14 ‘W’ plates for Australia on opening day of 2024 UCI BMX World Challenge

Australia has jumped out of the gate at the UCI BMX Racing World Challenge in Rock Hill, USA, with 14 riders securing a coveted ‘W’ plate on the opening day of racing.

After delays and cancellations of practice sessions due to inclement weather, riders were treated to stunning weather on Sunday with temperatures in the mid-20s and almost perfectly still conditions.

Sunday’s racing covered many of the Cruiser categories, and four of Australia’s ‘W’ plates came from the Cruiser Boys 15-16 category, punctuated by Cameron Gatt taking the W1 plate with the win.

Cameron Gatt, Cruiser Boys 15-16

Gatt didn’t drop a lap all day and made no mistakes in the final, leading from start to finish to repeat his win in the same category last year.

Speaking to AusCycling after the win, Gatt admitted there was some pressure to step up in the final as the defending champion.

“I really didn't think this would happen, but I mean, we're standing here with it. It just feels unreal. Nothing much to say, just that I left it all out there,” Gatt said.

“Having that ‘1’ on my plate, I knew everyone thought I was a target just from last year, but all I had to do was just get out and go, and that's exactly what I did.”

Gatt thanked his parents for their support, as well as “my coaches back home Fraser Te Hiko and Danny (Cicioni Kolsky), and just the Geelong BMX Club and everyone just behind me”.

BMX World Challenge Day 1 Finals - Results

Cruiser Boys 8-12

• Hudson Daley (Moranbah BMX) - 2nd
• Jayden Bradbrook (Cross Keys BMX) - 3rd

Cruiser Boys 13-14

• Harvey Brooks (Knox BMX) - 4th
• Matthew Fox (Cairns BMX) - 7th
• Jaxson Hill (Westside BMX) - 8th

Cruiser Boys 15-16

• Cameron Gatt (Geelong BMX) - 1st
• Zane Bourke (Maitland BMX) - 4th
• Declan McGhee (Mandurah BMX) - 6th
• Mica Moloney (Cairns BMX) - 8th

Cruiser Men 17-24

• Zac Hutton (Bundaberg BMX) - 6th

Cruiser Girls 8-12

• Dusty Schroder (Toowoomba BMX) - 4th

Cruiser Girls 13-16

• Holyee-Ann Jackson (Ipswich and West Moreton BMX) - 8th

Cruiser Women 40 +

• Lauren Cavasin (Bayside BMX) - 4th
• Angela Potter (Harbour City BMX) - 7th

Dusty Schroeder, Cruiser Girls 8-12

Holyee-Ann Jackson, Cruiser Girls 13-16

Hudson Daley and Jayden Bradbrook, Cruiser Boys 8-12

Jaxson Hill, Cruiser Boys 13-14

Zac Hutton, Cruiser Men 17-24

Lauren Cavasin, Cruiser Women 40+

Angela Potter, Cruiser Women 40+

Harvey Brooks, Cruiser Boys 13-14

‘W’ plates are awarded to any rider who makes the final of their category at the BMX World Challenge and can be displayed by the rider across all competitions for the next 12 months.

Over 3000 athletes from 41 nations will compete in the BMX Racing World Challenge at the 2024 UCI BMX Racing World Championships this week.

Tomorrow’s racing continues with the remaining men and women Cruiser categories, and the 8, 9, and 10 Boys and Girls 20-inch categories.

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Images: AusCycling