The women’s winner was Caroline Buchanan from Canberra after Beijing Olympian Nicole Callisto tumbled in the first straight. Buchanan won comfortably with Melbourne’s Ziggy Callan in second. Third was Caetlyn Hubert from Maitland while Callisto recovered to cross the line in fourth place. Buchanan is one of five members of the newly announced BMX Elite Development Squad.
Junior World Champion, Sam Willoughby (Adelaide) lead every moto but cam unstuck on the second berm during the semi-finals leaving him out of the final. Victoria’s Joshua Callan rode brilliantly to claim first with Cairns rider, Kurt Nicholls, in second. Mackay’s Ryan Faux showed a return to form with third place. Callan and Willoughby were the only male riders included in the BMX Elite Development Squad.
World silver medallist, Lauren Reynolds from Bunbury dominated the junior women’s racing taking the final while Victorian, Kirsten Dellar (Mansfield) slipped into second. World bronze medallist, Rachel Bracken from Townsville, claimed third. Both Reynolds and Bracken were also included in the BMX Elite Development Squad.
In the Champbikx under 16 boys it was Perth’s Darryn Goodwin (Hills) who claimed the win while World Champion, Melinda McLeod from Mackay took out the girl's division. Under 15’s Bodi Turner from Victoria (Eastfields) took the boy's win while Chelsea King from Brisbane (Beenleigh) claimed the girl’s final. Mackay’s Jack Buchhorn took out the 14 boys and Rachel Jones (Lake Macquarie) won the girl’s division.
Photo credit: Matthew Setright/Flashshots.
Adelaide’s BMX rising star, Brian Kirkham, narrowly beat Beijing Olympian, Jared Graves, in a photo finish at the Hog’s Breath National Round on the Gold Coast. The 22 year old pulled back Graves after the Olympian took the early lead. Kirkham took out the second round of the National Series and fourth UCI Oceania Series round making it his first ever UCI win. With just millimetres separating Graves and Kirkham both were unsure of the winner until officials viewed the video. “I was taking it a bit steady after seeing Sam go down,” explained Graves. “I just had jelly legs to the line. It’s good to be back into BMX.." According to Kirkham there was no doubt about Graves strong start. “Jared had a super fast first straight,” he admitted but Kirkham recently returned to Australia after racing the ABA grands in the USA. “I have been working hard on my track speed. I knew if I had a good run and stuck behind him I’d be right,” said Kirkham.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.