Walker, Pickard claim RaboDirect National BMX titles

It was an even dozen for world number one Sarah Walker who cruised to victory in the RaboDirect New Zealand BMX Championships in Auckland today.

Walker was unbeaten throughout her three qualifying rides and eased to victory in the final to chalk up her 12th national title at the North Harbour BMX track in Albany.

Tauranga 20 year old Kurt Pickard retained his elite men’s title, while Pukekohe’s Trent Woodcock-Takurua took out the elite junior honours.

More than 850 riders are competing in the two-day championships, with all age groups qualifying for quarter finals, semis and finals tomorrow, with the elites competing in a Superclass competition.

While never threatened throughout, Walker said she treated it like any other race.

“I had a few things I wanted to focus on this weekend,” Walker said. “To be honest I was a bit worried when it rained yesterday which made the start ramp slippery and the track was slippery.

“But today was great. I wanted to put down a good performance. I wanted to focus on the gate, focus on getting it solid and on the process I have been working on in training at the World Cup in South Africa and all my racing.

“I treated it as if it was a World Cup against the best in the world. I just wanted to keep it simple and keep my mind on the job. I was happy with that.”

She finished clear of the improving Victoria Hill (New Plymouth) with Papakura’s Nicole Wright third.

Pickard, who beat New Zealand’s top rider Marc Willers in the nationals last year, showed his continued promise are returning to the sport at top level in the last month.

After his semifinal effort at the South Africa World Cup, Pickard proved in a class of his own, winning two of his three motos and cruising home in the other before winning the final in impressive fashion.

“I did what I needed to do so I am stoked,” Pickard said. “I was quite pleased with my form today coming back from South Africa which was my first Supercross with the big boys. A top 16 finish – I was real happy with that.

“For me it is all about race experience, getting to the start line as much as possible and then get some results.

“It is all about being mentally prepared. That’s the name of the game.”

California-based Willers, who is racing in the ABA Nationals in the USA this weekend, has sufficient points at present to qualify two spots for next year’s London Olympics, with Pickard focussing on the dream.

“For sure I dream about London. I want to get to the start line and do what I know I can do.”

He cleared out from the gate to win from Mathew Cameron (New Plymouth) with Auckland’s Adam Cock (East City) third in his first nationals in seven years.

Woodcock-Takurua, who qualified for the quarterfinals in the elite class in South Africa, never put a foot wrong in an impressive display in the junior elite, winning all three heats and then dominating the final to again show his undoubted international promise.

He finished clear of Waitakere’s Bradley Gates and Gisborne’s Nic Fox with high performance riders Trent Jones and Daniel Franks, both from Christchurch, crashed out.

Elite results, RaboDirect New Zealand Championships:

Elite women, qualifying: Sarah Walker (Rotorua) 3 points, 1; Victoria Hill (New Plymouth) 2, Holly Woodcock-Takurua and Nicole Eady (Whangarei) 6, equal 3. Final: Walker 1, Hill 2, Nicole Wright (Papakura) 3.

Elite men, qualifying: Matthew Cameron New Plymouth) 5 points, 1; Kurt James (Cambridge) 6, 2; Matthew Davies (Christchurch City) and Adam Cocker (East City) 7, equal 3. Final: Kurt Pickard (Tauranga) 1, Cameron 2, Cocker 3.

Junior elite men, qualifying:  Trent Woodcock-Takurua (Sunset Coast) 3 points, 1; Trent Jones (Kaiapoi) 4, 2; Nic Fox (Gisborne) 7, 3. Final: Woodcock-Takurua 1, Bradley Gates (Waitakere) 2, Fox 3.

The Mighty 11 team to meet Australia in June after selection races yesterday is:

Boys: Maynard Peel (Sunset Coast), Mark Harland-Croft (Taupo), Jayden Fleming (Papakura), Bailey Davis (Papakura), Cody Lush (Sunset Coast).

Girls: Lisa Roguski (Tauranga), Jordan Donaldson (Dunedin), Jendi Frank (New Plymouth).

CAPTIONS: Sarah Walker (96) and Kurt Pickard (154) in action on their way to victory in the RaboDirect BMX Nationals at North Harbour today.