What to know about Oceania BMX Racing Championships and AusCycling National Series Round 1
NATBrisbane SX will be the epicentre of heart-pumping BMX Racing action over the next two weekends starting with the Oceania Championships this Sunday and followed by the AusCycling National Series next Thursday and Friday.
Setting the scene for a week-long festival of BMX Racing, the Oceania Championships is a chance for riders to secure valuable Olympic qualifying points as Australia and New Zealand’s best vie for Trans-Tasman glory. It will also be a warm-up ahead of rounds 3 and 4 of the UCI World Cup on February 24-25.
With just six rounds of the National Series in 2024, the opening round of the AusCycling BMX Racing National Series on Friday February 23 is an important opportunity for riders to kick off the season and get points on the board as early as possible.
The door will also be open for many up-and-coming riders to secure National Series points, with a handful of usual podium-getters instead choosing to focus on the World Cup rounds.
Oceania Championships, Sunday Feb 18
FAST FACTS
| Total number of riders | 650 |
| Number of clubs | 81 Australian, 19 NZ and 1 french Polynesian |
| Most club riders | Pine Rivers BMX Club - 45 |
RIDERS TO WATCH
Elite Men
The Elite Men’s field is stacked with big hitters from Australia and New Zealand.
NZ young gun Rico Bearman (North Harbour BMX), who has stepped up from U23 to make his mark in 2024, is one of the big names to watch.
He is one of the best male riders from across the ditch, and has come off a superb 2023 claiming the overall U23 UCI World Cup Series.
The Australians will bring plenty of firepower too, with former National Superclass winner Max Cairns (Park Orchards BMX Club) and current National Superclass winner Jack Davis (Tamworth City BMX Club) both lining up to contest the championship.
Meanwhile, 2023 U23 Oceania champion Jesse Asmus (Nerang BMX Club) and silver medallist Matt Tidswell (The Cove BMX Club) will both be racing elite’s this year.
Elite Women
Saya Sakakibara (Southlake-Illawarra BMX Club) will no doubt go into Oceania Championships as the favourite as the defending champion. The 2023 World Cup overall winner has started 2024 where she left off, winning the opening two rounds of the UCI World Cup in Rotorua last week.
Lining up against Sakakibara will be the experienced Australian Lauren Reynolds (Bunbury BMX) and 2023 junior world championships silver medallist Sienna Pal (Terrigal BMX Club), who is this year stepping up from the junior ranks into elites.
After a crash in the opening round of the World Cup, Pal has been focused on recovering ahead of this week’s racing in Brisbane.
Under 23
It’s hard to go past New Zealand brothers Jack and Bennett Greenough (Cambridge BMX Club), in the U23 men’s race after they dominated the opening round of the UCI World Cup on home soil.
But Australia’s Oli Moran (Manning Valley BMX Club) was hot on their heels finishing fourth, and getting himself onto the podium with silver in the second round. A smaller field will contest the women’s U23 Oceania Title, but don’t expect Aussie powerhouse Bella May (Frankston BMX Club) to hold back.
May is coming off a silver at the second round of the World Cup and will bring confidence into a big week in Brisbane.
“I’m feeling awesome, refreshed, calm and ready for Oceania’s. I’m super pumped that I am able to have these opportunities and to get an amazing result as well definitely tops it off,” May said.
“I’m excited to feel the Aussie crowd cheer all of us on. I think it’s going to be an amazing event, I can not wait to see what the rest of the season brings.
“I think personally for me, staying smooth, not rushing anything, catching backsides and being in the moment (and) not getting ahead of myself is going to help me through the event.”
Juniors
The Australian juniors are set to be firing on all cylinders after success at the World Cup last week. Teya Rufus (Maryborough BMX Club), who won her first World Cup race last week in U23 women, will be leading the charge in the junior women alongside Charli Guy (Ashmore BMX Club).
In the junior men, look for the likes of Joshua Jolly (Ballarat / Sebastopol Cycling Club) and Noah Elton (San Remo BMX Club) who both podiumed in the U23 men at Rotorua.
Follow the live results here.
NATIONAL SERIES ROUND 1, Friday Feb 23
FAST FACTS
| Total number of riders | 491 |
| Total number of clubs | 86 |
| Most club riders | Pine Rivers BMX club - 24 |
RIDERS TO WATCH
The 2024 Nationals Series gets underway with the opening round in Brisbane next Friday, before the UCI World Cup on Saturday and Sunday.
With many of the big names in Australian BMX Racing choosing to focus on the World Cup, look out for some emerging riders to make their mark in the opening round of the National Series.
Coming off a hot 2023 where he won the Junior Superclass National Series, AJ Donald (Hawkesbury Hornets BMX Club) will this year step up to Superclass.
“My goal is to get more experience racing faster riders off the 8m hill and to better myself in each race,” the 16-year-old said.
“I’m looking forward to much tougher racing this year on the Supercross tracks.”
Charli Guy (Ashmore BMX Club) will be looking to go even better than last year in the Superclass women. Having finishing third overall in 2023, Guy is one to watch during the year.
In the junior ranks Isla Basa (Bayside BMX Club) will be looking to defend the series crown, while Cameron Gatt (Geelong BMX Club) is coming off a huge 2023 which saw him win the 15-16 Cruiser Boys category at the Glasgow BMX Challenge.
After winning the 15 Boys National Championships in Shepparton he joins the 16 Boys this year and will no doubt have the podium in his sights.
Check out the full entry list, schedule, and live results.
HOW TO WATCH?
Racing will be broadcast on SBS On Demand
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