Australia’s finest BMX racers will be in battle this week at the Australian BMX Championships in Shepparton Victoria. Race fans will be spoiled with two major events in three days. On Thursday it’s the Oceania Championships and Saturday the coveted national championships.

There are 40 riders in the Elite Men’s field and just about all of them capable of making the main.

Some of the names to look out for are

• hot off the podium at the first round of the UCI World Cup in Manchester Anthony Dean
• the 2013 Australian Champion Corey Freiswick
• the 2010 Australian Champion Alex Cameron
• many times Australian Champion and 2008 Olympian Luke Madill
• the 2012 World Champion and 2012 Olympic Silver medalist Sam Willoughby
• former junior Elite World Champ Michael Fenwick
• the people’s champion Matthew Juster
• the current national series leader Bodi Turner
• coming off injury Tom Siinmaa
• one of Australia’s most traveled young pros Darryn Goodwin
• current world number 6 Josh Callan

There are just 10 riders in the Women’s Elite, with names like Caroline Buchanan (World #1), Melinda McLeod (Former junior Elite world champ), Lauren Reynolds (World #2) and Kirsten Dellar, not to mention the other super fast ladies, it’s going to action packed, that’s a safe bet.

There’s some big names in the 30 strong Junior elite men’s class too, keep an eye out for these guys.

• Max Cairns (World #6)
• Aaron Nottle
• Shane Rosa
• Brandon Te Hiko
• Kai Sakakibara

In the junior elite women’s class we see a huge jump in numbers, this year the class has 13 riders, showing that the future of Australian Pro Women’s BMX racing is looking up.

The stand out name in that field is Harriet Burbidge-Smith, she’s carrying a lot of momentum into this year’s nationals. But Harriet isn’t about to have it all her own way if the rest of the field have something to say about it.

If you can’t be at Shepparton to watch as the racing unfolds you can still catch the racing via live stream. Check bmxaustralia.com.au/en-us/eventsresults/2014subarunationalchampionships/livestreaming.aspx for details.