Rufus and Jolly add Superclass titles to growing list of accomplishments

Junior world champions Teya Rufus and Josh Jolly have finished an incredible year of Australian BMX Racing, taking out the respective women’s and men’s AusCycling BMX Racing Superclass titles in Perth this evening.

Riders and spectators were treated to another day of fine and mild conditions, rounding out a week of almost perfect weather for the first national championships in Western Australia since 2018.

Superclass Women

As the only rider to go undefeated through the moto rounds and semi-final, Teya Rufus (Maryborough BMX) looked primed to take the title in her debut year in the category. However, elite national champion Sienna Pal (Terrigal BMX) bounced back from a slipped pedal in moto 3 to post the fastest lap time of the day in the semi-final, setting up a tantalising final between the pair.

Despite starting from gate 3, it was Rufus that led the field into the first turn. Her pure form for the week continued, and despite Pal fighting right to the end, it was the Queenslander that claimed the crown with Charli Guy (Ashmore BMX) in third.

Rufus did not drop a moto in any races all week, but the 18-year-old was typically modest about her performance post-race.

“I’m really stoked. I mean, I did what I could with what I had, so yeah, I’m really happy,” Rufus said.

“This year, I think everything has happened just so suddenly. I jumped straight into the World Cup series, and I just ended up winning it. It was so unexpected. This year was so crazy. It was just the biggest year ever and I think I learnt so much.

“Next year, I’m going to be up with the bigger girls immediately, and I think I will struggle with being in a pack, so I think getting my elbows out a bit more and being a bit more aggressive. I think that’s something I need to work on.”

In the Junior Superclass, Holly-Ann Jackson (Ipswich and West Moreton BMX) started well against the likes of Isla Basa (Macarthur BMX) and Stephanie Alexander (Knox BMX), winning all three motos.

However, it was Alexander and Basa that stood up when the pressure came down, winning their respective semi-finals to again set up an exciting final between the pair.

Alexander got the jump in the final, leading the field through the first two straights. But a beautiful second corner by Basa pulled her alongside with less than half a lap to go. Basa then muscled her way to the front and held on for the win ahead of Alexander and Jackson.

Superclass Men

Newly minted elite and junior elite champions Oli Moran (Manning Valley BMX) and Josh Jolly (Ballarat-Sebastopol Cycling Club) looked ominous early, both finishing top two in each of their races on the way to the final. But picking a winner would be incredibly difficult, with every rider in the final recording at least one win through either the motos, quarters, or semis on their path to the deciding race.

Much like Rufus in the women’s final, Jolly jumped the field from a wider lane, leading Moran and the pack into the second straight from gate 2. That pair then opened up a gap down the third straight, but it was Jolly that prevailed, holding on with blistering pace to win from Moran and Joel Marsh (Happy Valley BMX).

It completes a remarkable year for Jolly, who in the last 12 months has won back-to-back Junior Elite national titles, the Junior Elite World Championship, and now the AusCycling BMX Racing Superclass title. However, the Victorian revealed how he had to overcome unexpected challenges on the final day of racing to win.

“Yesterday was awesome. Honestly, I was just in the zone all day. I was just having fun, just racing my bike,” Jolly said.

“Today it was a little bit harder. I started thinking about it too much, messing up a little bit in the motos. But we just had that little break, and I had a little refresher, and yeah, come out in the final and got it done.

Jolly will now compete at the UCI Pump Track World Championships in South Africa before returning to America for the USA BMX Grand Nationals, and believes competing against bigger bodies this year has taken his riding to the next level.

“This year, I've just been training harder. Racing all the World Cup series, racing the bigger boys, so it’s just pushed me a long way and I’ve been pushing hard, and I’m stoked. It’s so cool.”

Cameron Gatt (Geelong BMX) was the only undefeated rider when the Junior Superclass men lined up for their final, but with Oliver Hogan (Byford BMX), and local duo Declan McGhee (Mandurah BMX) and TJ Rikihana-Gray (Mandurah BMX) also on the gate, the final could have gone any number of ways.

Like often before however, it was Gatt and McGhee duking it out when the gate dropped, with Gatt leading by two lengths as they exited the final turn. Despite the desperate efforts of McGhee, Gatt didn’t put a foot wrong and held on for the win, with Tyler Randall (Centenary Plains BMX) in third.

Saturday Results

Saturday Replay

The next national level BMX Racing event is Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2025 AusCycling National Series at Shepparton BMX Club, from April 26-27.

2024 GWM BMX Racing National Championships

Dates: October 7-13
Location: Westside BMX Club, Balcatta
More information: 2024 GWM BMX Racing National Championships
Live Timing: Our Sqorz
Live Streaming: SBS On Demand

Follow @AusCycling

The 2024 GWM BMX Racing National Championships are proudly supported by GWM Australia & New Zealand, the City of Stirling, and the Western Australian Government through Tourism WA, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, and Lotterywest.

Images: Get Snapt