Walker leads strong fields in RaboDirect BMX Nationals

Three-time world champion Sarah Walker will lead the way at this weekend’s RaboDirect BMX National Championships in Albany.

BMX riders from around the country from under five to over 50 will come up against some of the world’s best over Easter.

The three day championships will be a chance for some of country’s leading BMX high performance riders to push their international claims.

All of Bike NZ’s high performance team aside from US-based Marc Willers will be competing. They will be led by Walker, the 2009 world champion, who was third the recent round of the Supercross World Cup in South Africa. Much will be expected from Kurt Pickard (Tauranga), who was a semi-finalist in the first round Supercross, after returning to the top level of the sport. Other elites expected to impress include Pukekohe junior Trent Woodcock and Cambridge’s Kurt James, who both qualified in South Africa.

Walker, currently ranked number one in the world, always looks forward to her national championships.

“I love racing at home. It’s where I started in the sport and it’s good to see some of the talent coming up and for me it’s more of a chance to help them out and just enjoy the weekend.” Walker said.

Walker is unlikely to be tested in the elite women’s ranks while Pickard, who won the national title ahead of Willers last year, will get some stern competition especially from Cambridge’s James who has improved significantly under the guidance of national coach Ken Cools.

Woodcock (Sunset Coast) will lead a talented group of elite juniors including high performance teammates Nick Fox (Gisborne), Daniel Franks (Christchurch), Trent Jones (Whangarei).

There will be five world champions expected to be competing including Rotorua’s Dave Mohi (30 plus), Tahlia Hansen (Rangiora), Rico Bearman (North Harbour), Lachlan Stevens-McNabb (Rotorua) and Nicole Saarten (New Plymouth).

Racing starts on Friday with the selection competition for the Mighty 11s team to take on Australia. Saturday features the domestic UCI ranking round with the national championships decided on Sunday.