins in the National Series over the weekend, while Joel Marsh and Andrew Hughes shared the honours in the top Men’s category.

Weather conditions were near ideal in Adelaide for the two days of racing, with clear skies and temperatures in the low 20s providing an idyllic setting for Rounds 2 and 3 of the National Series.

Round 2

Superclass Men

Andrew Hughes (Macarthur BMX) was the early standout in the Superclass Men’s category on Day 1, winning each of his motos on the way to the final. Hometown favourite Joel Marsh (Happy Valley BMX) also looked strong throughout the preliminary rounds, winning all but one moto and posting the fastest lap time of the day.

Marsh made a hot start in the final to lead the field into the first turn, keeping him clear of a crash that claimed Max Cairns (Park Orchards BMX) and Sam O’Grady (Bendigo BMX) in the chasing pack.

Hughes did his best to claw back the gap, but Marsh wouldn’t be bested on his home track, holding on for a comfortable win and the 2023 Under 23 National Champion was happy with how his racing came together on the day.

“Yeah, I'm pretty happy with the outcome. I felt good all day,” Marsh told AusCycling.

“I think I just fixed up a few little mistakes around the track, and then I was able to put together a good start, which led to a good lap.I’m happy to take out the win.

“It was the first proper race I've done here with quite a few other riders. It was a good turnout, had (enough riders for) a semi-final, and some quick guys here, for sure.”

In the Junior Superclass Men, Cameron Gatt (Geelong BMX) and Declan McGhee (Mandurah BMX) were both undefeated through their motos, quarter, and semi-finals. The final did not disappoint, with both riders leading throughout the race, but it was McGhee who came out on top in a photo finish by just one one-hundredth of a second.

James Smith (The Cove BMX) was a class above in the Masters category, winning each of the first three motos by at least two seconds, with third place in the final moto enough for a points victory.

**Joel Marsh leads the Round 2 Superclass Men's Final.**

Superclass Women

Bella May (Frankston BMX) owned the Superclass Women category on Day 1, winning the preliminary motos by about half a second each time from her nearest rivals.

An upset momentarily looked on the cards in the final when local rider Imogen Healy (Tea Tree Gully BMX) took the lead down the second straight, but hopes of another SA win were soon dashed – a loose manual by Healy on the second straight allowed May to reclaim the lead and power to victory.

May was pleased to take the win before she heads overseas later this week.

“I actually really enjoyed (today’s racing). It's nice to have some good conditions here without it raining for once. All went smooth. I love the track. It’s awesome,” May said.

“I fly out next Friday to America to go to Tulsa for the World Cup. Then we spend the week in Florida (before) we head to Worlds.”

Ilsa Basa (Macarthur BMX) looked to be the standout rider in the Junior Superclass Women, going undefeated through the motos, but Stephanie Alexander (Knox BMX) stole the show in the final, leading into the first turn and holding off Basa for the win.

Round 2 Results

Round 2 Replay

Round 3

Superclass Men

In a case of déjà vu, Andrew Hughes and Joel Marsh were the riders to watch on Sunday, sharing top spot through the preliminary motos and semi-finals.

However, in a role reversal from Saturday, Hughes had the better start in the final, leading the field into the first corner. Marsh continued to apply pressure, snapping at Hughes’ back wheel through the middle of the lap, but Hughes rode a mistake-free race to record the National Series win from Marsh and Kyle Hill (Ashmore BMX).

“Better day today, one better. So smooth all day. I just tried to capitalise on my mistake I made in the final yesterday, and came out on top. So, really, really happy,” Hughes said.

Andrew Hughes — **Andy Hughes claimed the Round 3 win of the National Series.**

“The track's unreal. The boys who do the surface, it’s so good. It's a really good racetrack, it’s a lot of fun. It's very different to my track at home. There’s a lot of lips and you’ve really got to ride the track.

“I'm just racing National stuff this year to try and keep the form, and hopefully bring it into Nationals and try to win Nationals. That's my goal.”

Cameron Gatt was able to reverse Saturday’s results in the Junior Superclass category, leading into the first turn and powering through his lap to win by more than a second from Declan McGhee.

In the Masters category, James Smith lit up his home track on Sunday, winning all four motos by almost two seconds on the way to claiming a clean sweep for the weekend.

Superclass Women

May signalled her intent early on Day 2, laying down the fastest lap time of the day in the opening moto of Superclass Women and again going undefeated through the preliminary rounds.

The Frankston rider’s dominance continued in the final. Despite Healy closing on her back wheel in the second corner, May powered away over the final two straights to win by a comfortable margin.

Speaking to AusCycling after the race, May revealed how she rode the ups and downs of the day.

“We had a little bit longer of a break between the final (because of the Mighty 11s presentation). We we’re up on the hill for a little bit, so trying to activate and get up and going again. It's a bit of a struggle, but we got there,” May said.

“I try to just stay relaxed. Eat the right food. Just pretend like it’s a clubby and chill out.”

Stephanie Alexander and Isla Basa continued their 2024 rivalry on Sunday. The pair have locked out the top two spots across all Junior Superclass finals in the National Series this year, and just a single point separated the riders when they lined up for the final on Sunday. Alexander again triumphed in Round 3, winning by two lengths and extending her undefeated winning streak in Junior Superclass racing this year.

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Mighty 11 Test Team and Memorial Class

Australia completed a near-flawless weekend of racing in the opening leg of the 2024 Mighty 11s Test Series.

The Australian Boys took the top four placings in three out of five motos across the weekend to claim a comfortable win over their New Zealand counterparts.

Results were much tighter in the Girls category however, with Australia holding on for the overall points win despite the dominance of New Zealand’s Addison Harrowfield.

The top Australian point scorers were Maggie McDougall (Central Highlands BMX) and Jayden Bradbrook (Cross Keys BMX) in the Girls and Boys categories respectively, and in a sign of respect between the teams, the Kiwi’s treated the Australian riders to a rendition of the haka on the finish line following presentations.

Mighty 11 Test Teams

Boys: