THE DIRT - January 2016

THE

DIRT January 2016

National Series Wrap nATIONAL cHAMPS pREVIEW GET TO KNOW Hayden fletcher MELINDA MCLEOD TALKS OLYMPICS NATIONAL SIGN ON DAY

2016 Calendar

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JANUARY

31st: Oceania BMX Championships, Continental Championships, Auckland (New Zealand)

FEBRUARY 6th - 7th: National Series Rounds 5 &6 | National Sign On Day 13th - 14th: National Sign On Day 21st-22nd: National Sign On Day

MARCH 1st - 7th: National Championships 25th-26th: UCI BMX Supercross World Cup, Santiago del Estero (Argentina)

APRIL 9th - 10th: UCI BMX Supercorss World Cup: Manchester (Great Britain) 30th: Australian Capital Territory State Titles

MAY 7th - 8th: UCI BMX Supercross World Cup: Papendal (Netherlands) 25th - 29th: UCI BMX World Championships: Medellin (Colombia)

JUNE JULY AUGUST 5th - 21st: Games of the XXXI Olympiad: Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

SEPTEMBER 19th - 25th: Queensland State Titles 24th - 25th: UCI BMX Supercross World Cup, Rock Hill (USA)

OCTOBER 1st-2nd: New South Wales State Titles 5th - 8th: Northern Territory State Titles 8th-9th: UCI BMX Supercross World Cup, Sarasota (USA)

NOVEMBER 12th - 16th: South Australian State Titles

DECEMBER

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Contents

From the President............................4 Ride around AUS................................5 Members Competition.....................6 National Series Wrap........................8 National Champs Preview.............10 Buchanan Next Gen News..............11 Get to know Hayden Fletcher.......13 Melinda McLeod talks Olympics...14 Results..................................................15

From the President

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NSOD, new tracks, national series & positive changes!

What a start to 2016 we have had! The BMX Australia National Series has produced outstanding racing, the development of the new BMX supercross track in Bathurst is complete and the success of the BMXA Development Academy has made it a tremendous start!

In addition to the great things we are seeing on track for competitions, it is that time of year when we hope to grow the BMX family with National Sign On Day (NSOD), which will take place across the first three weekends in February.

Traditionally our member drive has been promoted via traditional PR opportunities, and while successful, the BMXA Board has taken a new direction this year and in consultation with our media management team, we will be promoting NSOD via digital and social media to more aptly connect with our current and potential membership.

Not only will we be aiming our promotion at new members, this year there is a key focus on rewarding our existing members with a competition that asks you to bring a mate to ride. On offer are prizes such as new Redline bikes, courtesy of Bill De Maid at BMX International who has gotten behind NSOD, as has BMXA Development Academy coach Luke Madill who is offering coaching sessions and we also have free memberships to give away.

We certainly hope to bring in as many new members as possible during February, and we will again promote our sport in August during the Olympic Games as we watch our Aussie BMX heroes race in Rio. Back on the track and the National Series is in full flight after four rounds with a range of different winners, but more importantly, we have had great participation numbers in both Nerang and Cairns. The series is no doubt growing, and I thank the clubs who have hosted the first four rounds, we have had a truly outstanding start!

It is also great to see that our investment in the BMXA Development Academy is paying off in the early months of this year, with many of the academy riders competing well in the national series, exemplifying why we are investing in this crucial stage of our development pathway. It is critical for BMXA to be supporting the Australian Sports Commission’s ‘Australia’s Winning Edge’ vision, and the academy underpins that effort.

Congratulations must go to the BMXA staff coordinating the Development Academy, with Luke Madill, Sharon Willoughby and Anita Wells doing a great job

early on. In the near future we will be awarding scholarships for the Academy in order to assist athletes financially to fulfill their yearly racing schedule. We will have more information on that soon.

Turning our attention to March we have the National Championships beginning in March, and I cannot express how much work has gone into preparing the new supercross track at Bathurst, it has truly been a monumental effort. Bathurst Mayor Gary Rush and his councilors need to be applauded for their efforts as the funding for this track was only received in June 2015. To have built a world-class track in a six month period is simply outstanding.

Already we have a large number of entries for nationals this year, eclipsing the numbers seen in 2015, which was a record year. The National Championships in Bathurst are shaping up as a massive event, and we are just around the corner from it.

Barry Knight BMXA President.

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Ride around AUS

News from the states Victoria

January has been a busy month for the Victorian BMX community. The six dates in nine days Track Attack series featured around 500 riders, including 18 from New Zealand and close to 100 interstate entries!

The events are hotly contested with a high standard of competition across all the grades with world, national and state plate riders testing the Victorian locals.

Elite men’s National Series champion Bodi Turner has amazed and inspired spectators and aspirants alike, comfortably taking out both of the rounds at Lilydale BMX Club and Frankston BMX Club events under lights in the AA Men. In addition the annual BSX Bicycle Supercross charity event took place on Monday 11 January at Pheasant Creek supporting the Royal Children’s Hospital.

The bmxultra.com and BSX team did another magnificent job staging the event that was well supported by the BMX Victoria community. It was a fantastic fundraising effort from all for the RCH.

NSW News in NSW has been well documented with the new BMX Supercross track in Bathurst OPEN for business. The Bathurst RSL Open was staged in mid-January with many of the riders in the BMXA National Series making the journey to western NSW to spectate or compete.

Attention in NSW now turns to the National Championships, which will include the ‘Thunder Down Under’ and Grands Challenge events!

South Australia NSW isn’t the only state celebrating positive track news, in South Australia the Tea Tree Gully BMX Club are also riding the wave of positivity that comes with a new track that was opened in December. The first race meet attracted around 240 competitors, no doubt a good indicator for the impending South Australian states titles in October! Congratulations to the club, and all involved in the fundraising effort.

South Australians can also be proud of young member Joel Marsh (11-years – but almost 12!) who recently won the Mighty 11s race in New Zealand, much to the delight of his father David who was commentating at the time. Joel also captained the Austra

lian team, and although they lost the team event, he can hold his head high after a strong team effort and a pleasing individual result.

Queensland The Board of BMXQ has announced the introduction of Melinda McLeod to the role of Media Coordinator.

Melinda is currently studying a Bachelor of Journalism and will be managing all social media platforms for the state organisation.

“As anyone close to me knows, I am a very proud Queensland girl, so of course I jumped at the opportunity to work with BMXQ! I am super excited about this new role and am very grateful to the board of BMXQ for the opportunity,” McLeod said.

This role will be a resource to be utilised by all BMXQ Zones, Clubs and Member’s and the BMXQ Board encourages all to submit social media material, including news articles, links to the news items, results or general news letters directly to Melinda via the “contact us” details on the BMXQ website.

Western Australia The west side of the country have begun the year with their State Super Series Round and had fantastic entries with entries in excess of 520 at the Southern Districts Cub! More news to come in the next edition of The Dirt!

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Members competition

Bring a mate to ride & WIN on National Sign On Day!

There’s nothing better than having a mate to ride your BMX with, so throughout February as part of this year’s National Sign On Day campaign we are asking our members to bring a mate to the track.

Our members are our family and who better to tell people about our wonderful sport than you! We all know how much we love BMX! When you bring a new member to your club you can be in the running to win a coaching clinic for BOTH OF YOU with BMXA Development Academy coach and 2008 Olympian Luke Madill, one of two Redline bikes, cool EBG clothing and one of 60 free memberships for next year......

To go into the draw to win, all you need to do is simply bring a mate to the track, then make sure your name and BMXA licence number are noted down on their rego form when they join the club.

Easy.

Once we’ve received all of the membership forms following February’s National Sign On Days we will randomly draw the winners and contact both the lucky current member and new member to let you know you’ve won a prize.

Terms and Conditions for this competition can be found on our website.

Over the next month you’ll see BMX Australia’s innovative new National Sign On Day campaign online and we encourage you to like and share the videos, photos and stories so more and more people learn about our wonderful sport, become part of our BMXA Family and join us at the track.

You can help your sport even more during National Sign On Day month by using these hashtags when you post any photos or videos on your social media platforms:

#BMXANSOD #BMXiloveit #BMXAFamily #weallrideBMX #joinusatthetrack

Bring a Mate to Ride with you on your National Sign On Day and you could BOTH WIN!

National Series Young stars light up traditional National Series opener in Nerang

Hot and windy conditions faced riders in the opening two rounds of the National Series at Nerang as the BMX season opened with a bang on New Years Day. For so early in the season the action was as hot as the Gold Coast weather with several riders, including Rio Olympic hopefuls Melinda McLeod and Bodi Turner, signalling their intentions for a strong 2016.

The two biggest standouts however were golden girls Saya Sakakibara and Des’Ree Barnes – world champions in 2015 – and a pair set for further glory this

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girl’s, Barnes was equally impressive, completing the double with wins over no less than Japanese world number 2 Jui Yubata.

In the elite classes, McLeod was a class above in each of the women’s rounds, winning every time she stood above the start gate to set up a solid early lead in the standings, while Turner bounced back from a fall whilst leading the men’s final in the opening round to make amends with a commanding victory on day two.

With Turner recording a seventh on day one, rising stars Brandon Te Hiko and Kai Sakakibara stepped up and took advantage to share the series lead.

Te Hiko scored a stirring victory – his first at senior level – in the opening round, a sliver ahead of Sakakibara before the positions were reversed behind

Bodi Turner on his way to victory in round two of the National Series (Image: Racer Pics)

McLeod was simply a cut above in Nerang (Image: Racer Pics)

year.

Turner in the second round.

Stepping up from the 16 years girl’s to the junior elite, Sakakibara, who has declared her allegiance to Australia after winning several challenge class world titles for Japan, was sensational, claiming both rounds before boldly declaring she would bid to clean sweep the national series for the second year in a row.

Other riders to win both opening rounds included Kai Angel (14yrs boy’s), New Zealander Cailen Calkin (15yrs boy’s), Tony Harvey (30+ Masters men) and Lacey Oliver (17+ women).

“I definitely want to do the clean sweep again,” Sakakibara said.

“I’m going to have to train hard, work on my sprints and the mental stuff as well, keeping it fresh between every round because all of the rounds are really close together this year.”

Making her national series debut in the 14 years

For full results from the National Series round one CLICK HERE, for round two CLICK HERE. Top three results are at the back of this publication

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National Series

Trio of world champs continue to shine in Cairns

Reigning world champions Nathaniel Rodway, Saya Sakakibara and Des’Ree Barnes were the stars of the show during the two Cairns rounds of the National Series.

Rodway was sensational taking the double in the 16 years boy’s category to make it three wins from four rounds, while Sakakibara (junior elite women) and Barnes (14 girl’s) went a step closer to a series clean sweep with another golden weekend.

The trio were not the only riders to take home a pair of victories in the sweltering Cairns conditions wi Des’Ree Barnes

Cairns believing a win was just around the corner and proved it when it counted, hanging on to win round four from Sarah Harvey and Ashleigh Gunn.

“I led from the start and pretty much had to push it all the way to the end,” Curtis said.

“I was feeling pretty good but my fitness is not that great so I was a little bit worried in the back end of the race that they were going to catch me but I got there.”

Others to win their third round of the year over the

Nathaniel Rodway

Cooper Tye, just days after his birthday, claiming both 15 years boy’s rounds, coach and rider Sean Dwight blitzing the 30+ masters fields and Shelby Green cleaning up in the 16 years girl’s by the barest of margins over arch rival Mikayla Rose.

The elite events saw four winners from four races with current men’s national champion Corey Frieswyk riding a brilliant tactical race to win Saturday’s event from series leader Bodi Turner, before world number 11 Turner bounced back with an emphatic win on Sunday.

In the corresponding women’s events Melinda McLeod won her third round on the trot, only to see Leanna Curtis fly down the first straight in round four and power to a big victory as McLeod crashed to the track.

After the race Curtis revealed she had arrived in

Saya Sakakibara

weekend included Lacey Oliver (17+ women) and Kai Angel (14 boy’s).

For full results from the National Series round three CLICK HERE, for round four CLICK HERE. Top three results are at the back of this publication

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Nationals 2016 What to expect in March

Trail to Tokyo begins at the National Champs in Bathurst The road to Rio may be the immediate focus for the top echelon of Australia’s BMX stars but it is the journey to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games that will begin in earnest at the 2016 BMX Australia National Championships in Bathurst coming up from March 1-6.

While many of this year’s Olympic hopefuls have been drawn to a second test event in Rio, it is the stars of tomorrow who are looking good to arrive at Bathurst’s new world class supercross facility all guns blazing and ready to make a name for themselves.

For BMXA Development Academy coach Luke Madill, the new track is an integral part of Australia’s future competitiveness on the world stage, and the Beijing Olympian believes the elite events at the nationals will showcase the current depth of talent in Australia.

“It’s super important to have a track like Bathurst and for it be accessible now, with an eye to Tokyo, which is still four years away,” Madill said.

“Previously we have been limited in Australia, but with tracks like this it makes our riders more comfortable, which has the flow on effect of helping them qualify at world cup rounds and then in Olympic qualification.

“I really think that given the closeness among our elite riders right now, and the challenge of a new track the results at nationals will be a mixed bag this year.

“A few weeks back the Bathurst BMX Club hosted the Bathurst RSL Open and it was Kai Sakakibara who won there so he will have confidence. But guys like Matt Juster and Tristyn Kronk were missing.

“In the women’s elite the riders will sort themselves out. Their track has technical straights and it will be easy to make a mistake.”

Also set to put on a big show will be the junior elite classes and challenger classes, Madill outlining that the riders who can master the track first will be the ones closest to victory.

“The amateur side of the track appears to be long, but riders will adapt to the speeds. For many of the age group riders the real battle will be getting back onto the straights. The corners will be the biggest aspect of their race with so many racing lines available,” he said.

“For the junior men it will be close. Hayden Fletcher has been strong, as have Josh Boyton and Andrew

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“In the junior women it will be hard not to back Saya Sakakibara. She showed us that she dialed into the track really quickly at the Bathurst Open and will have a psychological advantage on a track that isn’t easy to get used to.”

The week in Bathurst is a busy one with the national championships commencing on Wednesday the pre-titles and retro classes. Thursday will feature the Crackerjack, Dynamite, Sprocket and mini-wheelers before the Challengers kick off on Friday and the Championship categories on Saturday.

On show will be a host of W1 plate holders and defending Australian champions including Thomas Tucker, Des’Ree Barnes, Shane Rosa, Nathaniel Rod-

way to name but a few.

Come Sunday, along with the Cruiser events, the Grands Challenge will be the centerpiece as the 12 best ranked riders (based of National Series points) in the 14-16 year classes, as well as the junior elite and elite classes race for an all expenses paid trip to the 2016 Race of Champions (ROC) and Grand Nationals event in Tulsa, Oaklahoma.

It isn’t just the national championships that will be held throughout the first week of March. For many competitors they will ride head to head in the seventh and final round of the BMXA National Series, known as the ‘Thunder Down Under’ on the Thursday evening.

Buchanan Next Gen Jayco Scholarship Olympian Caroline Buchanan is firmly focused on her preparation for this year’s Rio Olympic Games but away from her own aspirations she has teamed up with Australian company Jayco to create the ‘Buchanan Next Gen Jayco Scholarship’.

Since 2013 Buchanan Next Gen has been financially assisting and mentoring young female riders, and this year, with the help of Jayco, will award $3,000 to one female rider in the 14-years and another in the 15-years age group in order to help them travel to the UCI BMX World Championships in Medellin, Colombia.

To be eligible, riders in the 14 and 15-years girl’s categories must submit an application form prior to the BMX Australia National Championships, with the highest placed applicants in the final being awarded the scholarship.

With the financial support from Jayco, Buchanan said that Next Gen is now moving in the direction she always intended it to, saying it was equally exciting and relieving to have this all come together.

“Jayco coming on board is a massive part of being able to create these scholarships,” Buchanan said.

“I’ve always found that it is easier to acquire product support, but Next Gen always needed financial support to fit the model I wanted. That was evident from the start when I was auctioning off some of my own gear, I was serious then and I am just as serious about it now, and Jayco saw that.

“I was so excited and relieved when it all came together. I have a strong focus on the Olympics this year and my own career and sponsors, but I’m not just about podiums. I love kids joining the BMX family and starting young in our sport, women in sport and being able to assist gives me plenty of motivation.”

Buchanan knows the importance of not only mentoring, but also financial assistance, herself a past recipient of support from Australian surfing legend

Layne Beachley’s ‘Aim For The Stars Foundation’.

“When I was around the 14/15-years age group I was singled out by Layne Beachley for a scholarship with her foundation, and having her believe in me and financially assist me gave me a big push in my career. That’s why these age groups are the ones I am targeting,” she said.

“Over the past two years Next Gen has supported three girls (Mikayla Rose, Paige Harding and Tayla Robertson) and they have always presented well on and off the track, but now we are in an Olympic year and I am in a position to award a financial, performance oriented scholarship to help others.

“I will always be a support for the three riders who have been part of Buchanan Next Gen, just like Layne is still someone that I can reach out to.”

The Buchanan Next Gen Jayco Scholarship will be awarded to the highest ranked rider (that has applied for the scholarship) in the final of the girl’s 14-years and 15-years events at the BMXA National Championships.

You can download your application form HERE.

Madill concluded by pinpointing elements of the track that he thinks may play a role in the outcome of racing, citing the geometry of the facility as a major contributing factor to its uniqueness.

“The new track at Bathurst flows really well, and after a fast first straight the track turns quite technical.

Younger and older age groups will struggle with that,” Madill said.

“For the pro guys there is a lot of space, more than a normal track and there is enough room for passing and sharing the turns, however the track is longer and will command good endurance and stamina from athletes.

“We will also see higher speeds, occurring courtesy of the significant elevation differential from the start to the finish of the track.

“Size and technicality are the two major factors here, and there is no guarantee who will win the first major event there. It’s a national championship, anything can happen on the day. The track could be a part of that, or other uncontrollable elements such as the weather.”

Regardless, the BMXA Family is set for one of the most exciting national championships on record.

Grands Challenge

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One of the biggest prizes of the year is on the table for 10 Australian BMX riders on the final day of the national championships in Bathurst, when the Grands Challenge gets underway on the final day of competition.

Available to the top eight Australia riders based on 2016 BMX Australia National Series Points in the 14-years, 15-years, 16-years, Junior & Elite classes (male and female), will be the opportunity to compete for a trip to the 2016 Race of Champions and Grand Nationals event in the United States.

The criteria to qualify for the event are as follows: • Top eight Australian riders based on the 2016 BMX Australia National Series points for each class (16yr, Junior & Elite) as at the end of Round 7 of the 2016 National Series qualify.

• All 2016 BMX Australia National Series event criteria apply • Only open to riders who are eligible to compete for Australia at the 2016 World • Championships.

• Positions will be offered in order of final National Series overall points until all 8 • positions are full.

The Grands Challenge is on Sunday March 7.

National Championships schedule Tuesday March 1

Friday March 4

Wednesday March 2

Saturday March 5

Thursday March 3

Sunday March 6

Registration (7:30am – 3:0pm) Graded Practice for all Classes – 20” & 24”

Registration (7:00am – 12:00pm) Sprocket Clinic Mini-Wheeler Clinic 2016 Pre Titles Retro National Championships

Crackerjack and Dynamite Sprockets & Mini-Wheelers Bathurst Thunder Down Under (National Series Round 7)

Challenge Class 20” Racing

Cruiser Practice Challenge Class 20” Racing Nationals Championships Race

Cruiser Racing Grands Challenge Race

“While we chat during the car trip, I also spend a lot of the time on my laptop completing studying for school. I’m in the second year of my VCE, so there is plenty to do.”

It’s this sort of discipline that underscores the effort Fletcher goes to in order to be as competitive as possible on the BMX track. With the support of state coach Josh Callan, Fletcher said he has to improvise how he trains on the days he can’t make it to a BMX track.

“Because tracks are so far away from home, I do a lot of work in our local gym. I’ve built a good relationship with the owner and he helps me out a lot,” Fletcher said.

YOU NEED TO KNOW Hayden Fletcher

Meet the teenager moving mountains to ride BMX

NAME: Hayden Fletcher AGE: 17 CLASS: Junior Elite Men LIVES: Howqua, Victoria BMX Club: Mansfield Mt Buller BMX Club It’s early on a Thursday morning and Hayden Fletcher’s alarm is attacking his ears with the same intensity that the junior elite competitor attacks the final at a BMX event – fast, full on and determined to be noticed. If he’s to make a midday training session in Lilydale, he needs to obey the alarm.

Fletcher is one of Australia’s emerging talents, and so far in 2016 has tasted success in the BMX Australia National Series and has his focus on a berth at the 2016 UCI BMX World Championships in Medellin, Colombia. In the next four years, he is also eyeing off a place on the Australian Olympic team for Tokyo 2020.

Lilydale is a two-hour drive away from Fletcher’s residence in Howqua in rural Victoria, and after a few hours of school, which is done via the Distant Education Centre of Victoria, it’s into the car for the commute to the track accompanied by his father Paul, who Hayden enjoys driving with.

“I have always loved travelling with dad, and going to and from training has given us a close relationship.

He works all day and drives all those hours, both he and mum go above and beyond for me,” Fletcher said.

“Dad used to race and when he was 16 he went to the USA to have a go. He’s told me all about it, and while he doesn’t ride anymore it’s great to share this with him.

“Howqua is remote, but it is also hilly, which means I am able to do a lot of uphill and downhill sprints. I believe in discipline and with no training partners at home I need plenty of it. But it pays off on race day.

“I’ve had a good start to the racing year (Fletcher won the first round, placed third in the second, first in the third and 10th in the fourth) and in all honesty I had been hoping to be up there like this. I’m in my second year as a junior, training has been going well and I have been able to keep things cool and take the pressure off myself. “ With everything seemingly falling into place, despite the obvious geographic challenges, Fletcher knows where he wants to go in his career and beyond and even hopes that one day, a BMX track will come to him.

“This year I have felt a bit like an underdog, so I want to make a name for myself both at home and abroad.

After that I am into the elite men’s, and it will be the same plan to keep improving until the 2020 Olympics,” he said.

“Post riding I would love to be a BMX coach, work in sports science or have my own gym. Perhaps they can bring a track to Mansfield, which is the main town near Howqua – cross-country mountain biker Mitch Greenway and road cyclist Simon Gerrans are from the same region, we have a good biking pedigree and the kids would love it!”

While the hills and paddocks may not be superseded by a BMX track in the near future, don’t expect Fletcher to fall by the wayside. He’s a man on a mission.

The Olympics

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What they mean to me Melinda McLeod

The Olympic Games were never a consideration for Melinda McLeod in her formative BMX years. At the time BMX wasn’t on the Olympic program, and it was track cycling that was her favourite sport to watch every fours years. With the childhood dream of playing for the Opals (Australian women’s basketball team) giving way to BMX, it’s fortunate that our sport finally made it onto the world’s biggest sporting stage, reinvigorating McLeod’s passion for the smaller bike, with a new goal in sight.

Here’s what the Olympics mean to Melinda McLeod…

My first memory of the Olympics was during primary school…I was in grade two or three when the Sydney Games were on, and I remember participating in activities at school, but didn’t quite grasp the magnitude of what it was all about. At an older age now, I would give a lot to be at a home Olympics.

I remember when Anna Meares won gold in Athens…I’m from Mackay, which is close to Anna’s hometown of Rockhampton, and there was a lot of media coverage back home. At the time BMX wasn’t an Olympic sport and track cycling had the most relevance to it, so it was probably my favourite Olympic sport.

Fast forward to the 2012 London Olympics and I was actually in the crowd watching Anna Meares beat the Great Britain’s Victoria Pendleton to a gold medal in the sprint event. It was the day after BMX finished and I was sitting with my friend Kaarli McChulloch who is also a track cyclist, and it was so great to be there.

Standing at 169cm tall, I was never going to realise my dream of becoming an Opal…thank god for BMX! I remember BMX being announced as an Olympic sport in July 2003. At the time I was heading to the world championships in Perth to compete

in the 10-years girl’s age group. Up until that point I had never really felt I could see a clear pathway to the top of the sport, so that announcement was timed perfectly to give me an objective for the future.

There is nothing that compares to the Olympic movement, and when I watched the BMX in 2008, I knew I wanted it… The Olympics means a lot to me, especially being involved in sport at an elite level. But joining the Olympic movement isn’t just about me. My family have worked incredibly hard to support my dream of competing at the Olympics.

Both my parents commit six days of the week to their jobs, and while it would be super cool as an individual to be there, I would be more proud to represent my family and pay them back for the dedication they have shown to helping me.

It takes dedication to stay in sport, and the dream will continue past Rio this year…Myself and a few others know that Rio won’t be our last shot at the Olympics. The next Games will be held in Tokyo in 2020 and I plan to be contesting for a spot on that team too. In the next four years we have some promising young riders coming through and the Australian’s elite BMX scene will have some serious depth. It takes a lot of dedication to stay focused for four years, but it is seriously great to see how many girls are getting involved in the sport and joining the larger BMX family. There’s a lot more than when I was younger!

Competing at the elite level requires a balance in life…It became apparent to me over the past 12 months that I needed to invest in something away from racing, I wanted to give something back to the sport. It can be hard to do when you spend so much time racing overseas, but I have always admired the way that Caroline (Buchanan) has developed Buchanan Next Gen. While I can’t offer what she does, I can offer to help the development of young riders to become great athletes and well-rounded people.

There are girls from Townsville and Cairns that are on a similar pathway to what I was, and I hope that I can lend my support to them and be an ear for them to talk to.

I hope to share an Olympic dream with someone I mentor… I hope that the Olympics become a reality for me in the next few years so that one day I can have a shared experience with a rider that I mentor.

It would be incredible to help someone else achieve the Olympic dream one day.

- Melinda.

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National Series RESULTS Rnd 1 & 2 MEN ROUND ONE - Nerang, Queensland Probikx Men Elite: 1. B Te Hiko (Geelong BMX Club, VIC) 2. K Sakakibara (Southlake/Illawarra BMX Club, NSW) 3. M Bias (NZL) Probikx Men Junior 1. H Fletcher (Mansfield Mt Buller BMX Club, VIC) 2. J Boyton (Centenary Plains BMX Club, QLD) 3. A Hughes (LMX Bicycle Supercross, NSW) Champbikx 16 Boy’s: 1. K Saso (JPN) 2. N Rodway (Lake Macquarie BMX Club, NSW) 3. R Weber (Cairns BMX Club, QLD) Champbikx 15 Boy’s: 1. C Calkin (NZL) 2. C Tye (Cross Keys BMX Club, SA) 3. D Bennetts (Wanneroo BMX Club, WA) Champbikx 14 Boy’s: 1. K Angel (Nerang BMX Club, QLD) 2. Moran (Manning Valley BMX Club, NSW) 3. C Taylor (Woorree Park BMX Club, WA) Challenge Series 17-29 Men: 1. B Pratt (Bundaberg BMX Club, QLD) 2. J Nash (Cairns BMX Club, QLD) 3. J Sverns (Knox BMX Club, VIC) Challenge Series 30+ Masters: 1. Tony Harvey (Geelong BMX Club, VIC) 2. B Scruse (Sydney BMX Club, NSW) 3. S Anderson (Geelong BMX Club, VIC) WOMEN ROUND ONE - Nerang, Queensland Probikx Women Elite: 1. M Mcleod (Nerang BMX Club, QLD) 2. L Curtis (Southlake Illawarra BMX Club, NSW) 3. H Sarten (NZL) Probikx Women Junior: 1. S Sakakibara (Southlake/Illawarra BMX Club, NSW) 2. S Jones (Caboolture BMX Club, QLD) 3. J Williams (Suncoast Hinterland BMX Club, QLD) Champbikx 16 Girl’s: 1. K Tanno (JPN) 2. M Reed (Knox BMX Club, VIC) 3. J Donaldson (NZL) Champbikx 15 Girl’s: 1. L Affoo (Pine Rivers BMX Club, QLD)

2. J Smith (NZL) 3. A Miller (Castle Hill BMX Club, NSW) Champbikx 14 Girl’s: D Barnes (Beenleigh BMX Club, QLD) K Botfield (Pine Rivers BMX Club, QLD) E Brewster (Beenleigh BMX Club, QLD) Challenge Series 17+ Women: 1. L Oliver (Nerang BMX Club, QLD) 2. A Weber (Cairns BMX Club, QLD) 3. T Brooks (Maitland Tenambit BMX Club, NSW) MEN ROUND TWO - Nerang, Queensland Probikx Men Elite: 1. B Turner (Eastfield BMX Club, VIC) 2. K Sakakibara (Southlake/Illawarra BMX Club, NSW) 3. B Te Hiko (Geelong BMX Club, VIC) Probikx Men Junior: 1. D Yamaguchi (JPN) 2. J Bowe (Cairns BMX Club, QLD) 3. H Fletcher (Mansfield Mt Buller BMX Club, VIC) Champbikx 16 Boy’s: 1. N Rodway (Lake Macquarie BMX Club, NSW) 2. K Affoo (Pine Rivers BMX Club, QLD) 3. R Weber (Cairns BMX Club, QLD) Champbikx 15 Boy’s: 1. C Calkin (NZL) 2. W Mundie (Cairns BMX Club, QLD) 3. C Tye (Cross Keys BMX Club, SA) Champbikx 14 Boy’s: 1. K Angel (Nerang BMX Club, QLD) 2. O Moran (Manning Valley BMX Club, NSW) 3. C Taylor (Woorree Park BMX Club, WA) Challenge Series 17-29 Men: 1. N Seal (Happy Valley BMX Clubm, SA) 2. J Sverns (Knox BMX Club, VIC) 3. J Nash (Cairns BMX Club, QLD) Challenge Series 30+ Masters: 1. Tony Harvey (Geelong BMX Club, VIC) 2. B Scruse (Sydney BMX Club, NSW) 3. S Baber (Nerang BMX Club, QLD) WOMEN ROUND TWO - Nerang, Queensland Probikx Women Elite: 1. M Mcleod (Nerang BMX Club, QLD) 2. L Curtis (Southlake Illawarra BMX Club, NSW) 3. H Sarten (NZL)

Probikx Women Junior: 1. S Sakakibara (Southlake/Illawarra BMX Club, NSW) 2. Z Fleming (NZL) 3. R Petch (NZL) Champbikx 16 Girl’s: 1. K Tanno (JPN) 2. M Rose (Tuggeranong BMX Club, ACT) 3. I Anderson (Geelong BMX Club, VIC) Champbikx 15 Girl’s: 1. J Smith (NZL) 2. L Affoo (Pine Rivers BMX Club, QLD) 3. A Miller (Castle Hill BMX Club, NSW) Champbikx 14 Girl’s: 1. D Barnes (Beenleigh BMX Club, QLD) 2. J Yabuta (JPN) 3. K Botfield (Pine Rivers BMX Club, QLD) Challenge Series 17+ Women: 1. L Oliver (Nerang BMX Club, QLD) 2. A Weber (Cairns BMX Club, QLD) 3. K Savill (Southside BMX Club)

2. J Nash (Cairns BMX Club, QLD) 3. C James (Cairns BMX Club, QLD)

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Challenge Series 30+ Masters: 1. S Dwight (Sydney BMX Club, NSW) 2. L Marsh (Ashmore BMX Club, QLD) 3. S Anderson (Geelong BMX Club, VIC) WOMEN ROUND THREE - Cairns, Queensland Probikx Women Elite: 1. M Mcleod (Nerang BMX Club, QLD) 2. R Smith (Bunbury BMX Club, WA) 3. L Curtis (Southlake Illawarra BMX Club, NSW) Probikx Women Junior: 1. S Sakakibara (Southlake/Illawarra BMX Club, NSW) 2. J Williams (Suncoast Hinterland BMX Club, QLD) 3. Erin Lockwood (Nerang BMX Club, QLD) Champbikx 16 Girl’s: 1. Shelby Green (Townsville BMX Club, QLD) 2. Mikayla Rose (Tuggeranong BMX club, ACT) 3. M Reed (Knox BMX Club, VIC)

National Series RESULTS Rnd 3 & 4 MEN ROUND THREE - Cairns, Queensland Probikx Men Elite: 1. C Frieswyk (Walkerston BMX Club, QLD) 2. B Turner (Eastfield BMX Club, VIC) 3. J Callan (Lilydale BMX Club, VIC) Probikx Men Junior: 1. H Fletcher (Mansfield Mt Buller BMX Club, VIC) 2. J Hombsch (Redlands BMX Club, QLD) 3. J Boyton (Centenary Plains BMX Club, QLD) Champbikx 16 Boy’s: 1. N Rodway (Lake Macquarie BMX Club, NSW) 2. K Affoo (Pine Rivers BMX Club, QLD) 3. R Weber (Cairns BMX Club, QLD) Champbikx 15 Boy’s: 1. C Tye (Cross Keys BMX Club, SA) 2. W Mundie (Cairns BMX Club, QLD) 3. H Phillips (Atherton BMX Club, QLD) Champbikx 14 Boy’s: 1. C Taylor (Woorree Park BMX Club, WA) 2. K Angel (Nerang BMXClub, QLD) 3. O Moran (Manning Valley BMX Club, NSW) Challenge Series 17-29 Men: 1. N Seal (Happy Valley BMX Club, SA)

Champbikx 15 Girl’s: 1. L Affoo (Pine Rivers BMX Club, QLD) 2. A Miller (Castle Hill BMX Club, NSW) 3. Felicia Thomas (Tuggeranong BMX Club, ACT) Champbikx 14 Girl’s: 1. D Barnes (Beenleigh BMX Club, QLD) 2. K Botfield (Pine Rivers BMX Club, QLD) 3. P Wallen (Knox BMX Club, VIC) Challenge Series 17+ Women: 1. L Oliver (Nerang BMX Club, QLD) 2. A Weber (Cairns BMX Club, QLD) 3. A Rickett (Knox BMX Club, VIC) MEN ROUND FOUR - CAIRNS, Queensland Probikx Men Elite: 1. B Turner (Eastfield BMX Club, VIC) 2. K Sakakibara (Southlake/Illawarra BMX Club, NSW) 3. J Callan (Lilydale BMX Club, VIC) Probikx Men Junior: 1. M White (Bendigo BMX Club, VIC) 2. Andrew Hughes (LMX Bicycle Supercross, NSW) 3. C Pratt (Bundaberg BMX Club, QLD)

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National Series RESULTS Rnd 3 & 4 Champbikx 16 Boy’s:

1. N Rodway (Lake Macquarie BMX Club, NSW) 2. K Hill (Rockingham BMX Club, WA) 3. R Barnsdale (Redlands BMX Club, QLD) Champbikx 15 Boy’s: 1. C Tye (Cross Keys BMX Club, SA) 2. W Mundie (Cairns BMX Club, QLD) 3. H Phillips (Atherton BMX Club, QLD) Champbikx 14 Boy’s: 1. K Angel (Nerang BMXClub, QLD) 2. C Taylor (Woorree Park BMX Club, WA) 3. O Moran (Manning Valley BMX Club. NSW) Challenge Series 17-29 Men: 1. B Pratt (Bundaberg BMX Club, QLD) 2. J Nash (Cairns BMXClub, QLD) 3. N Seal (Happy Valley BMX Club, SA) Challenge Series 30+ Masters: 1. S Dwight (Sydney BMX Club, NSW) 2. S Anderson (Geelong BMX Club, VIC) 3. B Hayes (Moranbah BMX Club, QLD) WOMEN ROUND FOUR - Cairns, Queensland Probikx Women Elite: 1. L Curtis (Southlake Illawarra BMX Club, NSW) 2. S Harvey (Pine Rivers BMX Club, QLD) 3. A Gunn (Logan City BMX Academy, QLD) Probikx Women Junior: 1. S Sakakibara (Southlake/Illawarra BMX Club, NSW) 2. S Jones (Caboolture BMX Club, QLD) 3. T Thorley (Nerang BMX Club, QLD) Champbikx 16 Girl’s: 1. S Green (Townsville BMX Club, QLD) 2. M Rose (Tuggeranong BMX Club, ACT) 3. E Whitlock (Redlands BMX Club, QLD) Champbikx 15 Girl’s: 1. M McGill (Ashmore BMX Club, QLD) 2. L Affoo (Pine Rivers BMX Club, QLD) 3. L Hearne (Tuggeranong BMX Club, ACT) Champbikx 14 Girl’s: 1. D Barnes (Beenleigh BMX Club, QLD) 2. K Botfield (Pine Rivers BMX Club, QLD) 3. P Wallen (Knox BMX Club, QLD) Challenge Series 17+ Women 1. A Weber (Cairns BMXClub, QLD) 2. L Oliver (Nerang BMX Club, QLD) 3. M Scriha (Walkerston BMX Club, QLD)

THE

DIRT January 2016