Peter Wort

Peter Wort is Queensland’s first BMX Champion. His name is etched into the annals of Australian BMX history as a true pioneer—and arguably the most stylish and naturally gifted rider of his generation.

From the very beginning, Peter Wort was the people’s champion—the rider everyone wanted to be. Lightning quick out of the gate, with a smooth and effortless style, he made winning look easy. And he did it often.

From the very beginning, in 1977, Peter was there with his schoolmate Scott Shepherd, clearing the land at the end of Earle Street, Windsor. Together, they mapped out what would become one of Australia’s first and most iconic BMX tracks. In January of 1978, Peter was there when the gate dropped for Queensland’s first officially organised BMX race.

Peter, along with riders Scott Shepherd, the Wilkinson brothers, Shane Norton, Brian Learmonth, Roy Austin, and a host of others, honed their riding skills and battled for supremacy at the Windsor BMX Track. Intercity clashes between the best open riders from Sydney and Brisbane were a feature on the race calendar that year at Windsor and Ryde Eastwood.

By the end of 1978, Peter had made his mark as Queensland’s fastest Open-class rider. He won the prestigious Windsor Challenger Series, held over three consecutive weekends, and earned the right to represent Australia at the inaugural Jag BMX World Championships in Indianapolis, USA. Alongside teammate Steve Wilkinson, they became the first Australian riders to compete on the international BMX stage.

In 1979, if you are featuring in the two biggest BMX magazines on the planet—Bicycle Motocross Action and BMX Plus – as Peter was, you knew you’d made the big time in our sport.

By 1980, BMX in Australia had reached fever-pitch, and the Americans were coming. The best pro riders in the world—Stu Thomsen, John Crews, Scott Breithaupt, Bobby Encinas, Jeff Kosmala, Kenny Nachman, and Denny Davidow – were touring down under. When the Open Men’s Final lined up on the start gate at the Windsor BMX Track, only two Aussies were left standing; Peter Wort and Jamie Hales. Peter’s achievements that day were recognised with selection for the All-Australian Team to take on the Yanks in the International Challenge Series.

That same year, Peter stamped his authority on the best riders in the country, winning the Open Men’s Final in Round 3 of the inaugural Australian Age Championships. He’d beaten the best in the country - including Hall of Famers Jamie Hales, Wayne McIntosh, and Mick Wiltshire.

Between 1978 and 1982, Peter dominated Queensland BMX. He won countless Open Expert, Cruiser, and Pro Finals—along with many of the legendary Trophy Dash events.

In 1982, Peter again toured the U.S., this time riding with SE Racing and staying with team boss Scott Breithaupt and BMX legends Perry Kramer and Rod Beckering. Throughout his riding career, Peter Wort’s bike setup included his trademark Skyway Tuff Wheels. His loyalty to the Skyway brand was rewarded with a full factory ride for Team Skyway.

Peter Wort always let his riding do the talking. His humility, his graciousness, and his speed and style set the benchmark for a generation of Australian BMXers to come.