BMX Australia press release

6 World Championships after 2 days of Competition

BMX Australia has opened the first 2 days of competition at the UCI BMX World Championships with 6 World Champions and 77 finalists with more racing to follow this weekend.

The first 2 days of competition were for the aged categories with riders as young as 5 competing in front of a packed audience inside Vector Arena in Auckland NZ. A total, 38 categories were held over the first 2 days of racing as competition halts today for the reconfiguration of the track for the Elite and Junior Elite riders this weekend.

Australia has 6 World Champions coming from the 5-6 Boys, 8 Boys, 10 Boys, 11 Girls, 13 Girls and 17 & Over Women categories.

Our youngest World Champion is Benaiah Richards from Albany Creek in Queensland who rides at the Pine Rivers Club. Benaiah emerged as the leader mid way down the first straight and never looked back as he stretched his lead with every pedal stroke, eventually crossing the line 8 bike lengths in front of the competition.

It wasn’t an easy ride for Thomas Tucker in the 8 Boys however. The field stayed together for most of the race as he crossed the line first in front of a local New Zealand riders being cheered on by the home crowd.

For Jesse Asmus of Chambers Flat in Queensland it was a case of some great skill that put him in the lead group and out of trouble through the first turn. Asmus dived low into the first turn avoiding a crash leaving him to battle it out with 2 other riders – down the third straight they were three abreast before cornering once again gave him the advantage as he sprinted for the win.

The next three World Championships Australia won were from the women’s categories where Desree Barnes made it back to back World Champions with another stunning performance. All though the motos and qualifying rounds Barnes had a substantial lead over the field; in the end it was matter of composure during her final that saw her become a 2-time World Champion.

Townsville’s Shelby Green described her win in the 13 Girls as “mind shocked”

“I couldn’t believe it. I was hoping to get top 3, everybody looked really fast.” Green beat four finalist from last year’s World’s at Birmingham including defending champion Maite Naves Barreto of Brazil who was second and American Anna Johnson of the USA who was fourth.

Madison Janssen of Nerang (QLD) blasted her opponents away with a clean start by getting in and out of the first turn in the lead. As they entered the second turn it was a case of how far Janssen would stretch her lead and what girls were settling for the minor placings. It was third time lucky for Australia’s Madison Janssen in the 17 and over women’s class after finishing runner-up at the 2003 Perth and 2008 China Worlds.

Elite riders will get their first look at the track later today when they have their practice session ahead of the Time Trial on Saturday and racing on Sunday. Both Sam Willoughby and Caroline Buchanan enter the next 2 days of racing with the tag of “favourites” as they look to defend their 2012 World Titles.

Saturday’s Time Trial put the riders on the track, solo, against the clock. A fast lap here will set the tone for racing where any number of factors come into play with a loaded gate of the world’s best riders. On Sunday, racing will play out over a series of motos before heading into the sudden death finals format until there are just 8 riders battling it out to become the 2013 UCI BMX World Champion

Live coverage is being streamed on the web via www.sbs.com.au on Sunday July 28 between 12:50 and 15:15 AEST, with a highlights being shown on SBS2 between 18:30-19:30 AEST (Check local guides).

Video footage of all finals is available at www.bmxatv.com.au or keep up with the latest happenings on the Team Aus Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TeamAUSBmx or Instagram: instagram.com/bmxaustralia