2021 HutSix NT BMX Series - Recap

The 2021 HutSix NT BMX Series drew to a close last week at Red Centre BMX Club in Alice Springs, the same place where the Territory’s biggest BMX series to date kicked off back in April this year.

This year’s Series welcomed Barkly BMX, the NT’s newest BMX club into the fold, and introduced an interesting new dynamic with double points up for grabs at Round 5 in Nhulunbuy.

240 riders from every NT club and 5 other States competed over 6 months in the Series that travels up to 7000km’s to reach every corner of the Territory.

Competitors were able to get their first taste of competitive interclub action on this years NT Championships track during Round 1 at Red Centre BMX back in April.

The Series then moved to the Top End Double header at Satellite City BMX and Jingili BMX in the May long weekend. Almost 200 riders competed over this weekend including Superclass riders Erin Lockwood, Jack Davis, Tristan Scott, Oli Moran Des’ree Barnes and 2020 Olympian Saya Sakakibara, all of whom were in the Top End to compete in the World Championship Selection Trials that ran as part of Round 2.

Round 4 headed to Big Rivers BMX in Katherine as the leader board started to take shape before double points were on offer for the first time at Round 5 at Nhulunbuy BMX, Australia’s most remote cycling club.

With 5 of the 7 rounds completed, all roads led to the Red Centre for the final two rounds taking place in the week leading up to the 2021 HutSix NT BMX Territory Championships.

Round 6 welcomed over 100 riders to the first ever race event at Barkly BMX in Tennant Creek. The Barkly BMX Club committee had been working towards this event for almost four years and it did not disappoint. Riders from across the Territory lapped up the new track and put on a show for the locals.

It was Nhulunbuy’s Brayden Williams who had the Barkly crowd off their seats when he won the opening moto in the 11-12 Cruiser Boys Class however Jingili’s Leonardo Prandi fought back to win the remaining motos to finish ahead of Williams in second and Jingili clubmate Noah Stoeckl in third.

It was a three-horse race in the Jr Superclass with Nhulunbuy’s Matthew Winter trading 1st – 3rd’s with Red Centre riders Kit Williams and Reece Cole across the 5 motos. It was Cole who held on to finish first overall on the day ahead of NT teammate Winter in second and clubmate Kit Williams in third. Nhulunbuy’s Lauren Winter put on a brave showing to recover from an early crash and finish in fourth.

With the dust barely settled after the first ever race at Barkly, it was up and out for the 100 riders and their families who were heading 500km’s south to Round 7 at Red Centre BMX in Alice Springs.

Round 7 offered not only the chance for riders to cement their final place in the Series but also for a final race practice on the NT Championships track prior to that competition kicking off two nights later.

Over 180 riders took to the track for the final round including fifteen interstate riders from SA and Queensland who were in town for the biggest week of the year on the NT BMX Calendar.

President of the host Club and event sponsor, Brad Bellette secured second on the night to become overall Series Champion in the Men’s 50+ Superclass.

Hometown rider Olivia Dodd fought off stiff competition from Satellite City’s Kayla Holder in the 12 Girls class to win the Series by just 12 points.

Full Series results can be viewed at Our Sqorz.

AusCycling would like to thank all the clubs and riders who helped to make the 2021 HutSix NT BMX Series the biggest yet. We would also like to thank HutSix for their incredible support throughout the year.

Photo Credit - Garry Voysey Photography