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In the elite men, Turner found himself in a thrilling battle with fellow Victorian Josh Callan after he left the first turn with the slimmest of leads, but Turner responded with a fantastic pro section performance to assert his dominance over the race and grab his second consecutive victory. Callan fought gallantly right to the line to finish second, while American Barry Nobles recorded his second podium of the weekend finishing third. Turner’s weekend dominance has moved him into the series lead at the expense of Callan, who now trails by just 25 points with five rounds remaining.

After what was a taxing victory, Turner spoke of his pleasure at having secured the win in what was harsh Shepparton heat as he attempts to defend his series crown. “It feels really good, I’m feeling really blown out from such a draining weekend, so to hang on and get the win again today is great,” Turner said. “I’m finally starting to get some results for the series, I really want to win the series again after winning it last year and I’m doing everything I can to achieve that. Going back to back here gives me a lot of confidence going into the next rounds.”

With the series now heading to Westside BMX Club in Perth, Turner is confident he can extend his lead at the top and defend his title. “I went back to back in Westside last year,” he said. “I like the track and if I’m feeling as good as I have this weekend then I’m confident I’ll be able to get two more wins.”

For McLeod, it was a case of getting her first victory for the season as she attempts to reign in Buchanan’s current series lead of 120 points amid some strong Australian competition. 

“It feels really good, I got a second place yesterday after getting tangled down the first straight with Lauren, so I knew if I had a good first straight today I’d be in a good position,” McLeod said. “Australia’s in such a fortunate position to have such quality riders. You can never afford to have a bad day or else you pay for it in your results. I just focused on staying relaxed this weekend and thinking about me, and wherever that put me in the race I was happy.”

Callan and McLeod took out the DK and Loose Kid Industries Holeshot awards for the fastest men and women out of the first turn in the elite finals.

The men’s junior elite final saw South Australian Shane Rosa continue his winning ways with his second win of the weekend. A bold manoeuvre on the second turn by the then National series leader Brandon Te Hiko caused him to crash out as Mt Buller’s Hayden Fletcher and Lake Macquarie’s Brock Griffiths rounded out the podium.

In the women’s junior elite race, New Zealand’s Tahlia Hansen put the ribbon on a dominant weekend performance and made it two from two after she upstaged fellow New Zealander Zoe Fleming in second while Bunbury’s Rachelle Smith finished third.

Joining Turner as riders to win a second successive round were Shane Rosa (Junior Elite men), Tahlia Hansen (Junior Elite women), Bendigo’s Jaclyn Wilson (17+ women), Castle Hill’s Ashlee Miller (14 girl’s), Wanaroo’s Riley Carter (15 boy’s) and NSW-based Japanese citizen Saya Sakakibara (16 girl’s).

Round five and six of the BMXA National Series will be held at the Westside BMX Club in Perth, Western Australia on the weekend of February 28 and March 1.