Tasmania turns it on for the 2022 AusCycling BMX Racing National Championships

The 2022 AusCycling BMX Racing National Championships provided near-perfect weather and a number of compelling storylines over a week of action-packed racing in Launceston.

Bodi Turner’s return to the top of Australian BMX racing after an extended break from the sport is arguably one of the biggest stories out of Launceston. The 2016 Rio Olympian captured the crowd’s interest over the first two days of competitive racing, winning the BMX National Round 6 in a photo finish, and backing it up with a come-from-behind win in the Elite Men’s Final.

Max Cairns showed what can be achieved with dedication and personal sacrifice. After moving to Sydney to be closer to his coach and new training facilities, the Victorian dominated the Superclass Men final in superb fashion.

Josh Jolly was possibly the top individual performer of the week, winning every category he entered. From Wednesday through to Saturday, Jolly claimed the Junior Superclass Men National Cup, and won the Cruiser 15-16 Boys BMX National Round 6, the 16 Boys National Championship, and the Junior Superclass Men National Championship.

Saya Sakakibara took another step towards completing her comeback from a concussion injury with a dominant performance in Tasmania. She was rarely, if ever, challenged, and along with Lauren Reynolds, continues to set the bar for women’s BMX racing in this country.

Among the subplots in the women’s competition, Launceston marked Des'ree Barnes return to topflight BMX racing. After taking a break from the sport in June, Barnes only returned to training four weeks out from Nationals, but the 20-year-old was constantly at Sakakibara’s back wheel throughout the week and the five-time World Champion will continue to push her way up the rankings with a more consistent racing schedule in 2023.

17-year-old Bella May had an impressive week. The Victorian took out the Junior Elite women’s category, and finished third in the Superclass Women behind Sakakibara and Barnes, but Teya Rufus also deserves credit for what could have been an incredible week if not for a disastrous start in the Superclass women’s final.

The 16-year-old finished third in the Superclass Women National Round 6 on Wednesday, first in the 16 Girls National Championship on Friday, and a podium finished loomed in the Superclass Women’s final on Saturday, only for Rufus to miss the start and drop out of medal contention. The Queenslander fought back valiantly to finish fifth.

The support from the crowd for the Para BMX category, a world-first, perhaps best encapsulated the overall sentiment of the week. The encouragement for the C5 to C1, intellectual impairment, deaf, and transplant competitors reflected the positive sentiment in Launceston, and with similar events at state level in the future, the category should become a staple at every National Championship event.

In the BMX Club Championship, Mandurah BMX Club edged out Happy Valley and Knox to claim the 2022 crown, while Sunn BMX Australia took out the Corporate Team event ahead of Yess BMX – BB Cycles and CTD Industries.

Westside BMX in Perth will host the opening two rounds of the 2023 BMX Racing National Series in late April, with the AusCycling BMX National Championship to be held in Shepparton, Victoria, from 31 October-5 November.

Replays and highlight packages from each day of racing are available on the AusCycling YouTube Channel.

The 2022 AusCycling BMX Racing National Championships were proudly supported by Events Tasmania and the City of Launceston.

Quotes of the Week

“Even though I’m away and chasing my dream at World Cups and World Championships, the fans are all still supportive and comment on my Instagram stories and on my posts, and just giving me so much energy from across the world. So, I want to give back. I want to say thank you for all that support.” Saya Sakakibara on giving back to the community.

“I’ve never won an Elite National championship before. I’ve come close a couple of times and been out of the sport for a couple of years, so coming back and getting that one today, it does mean a lot. Especially now I’m 28, I knew there wasn’t too many left in the bag, so there’s a lot of emotions.” Bodi Turner on winning the Elite Men’s National Championship.

“It’s a remix of Without Me, with like all the greatest rappers ever, so I’ll put that on my video.” Max Cairns on what song he had listened to all day in the lead-up to winning the Superclass Men’s final.

“Dad’s always around when I need some money for the canteen [laughs]. But as dad said, family’s kind of drift apart at this age, so the sport means we still spend some time together and we can always come back to it.” 18-year-old Charlie Perry on how being a commissaire has allowed her to spend more time with her father.

"I started BMX last year; I've gotten really into it this year because I've made a lot of friends. Everyone in the Launceston BMX Club just encourages you. Even if you're not fast, everyone will accept you.” Para BMX rider Casey Richardson, ABC News online.

“Follow your dreams. It’s a lot of hard work but just keep your heart in it. It’s worth it.” 13-year-old Holyee-Ann Jackson, WIN News Tasmania.

Photos of the Week

Photos: Get Snapt