Walker on form at BMX champs

World Champion Sarah Walker continued her successful form taking an easy first place in the second round of the UCI BMX Pacific Oceania Ranking series in Hamilton today ahead of ex World Champion Nicole Callisto (Australia) in second.

Walker (Kawerau) made her debut ride in New Zealand since winning her title and gained valuable ranking points getting her closer to the Beijing Olympics despite suffering from tonsillitis.

In the Elite Men’s race, Australians Jared Graves, Luke Madill and Kamakazi took all three podium places with Hamilton’s Jason Kelly the best of the New Zealanders in fourth. Marc Willers (Cambridge), fresh back from his win at the Supercross final in France last weekend finished in fifth.



Kurt Pickard proved he was a rider to watch with an outstanding ride following a major crash at the World Championships in Canada earlier this year with a third place in the Junior Men’s category behind Aussies Sam Willoughby and Steven Janssen.



Also in third place, was New Plymouth’s Victoria Hill in the Junior Women’s category with Lauren Reynolds and World number 6 Alexandra Williams both of Australia just ahead of Victoria.



The Ranking series is being held in conjunction with the 2007 Southern Trust North Island BMX Championships. Over 650 BMX riders from across New Zealand are racing throughout the weekend, including the Mighty 11 Test team and Senior Test teams who will take on teams from Australia for the prestigious Test Trophies. Riding for the Kiwi’s is current world champion Hannah Sarten from New Plymouth who has won her moto’s convincingly.



Racing starts at 9am tomorrow morning at Hamilton BMX Track with the UCI ranking riders leading off the day, and then competing every twenty minutes before the finals at approximately 10.15am.



Full results to be available following completion of the amateur racing later today.