A brand new facility is set to open the 2022 BMX Season!

Image: courtesy of the Cove BMX Facebook

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The 2022 AusCycling BMX national rounds are set to roar into action this weekend as the new Sam Willoughby International BMX facility (SWBMX Facility) will host 1000 riders over two days.

The opening two national rounds of the 2022 season will feature as part of the Santos Festival of Cycling and will take place on the brand new, state-of-the-art Sam Willoughby International BMX Facility.

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Recently crowned national champions will headline the field which will launch onto the new facility in the City of Marion’s Glenthorne National Park-Ityamaiitpinna Yarta, including reigning men’s national champion, Izaac Kennedy.

“I’m stoked to be racing on a new facility like this in Adelaide. I got to see it come to life as my buddies were building this track, and I was even lucky enough to do some testing on it,” said Kennedy.

“It’s fantastic for Australia to get another world-class track like this and hopefully elevates the kids coming up riding to reach a new level!”

In December, Kennedy became the first rider since 1994 to win back-to-back titles in the elite men’s national championships. The twenty-one-year-old knows how integral it is to start the year on the right foot ahead of the UCI BMX Racing World Cup rounds.

“It’s going to be good racing off the supercross hill again for the first time in a while, and on a new track too. The track is going to be long and technical, so I’m going to go out there and have some fun and hopefully have a successful weekend,” Kennedy said.

“It’s vital to start the year off on a good note, it always boosts confidence if you go out there and get the win.

“I’m looking forward to lining up again!”

Joining Kennedy will be a fantastic mix of up-and-coming Australian talent, including junior elite national champion and local rider Joel Marsh, 16 boy’s national champion Thomas Tucker and young guns Oliver Moran, Matty Tidswell and Kyle Hill.

2016 Olympian Bodi Turner will also feature in the stacked superclass field. Turner took out both rounds of the Victorian Track Attack series over the weekend, breaking the track record at Eastfield BMX track on Saturday and then breaking the Knox BMX track record on Sunday.

In the women’s superclass field, 2018 elite national champion Erin Lockwood will face the best of Australia’s BMX rising stars including national championships silver medallist Des’ree Barnes, 16 girl’s national champion Sienna Pal and South Australian champion Georgia Potter.

The first round begins on Saturday with official practice at 12PM, racing at 2.30 PM. Sunday’s action will begin with practice from 8 AM, with racing from 10:20 AM. (All times are ACDT)

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Event Information

For all event information, click below;

• Saturday, January 22
• Saturday, January 23

Live stream

• 7Plus will be live streaming both rounds from the first race each day.

COVID-19 Requirements

The following requirements are set by SA Health and all persons attending the 2022 AusCycling BMX National Rounds 1 & 2 must adhere to the below requirements, otherwise they will be required to leave the venue.

• All persons must check-in using the QR code at the venue entrance upon arrival.
• The wearing of face masks is required at the event, unless eating/drinking, or if a valid medical exemption can be shown.
• Riders can remove their mask while competing (this includes on the track, in staging, in the designated warm up/cool down area). When riders leave those defined areas and are within the crowd, they will need to wear a mask.
• Officials can remove their mask while on the track, so long as they can socially distance. If this is not possible then a mask must be worn. If officials are within the crowd, they will need to wear a mask.
• Social distancing of 1.5m must be followed at all times within the venue.
• All attendees must comply with any instructions provided by COVID Marshalls, Staff or Officials.