UCI BMX World Championships Day 1 Wrap

New Zealand BMX has three more world champions after the first day of the age group Challenge classes at the UCI World Championships in South Africa.

They won three titles and had three further podium placings from riders 13 years and under to finish equal with USA as the most successful nation on day one at Pietmaritzburg.

North Harbour’s Rico Bearman and Rangiora’s Tahlia Hansen repeated their successes from the world championships in Adelaide last year with Rotorua’s Lachlan Stevens-McNabb winning the boys under seven years title.

The celebrations started in the first final for the New Zealand contingent when Rotorua’s Lachie Stevens-McNabb totally dominated the under seven years division with an emphatic performance.

Bearman was next up when he won the boys seven years age group, forced to dig deep after American Amakye Andersen challenged him strongly on the last bend in the final.

Hansen proved too classy for the field in the 13 years girls final, with the closest competition from fellow kiwi Abigail Fox (Gisborne) who finished second in a repeat of their final in the 12 years age group at Adelaide.

There were two kiwis on the podium in the nine years girls’ class with Jessie Smith (Gisborne) second and Mikayla Bearman, sister of Rico, third behind South Africa’s Georgina Grassie. Jessie’s brother Lewis was fifth in the 12 years final and Jayden Fleming (Papakura) eighth in the 11 years final.

“It was a magic day for New Zealand. We won the first two finals of the day which really nailed us on the mast and showed to everyone we are here,” said Bruce Northwood, BMX New Zealand president.

“Lachie was quite brilliant and extremely fast in his win. Rico looked like he was going to get overtaken but really found another gear while Tahlia and Abigail fought out the final as they did last year.

“To be equal with the USA after the first day is fantastic, definitely the best showing that I can recall at any BMX World Championships for New Zealand”

Mr Northwood said the performances were a real boon for New Zealand who will host the BMX World Championships in 2013.

“Firstly it shows we have some young riders who are right up there and will be competitive when we host these championships in three years time.

“And secondly it’s a great way to highlight to everyone here that we are hosting the worlds in 2013. Certainly I have had great feedback already from people who are looking forward to coming to Auckland in 2013.”

The second half of the Challenge classes for riders 14 years and over and the Junior Elite competitors compete tomorrow, while the elite riders had their first taste of the Supercross track in practice for their world championship on Sunday (NZ time).

Day one results, BMX World Championships, Pietmaritzburg, South Africa:

Challenge Class:

GIRLS, 9 years: Georgina Grassie (RSA) 1, Jessie Smith (NZL) 2, Mikayla Bearman (North Harbour, NZL) 3.

 

11 years: Saya Sakakibara (JPN) 1, Dion Bromley (AUS) 2, Shanayah Howell (ARU) 3. 

 

12 years: Axelle Etienne (FRA) 1, Manon Veenstra (NED) 2, Merel Smulders (NED) 3. Also: Zoe Fleming (NZL) 4.

 

13 years: Tahlia Hansen (Rangiora, NZL) 1, Abigail Fox (Gisborne, NZL) 2, Annaliese Rokov (AUS) 3.

 

BOYS: Under 7 years: Lachlan Stevens-McNabb (Rotorua, NZL) 1, Emilio Durini (ECU) 2, Ondrej Matejik (CZE) 3.

 

7 years: Rico Bearman (North Barbour, NZL) 1, Amakye Andersen (USA) 2, Luke Rossiter (GBR) 3.

 

8 years: Julian Dittrick (USA) 1, Shafath Moreeano (ECU) 2, Wyatt Bell (USA) 3. Also Blake Ross (Papakura, NZL) semifinals.

 

10 years: Jaden Rice (AUS) 1, Baptiste Viellard (FRA) 2, Broc Meter (ZIM) 3. Also Liam Goodwin (Kaiapoi, NZL) semifinals.

 

11 years: Michael Gonzales (USA) 1, Axel Webster (RSA) 2, Franco Ezeqiuel Soriano (ARG) 3. Also: Jayden Fleming (Papakura, NZL) 8.

 

12 years: Jake Tunney (AUS) 1, Paolo Cortez (ECU) 2, Giovanni Fini (ARG) 3. Also Lewis Smith (Gisborne, NZL) 5.