Paris Olympic Games riders Leila Walker and Rico Bearman claimed the elite titles at the BMXNZ National Championships in Te Awamutu today.
Walker, from the nearby Cambridge BMX Club, earned her second national elite BMX Racing title with three straight wins in the three-moto format which mixed the best elite and under-23 riders.
She grabbed the holeshot in all three motos and was never threatened. Walker finished clear of fellow international elite rider, Megan Williams (Rotorua) and Te Awamutu’s Baylee Luttrell.
Promising Cambridge peddler Brooke Penny who won the under-23 national honours, finishing just a point behind Williams.
“I was super-pleased to put down some good laps, feel good on the bike and enjoyed the amazing crowd so close to home too,” said Walker.
“We have a busy year ahead this year. I have some UCI World Cups in June in Europe and then back to Brisbane which hosts the world championships in July. After that, Olympic Games qualifying starts for us late in the year.
“So I want to hit the ground running, try to get some Olympic points for New Zealand and on to the girls hoping to go to LA for the next cycle
“For us kiwis, getting a world champs that close, it almost feels like a home world champs. We have a huge Kiwi Challenge team going to compete as well. It will be awesome with family in the crowd and be so close to home with such a strong kiwi field will be so special.”
It proved a similar story for Bearman with the North Harbour professional chalking up his fourth straight elite national title, after winning all three motos and consistently posting the fastest time of all riders.
There was a close battle for the minors with just two points separating the trio of under-23 riders, Finn Cogan (Cambridge), Jesse Green (Christchurch) and Jack Greenough (Cambridge).
Bearman was pleased with his showing, after just returning from the opening round of the North American Championship series in Houston where he finished a promising fifth.
“I got some good confidence from that ride to see where I am at with the other top boys. I know I am coming into the season with some good speed and good shape.
“It is always nice to win the sleeve and have another year wearing it on my jersey.
“It was good to get out and race in front of the home crowd, put down three consistent laps and execute the day from start to finish.”
Bearman is also looking forward to the world championships and hopes with so many friends and family supporting, that the New Zealand followers can create some hype that he witnessed at the BMX Racing World Cup in Rotorua two years ago.
“My big goals now are the world championships. I want to be back in the Worlds final as I was in 2024, and hopefully get a worlds plate, and some good Olympic points.
“Once that is done and dusted, I can look forward to the Olympic qualifiers in China late in the year.”
BMX New Zealand is planning for a massive team of Challenge and Elite riders to compete in the UCI BMX Racing World Championships which is expected to attracted more than 3000 riders to Brisbane.