THE DIRTFEBRUARY 2015

national seriesNATIONAL SIGN ON DAY

nATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

THE DIRT

bmxaustralia.com.au

Cover: Bodi Turner leading the pack at Round 4 of the BMX Australia National Series in Shepparton, VIC

IN THIS ISSUEnational championshipsSONY ACTION CAMROUNDS 3 & 4 WRAP UPNational sign on daybuchanan next genrider insught: Thomas tucker#BMXANS WINNER

ROUNDS 5 & 6 PREVIEW

Do you have a great BMX story that needs to be told? Maybe it’s about a hero, or long serving individual around the club?

It could be an inspiring story or a tale of exceptional achievement.

Whatever it is we love hearing from our BMX family, and more than that we like to share your stories with everyone else.

If you think someone’s story deserves to be heard get in touch with us at news@bmx.com.au and it could feature in future editions of ‘The Dirt’ so get writing!!

we want your stories

we want your stories E N T R I E S A R E O P E N !

2015 SUBARU BMX NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Entries for BMX Australia’s premier event, the 2015 SUBARU BMX National Championships are now open. The 34th National Championships will be held at the Brisbane SX Track at the Sleeman Sports Complex, Queensland. The six-day event to be held from Tuesday, April 28 through to Sunday, May 3 will see 69 classes of racing, with participants ranging from 2 years to 65 years and will also include the UCI BMX Oceania Championships on Thursday, April 30. The Brisbane SX track and the facilities at the Sleeman Sports Centre are first class, and is a favourite among riders, while also being the only UCI Supercross level track in Australia. Over 3,000 entrants are expected to compete during the week, and will attract between 10-15,000 spectators, ultimately boosting the local economy with an estimated $10 million in economic benefit from riders and families attending the National Championships. The event will again be live streamed from Thursday May 30 to Sunday May 3 via the BMX Australia website and APP, allowing both the domestic and international BMX community to engage with the event. Last year’s coverage was extremely well received, recording 70, 000 total live views and was streamed in 24 countries.

BMX Australia has again applied equal prize money for the Elite Championships classes; women will now be awarded the same prize money as men. Plus, the overall prize for Elite and Masters classes is now $16,000.

Entering the 2015 SUBARU BMX National Championships is easier than ever by going online to enter. Each rider can simply login with their own BMX username and password, then follow the prompts for which race category they wish to enter and whether they would like to purchase merchandise.

Classic Sportswear is producing the 2015 SUBARU BMX National Championships merchandise range that consists of t-shirts, hoodies and a cap. Riders wishing to purchase merchandise should take advantage by pre-purchasing the items they want rather than waiting until the event and risking missing out. The annual BMX Australia Awards night will be held on Saturday May 2, and will be a celebration of the sport. The night will include a range of awards including the ‘BMX Australia Athlete of the Year.’

For more information on the 2015 SUBARU BMX National Championships including Entries (online & manual), Wildcard Applications, Entry Guide, Eligibility Criteria, the Draft Schedule and tickets for the Awards Night, please visit the BMX Australia website.

2015 SUBARU BMX NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

sony action cam comes on board

BMX Australia is pleased to announce that Sony Action Cam has become a proud event partner for the upcoming 2015 Subaru BMX National Championships at the Brisbane SX track, Queensland.

In what is an exciting partnership, Sony will be providing a fully integrated and accessible experience that will allow people to engage with the event like never before, while showcasing the latest Sony Action Cameras the AS200 and the amazing new 4K FDR-X1000V.

Sony Action Cam will create unique content daily, using live stream footage from its Elite ambassadors Caroline Buchanan and Luke Madill, in combination with behind the scenes content from the tent pit and staging areas.

There will be a Sony chill out area, where riders can escape from racing to unwind and interact with the product on display, while Sony televisions deliver unique content throughout the week. Attendees will also be invited to try out the product for themselves to capture their own National Championship experiences.

Such unprecedented coverage of the event will ultimately help to capture not only unique experiences but also the essence of the event itself, to be shared with the rest of the BMX Australia family.

John Mclean, who will be instrumental in activating the event, emphasised

“We are stoked to partner with BMX Australia and thank Mark and his team for this opportunity,” Mclean said.

“BMX is a sport our company is so connected with across several brands and to integrate Sony Action Camera is a perfect alliance. “We can’t wait to see the content captured from the event”

BMX Australia General Manager Mark Louis echoed Mclean’s sentiments and spoke of the importance of allowing the event to be shared with the wider BMX Australia community.

“It is a very exciting partnership that will ultimately allow the event to be captured and shared with the rest of the BMX Australia family,” Louis said.

“We are constantly looking to evolve and adapt our events to deliver the best possible experience, and we believe this partnership will help us to achieve this.”

national series SHEPPARTON WRAP UPThe BMX Australia National series continued in superb fashion last weekend as elite racing returned to Shepparton for the first time since the 2014 Subaru BMX National Championships.

Over 200 riders hit the track for rounds three and four of the series, with soaring temperatures and thrilling racing the themes of the weekend.

Round three began where racing in Nerang had left off, as the riders made their intentions clear from the outset.

In the Elite Men Turner (@boditurner) looked sharp all day, and showcased his class in the energy sapping heat to storm to victory after resisting a late charge by runner up, American Barry Nobles (@BarryNobles95), and a final corner manoeuvre by fellow Victorian Josh Callan who finished third.

Callan’s performance was good enough to briefly catapult him to the top of the overall series standings, where he lead Tuner by just five points going into round four.

In the Elite Women’s event, world number one Buchanan (@CBuchanan68) was too good for runner up Melinda McLeod (melindamcleod) and third placed Lauren Reynolds (@LR21BMX), who had all showed signs of upsetting the defending series champion throughout the day.

In the Women’s Junior category it was a New Zealand clean sweep, with Tahlia Hansen beating compatriots Rebecca Peth and Zoe Fleming, whilst the corresponding Men’s Junior race was taken out by Shane Rosa ahead of Brandon Te Hiko and Hayden Fletcher.

Rosa in particular was in sizzling form all weekend, leading from the front and dominating every race.

Other National Series round three winners included dominant performances by Centenary Plains’ Joshua Boyton (16 boys), Castle Hill’s Ashlee Miller (14 girls) and NSW-based Japanese citizen Saya Sakakibara (16 girls).

Round four once again featured highly competitive racing in oppressive heat as Turner claimed his second victory in as many days, while it was a tactically supreme performance by McLeod that allowed her to storm to victory.

In what was an absorbing Elite Women’s final, McLeod seized the race advantage courtesy of a first straight tussle between Buchanan and Reynolds. As the two fought for the inside line, McLeod came from out wide to steal the lead, while Buchanan, who didn’t have enough speed to carry the double, lost her momentum and slipped out of contention.

McLeod then held off a fast finishing Reynolds to grab victory, with Reynolds finishing in second while Lake Macquarie’s Rachel Jones finished in third.

national series SHEPPARTON WRAP UP

In the Elite Men, Turner found himself in a thrilling battle with Callan after he left the first turn with the slimmest of leads, but Turner responded with a fantastic pro section performance to assert his dominance over the race and grab his second consecutive victory. Callan fought gallantly right to the line to finish second, while Nobles recorded his second podium of the weekend finishing third.

Turner’s weekend dominance moved him into the series lead at the expense of Callan, who now trails by just 25 points with five rounds remaining.

The Men’s Junior final saw Rosa continue his winning ways with his second win of the weekend to move him into the National Series lead. A bold manoeuvre on the second turn by Te Hiko caused him to crash out as Mt Buller’s Hayden Fletcher and Lake Macquarie’s Brock Griffiths rounded out the podium.

In the Women’s Junior race, Hansen made it two from two after she upstaged another New Zealander Zoe Fleming in second while Bunbury’s Rachelle Smith finished third.

Other riders to win a second successive round included Bendigo’s Jaclyn Wilson (17+ women), Miller (14 girl’s), Wanaroo’s Riley Carter (15 boy’s) and Sakakibara (16 girl’s).

For a full list of results please visit our website.

Attention now turns to rounds five and six of series to be held at the Westside BMX Club in Perth, Western Australia on the weekend of February 28 and March 1.

The event will once again be lived streamed via www.bmxaustralia.com.au or on the BMX Australia APP.

preview: rnd 5 & 6 - WESTSIDE

For the third year in a row the Westside BMX club will again play host to one of the biggest events on the domestic BMX calendar, as it gets set to host rounds five and six of the BMX Australia National Series over the two days on February 28 and March 1.

The series has offered up some thrilling racing so far, most recently in Shepparton for rounds three and four, where Bodi Turner claimed a pair of victories in the Elite Men’s category, while Melinda McLeod stopped Caroline Buchanan’s run of three straight victories when she secured round four.

Confirmed starters include 2014 National Series Elite champions Turner and world number one Buchanan, Perth native Lauren Reynolds and American star Barry Nobles.

Joining the headliners will also be an impressive number of entries, with over 175 riders confirmed for each of the rounds.

Preparation for the event is right on schedule according to Club President Stuart Pepper, including work on their very own Mini-Wheelers track.

“Preparation is going really well, basically all the ground work is done,” Pepper said.

“This year things are travelling very smoothly, been our third year we have a much better understanding of how to get things done.

preview: rnd 5 & 6 - WESTSIDE

“We are also preparing to spruce up our purpose-built Mini-Wheelers track so hopefully there will be a few kids riding.”

The popularity of BMX in Western Australia has been going from strength to strength and that has helped to create a real buzz around the upcoming event.

“The club is extremely excited, we have over 300 members now and they are all looking forward to it,” Pepper said.

“There has been a lot of talk about the event here in Perth, especially around the BMX community.

“With the growth of the sport, it will provide our younger riders with a great opportunity to face some fresh competition before the 2015 Subaru BMX National Championships.”

In what will be a fantastic addition to the series, and the sport, both rounds will once again be live streamed through Epicentre.TV, and will be available on both the BMX Australia website and APP, allowing the BMX Australia family the chance to watch all the action both in Australia and internationally.

In Westside, the live stream will commence at 10:30am on Saturday February 28 and 10:00am on Sunday March 1.

national sign on dayThe BMX Australia National Sign On Day weekends for 2015 are in full swing, with no less than 20 clubs providing their communities with the opportunity to join the BMX Australia family last weekend.

One of the many success stories to come out of the first official National Sign on Day weekend is that of Maryborough BMX club, who had no less than 18 new riders attend their event, with all the children enjoying themselves, and there was plenty of new potential on show.

The Bunbury BMX club also held their NSOD weekend recently, and was helped organised and attended by club legend Lauren Reynolds.

“The day was a huge success with so many kids wanting to have a go and see what the thrill of BMX is all about,” Reynolds said.

“The smiles that were on these kid’s faces were seriously priceless, I absolutely love it and it brings back so many memories of the good old days when it all began for me.

“The day was an absolute blast, loads of newbies signed up and took advantage of the four-month trial and I think we might even have some superstars in the making.”

The National Sign on Days continues over the next two weekends at clubs across Australia, while the Northern Territory will be holding their events in March and May. For more information on which clubs are hosting an event and when, please visit www.bmxaustralia.com.au

Who have you invited to your National Sign On Day?

The start hill in full swing at the Penrith BMX Club, NSW

NSOD attendee trying out the start

gate at Liverpool BMX Club, NSW

The kids are all smiles with their

NSOD showbags at Maryborough

BMX Club, QLD

Great to see lots of helpers for the

NSOD riders at Bunbury BMX Club, WA

Have you got photos from your NSOD?

Make sure you send them through to BMXA!

national sign on day

RIDER top tracks- Cosby Sweater - Hilltop Hoods- Take Me Over - Peking Duk- Arrows - Fences- I’m a dreamer (feat 360) - Diafrix- My Life - Bliss N Eso Caroline Buchanan

- Sweet Dreams- Maralyn Manson - Eminem- loose yourself - Rob Zombie- Dragula Sam Willoughby

- Black Skinhead- Yeezus (Kanye West)- Take Me Over - Peking Duk- Right Where You Want Me to Be - A Day to Remember - Bookmarks - Dylan OwenHarriet Burbidge-Smith

- Ima Boss - Meek Mill- Hate It or Love it - The Game Anthony Dean

Congratulations to Caroline Buchanan who launched the 2015 season of her Buchanan Next Gen racing team recently at the Tuggeranong BXM club.

The team, which is the first all-girl’s team in the world, welcomed on new member Tayla Robertson, who joined existing members Mikayla Rose and Paige Harding.

The fantastic initiative is designed to help boost the careers of young female riders and ultimately help them on the path to becoming future Olympians, and ambassadors for females in all sports.

Buchanan’s short term goal is to help send all three girls to the 2015 UCI BMX World Championships in Zolder, Belgium through a series of sponsorship and fundraising initiatives.

A video of the season launch shoot can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfJtfDokBLE

BUCHANANNEXT GEN

rider insight: thomas tuckerRemember the name Thomas Tucker, because in years to come he may well be Australia’s next world champion.

Thomas has been riding for just four years, and took up the sport at the age six after his neighbours suggested he take his Christmas present, a brand new BMX bike, down to his local club for a ride.

What ensued was a love for the sport, and a natural ability that combined with plenty of training has seen him conquer the world for his age.

A product of the Pine Rivers BMX club, Thomas has amassed a list of achievements at age ten that would make even the most seasoned BMX star turn their head.

He has won just about all there is to win in the country, indeed he may very well be the first Australian to have won the Zone, State, National and World titles in a single year, a feat he accomplished last year in the nine years boy’s division.

Perhaps most impressively however, have been Thomas’ back-to-back World Championship titles, an accomplishment he hopes to add to this year in Belgium, by capturing an elusive three peat.

To most riders, no matter the age, the prospect of racing in a World Championship final in front of thousands of people would be daunting, but not to young Thomas.

It may be that part of the secret to his success has been his ability to remain cool and calm on the big stage. Thomas’ father Michael says he is unusually relaxed under pressure and simply doesn’t get nervous.

“He loves competing on the big stage,” Michael said.

“He told me he never gets butterflies, and isn’t short of breath until he’s finished the race.

“I don’t think he realises that there are eight thousand sets of eyes him.”

While winning a third World Title is the short-term goal, Thomas isn’t content with just ruling the age group roost. He has his eyes set on following another World Champion, his idol Sam Willoughby, to the summit of the sport, a goal that few would question he can achieve.

Like all young boys, Thomas idolises the older boys, and at events can often be seen hanging off the words and actions of elite stars Max Cairns, Bodi Turner and Kai Sakakibara. Evidently these young men have all been great role models for Thomas, and ultimately their interest in the younger generations is one of the great hallmarks of our sport; it’s one big family.

It must be said that a lot of Thomas’ success can be attributed to the nurturing environment provided by Pine Rivers BMX club, whose work on rider development particularly at a young age has been particularly successful. Best illustrated by the fact that Thomas and his young club mate Beniah Richards were both World Champions at the same time.

rider insight: thomas tucker

His list of impressive achievements have not gone unnoticed, and were formally recognised recently when Thomas was awarded the ‘Dickson Youth Sporting Achievers Award’ on Australia Day by former minister for sport and recreation, Peter Dutton.

The award recognises standout achievement within the community, and is richly deserved.

Next on Thomas’ list is another Australian title at the 2015 Subaru BMX National Championships at the Brisbane SX track at the Sleeman Sports Complex after he was forced to withdraw from the upcoming South Australian and ACT titles due to a break of both bones in his left arm. While this would sound painful to most, it didn’t seem to upset the tough Queensland kid.

“He didn’t even shed a tear,” his father Michael recounts.

So as tough as he may be, the decision was made to rest, recover and focus on defending his Australian and World titles, as young Thomas continues on his quest to becoming an Elite World Champion.

Lincon Botfield, Beniah Richards & Tom Tucker at Nerang BMX Club

#BMXANSWINNERWe recently selected our favourite three photos from the National Series in Shepparton that were uploaded using the #BMXANS and let the BMXA community decide which photo they liked best.

A fantastic photo of Dion Bromley from the Moranbah BMX Club, sitting on one of the many Shepparton cows was chosen as the winner, and will now receive free entry to round five of the National Series at the Westside BMX club in Perth.

Congratulations also to our two runners up Felicia Thomas and Matt Cameron, and thankyou for sharing your BMXA National series experiences.

A reminder that 10 photos will also go into the running at the end of the National series to win the ‘GREEN N Gold’ ticket - providing the winner with free entry to every round of the 2016 National series.

So remember to keep sharing your experiences using the #BMXANS throughout the National series for your chance to win.

ENTRIES NOW OPEN FOR ROUNDS 7 & 8

WWW.BMXAUSTRALIA.COM.AU

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BMX Australia Limitede: info@bmxaustralia.com.aup: (02) 9008 1300f: (02) 8338 1500a: PO Box 6402, Alexandria, NSW 2015