Olympians to defend BMX Racing titles
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Olympians Leila Walker and Rico Bearman will be looking to extend their records at the BMX Racing New Zealand National Championships at Te Awamutu at the weekend.
Sidelined with injury last summer, the 20-year-old Walker will be looking to add to her championship win in 2024.
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She claimed the Oceania elite title in New Plymouth last month in an impressive display by the Cambridge rider.
Europe-based professional Rico Bearman will be hoping to build on his excellent 2025 season where he became the first kiwi to win a UCI World Cup title since Marc Willers in 2011.
All kiwi riders are building towards the UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Brisbane in three months, which has been upgraded in preparations long term to hosting the 2032 Olympic Games.
Bearman is unlikely to have things his own way with Cambridge rider Bennett Greenough an Oceania winner last year, and expected to lead the charge along with his brother Jack who will be a leading chance for under-23 honours.
In the women Walker is the favourite with the challenge likely to be led by Rotorua international Megan Williams, although injury is likely to sideline the efforts of the third of the outstanding Greenough brigade, the junior world champion Lily.
There are nearly 800 entries for the championships attracting riders from five to over 70 years for the three-days of racing.
The opening day on Friday will comprise the official trial racing to section the New Zealand team for the annual Mighty 11s Trans-Tasman Test, with the first leg to take place in Australia in the coming months.
The elite entries are:
Elite men: Cole McOnie (Cambridge), Rico Bearman (North Harbour), Bennett Greenough (Cambridge), Jack Greenough (Cambridge), Jesse Green (Christchurch), Finn Cogan (Cambridge), Nick Cowie (Cromwell), Theo Bould (North Harbour).
Elite women: Bayley Luttrell (Te Awamutu), Brooke Penny (Cambridge), Lily Greenough (Cambridge), Megan Williams (Rotorua), Leila Walker (Cambridge), Azaria Thornley (Te Kuiti), Madeleine Hunter (Mountain Raiders)