Jesse Asmus and Bella May win National Series crowns on opening day of BMXNats23

The AusCycling BMX Racing National Series has wrapped up for 2023, with Jesse Asmus (Nerang BMX) and Bella May (Frankston BMX) claiming the overall National Series titles on the first full day of competitive racing at the 2023 AusCycling BMX Racing National Championships.

Sunny skies with temperatures in the mid 20s welcomed riders on Wednesday, with occasional gusty winds the only impediment to perfect conditions.

While the opportunity to compete for a National Series title beckoned for many riders, others opted to withdraw from their motos and instead focus on the key races ahead, such as Sienna Pal (Terrigal BMX) and Saya Sakakibara (Southlake-Illawarra BMX).

Imogen Healy (Tee Tree Gully) held a strong lead going into the final round of Superclass Women. However, under the National Series format, a rider’s best three results from the five National Series rounds are used to determine overall score, meaning a strong performance by other riders could sway the results, and that scenario unfolded in the Superclass Women.

Teya Rufus (Maryborough BMX) flew out of the gate in the final and led through the first three corners, but Bella May’s inside line on the final corner pulled her alongside Rufus for a drag race finish, with the Frankston rider getting up by just 0.028 seconds.

Combined with her two wins at Macarthur, May recorded three wins for the year, putting her over the top in the overall standings.

Teya Rufus

Speaking to AusCycling after the race, May said a focus on mental preparation and international competition had helped her improve her results this year.

“Previously, like years before, I don't really think a lot about [the mental side]. I was just like, ‘Gotta get the job done, gotta win.’ But now I just relax on the gate, just listen to my mindfulness, and just replay and replay that over and over again, just stay in the zone,” May said.

“This year's been pretty good, pretty unreal. So happy to be here, and to race in Argentina [where she placed second at a World Cup] was a dream and to get the results that I got, I can’t believe it, just over the moon.

“And then getting that result over there was like, ‘Well OK, you're kind of in there now’.”

In the Superclass Men, Jesse Asmus was rewarded for a year of consistent results in the National Series.

Max Cairns (Park Orchards) was in strong form throughout the preliminary rounds, winning every moto and his quarter final on the way to the decider, while Matt Krasevskis (Pine Rivers BMX) also was well placed for the overall crown, with two moto wins and a round win at Macarthur earlier in the year.

Bodi Turner (Eastfield BMX) and Krasevskis lead the race through the first three straights, with Cairns running down Krasevskis on the line to pinch second place.

Asmus never really recovered from missing the start, crossing the line in seventh place, but his wins in Westside and Macarthur proved to be the difference, winning the National Series by six points from Krasevskis.

Jesse Asmus

Asmus said the strong start to the year set him on the path to victory in 2023.

“Today, coming seventh I wasn’t too happy with, but starting the year out and the season with the WA back-to-back rounds, I was able to go win both days, and that was a big boost for me,” Asmus said.

“Macarthur, I rode decent, but I think for me, I think it was just those that solid riding in Westside in WA that kind of gave me that boost, gave me two good points to put on the board straight away and then I was able to maintain that through the rest of the rounds.

“I think coming into the year I just wanted to get a big season under my belt. I haven't done many international races in the lead up to this, so for me I just wanted to get overseas and get some results, and I think it's just the consistency of going overseas and being in the mix every race, not having one race where I get out early. I’m in the mix every single time and to me that was the biggest stand out.”

AJ Donald (Hawkesbury Hornets BMX) was rewarded for strong performances throughout the season, claiming the Junior Superclass Men crown ahead of Cameron Gatt (Geelong BMX) and Declan McGee (Mandurah BMX).

Isla Basa (Macarthur BMX) won every moto and the final on the way to taking the Junior Superclass Women title with Lauren Winter (Nhulunbuy BMX) and Ivy Westbrook (Wanneroo BMX) taking the minor placings.

Racing heats up tomorrow with the pinnacle event for this week, the National Championships for Elite categories.

Final National Series standings

2023 AusCycling BMX Racing National Championships

Location: Shepparton, Victoria
Dates: 30 October - 5 November 2023
More information:2023 AusCycling BMX Racing National Championships

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The 2023 AusCycling BMX Racing National Championships are proudly supported by the Greater Shepparton City Council and Visit Victoria.

Images: Get Snapt