The BMX Australia National Series heads to Westside BMX Club at Balcatta in Western Australia this weekend for Rounds 3&4 of the 5 round series and with it will be some of the sports hottest riders.

With over 360 entries, racing will be of the highest standard with some of Western Australia’s best riders headed by Olympian Lauren Reynolds, Kirsten Dellar, Aaron Nottle and Darryn Goodwin ready to take on the strong field of visiting riders.

Reynolds, from Bunbury, makes her return to racing this weekend after a knee re-construction from a fall in the USA late in 2013, saying she was looking forward to racing in her home state despite the layoff to injury for nearly 4 months.

“I’m probably going to get a little nervous being out of the sport,” Reynolds said. “Well not out of the sport but out of the race scene for probably the longest time I have.”

Having missed the opening rounds on the Gold Coast in January, Reynolds who finished second at the 2013 World Championships will be chasing her fellow BMX Australia High Performance team mate and World Champion, Caroline Buchanan (ACT).

“It’s a perfect race for me to come back into with all the girls that are going to be there. It will be great competition, I just want to enjoy it, have fun and just keep moving for the year ahead.

It won’t be just Buchanan that Lauren will be going head to head with this weekend. Perth local Kirsten Dellar took out the first round of the National Series and with racing at her home club this time round, she is one to watch. 2013 National Champion Melinda McLeod (QLD) will race for the second time this year missing round 1 to injury, she eased back in to racing during round 2 at Nerang.

This season marks the start of Olympic qualifying for the 2016 games in Rio, a process Reynold’s is familiar with after going to London in 2010.

“It’s still 2 years away but it’s not what I’m really thinking about,” said Reynolds.

“You know it’s there but it’s nothing to stress about. To get there, there are so many steps in between so you’ve just got to take it one step at a time.”

The men’s field will equally be one to watch. World number 6 Josh Callan from Victoria will look to register his first win of the season against WA riders Darryn Goodwin and Blake Schofield. National Champion Corey Frieswyk (QLD) and round 2 winner Matt Juster (NT) will be right in the mix with the series title wide open and likely to be clearer after racing has wrapped up this weekend.

In the Junior Elite Men, Aaron Nottle from Forrestfield (WA) will be hoping to local conditions prove to his favour after finishing second and sixth at the opening rounds on the Gold Coast, but he’ll be chasing series leader Max Cairns (VIC). Nottle, last year’s National Series overall winner, Oceania Champion and National Champion missed the opportunity to challenge for the world title in 2013 after injuring his ankle in the lead up.

Racing gets under way from 10.45 on Saturday March 15 and 11.00am on Sunday March 16 at Westside BMX Club, corner Vasto Place and Balcatta Road, Balcatta.

“To have the National Series race here is good and while it’s not my local track, its close enough. I’ll have family and friends here supporting me, that’s what makes it special,” Reynolds said.

Event Details:

• 374 entries;
• 115 Riders from Western Australia, 96 from QLD, 54 from VIC, 48 from NSW;
• 2013 World Champion and second getter Caroline Buchanan and Lauren Reynolds racing;
• Round 1 & 2 Winners in action: Elite Men: Matt Juster (NT); Elite Women: Kirtsen Dellar (WA), Caroline Buchanan (ACT); Junior Elite Men: Max Cairns (VIC), Kai Sakakibara (NSW)