Mankowki injured her hip following the Olympic test event in Beijing on a similar course and maintains she was wary about what could go wrong. However, after winning on the national course today with only slight variations made to the Supercross course, Mankowski could be overcoming her fear.
"It is a good confidence thing to roll down that hill and come away with a win," said Mankowski.
The win is Mankowski's twelfth national title but only her first in the elite class.
Defending BMX National Champion, Tanya Bailey from Perth, finished in second place with fellow Western Australians, Catherine Hopkins in third while Nicole Callisto crashed in the first turn.
In the elite men's final early leader, Kamakazi, was relegated into third by Jared Graves and Luke Madill down the third strait. Graves and Madill fought throughout the final strait with Graves winning the national title by only a half a wheel. Madill claimed second while Billy Jolliffe claimed third Graves' win also gives him the overall Oceania Ranking series win over world number one, Marc Willers from New Zealand, after a count back.
Local rider, Sam Willoughby won the junior men's national title ahead of Gold Coast's Steven Janssen. Third was Vicotoria's Michael Chasteauneuf.
The junior women's race saw Bunbury's Lauren Reynolds take the win from Townsville's Rachel Bracken. Last year's defending champion, Caroline Buchanan, claimed third.
NOTE: Mankowski is not intending on racing the last Supercross race in Copenhagen next month. This leaves Mankowski with one last chance of a result at the World Championships in Taiyuan in China in June. Following that event nomination for the Australian team will be made. Currently the nation ranking looks hopeful for Australia taking a maximum number of three men and two women.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.