The Dirt, January 2017

THE

Dirt JANUARY 2017

ANDY HUGHES there’s two sides to andy hughes: THE QUICK WITTED, SELF DEPRICATING MATE & THE HARD CORE, FAST & DEDICATED RIDER

CONTENTS From the CEO.....................................4 From the President...........................5 Strengthfor91 Fundraiser .................. ................................................................6 The Cairns kids...................................8 COVER STORY: Andy Hughes........10 National Series Nerang wrap........... ...............................................................18

2017 Calendar JANUARY 6-7: CHAMBIKX/PROBIKX UCI + GRANDS ASSAULT NATIONAL SERIES RND 1

FEBRUARY 4-5: CHAMBIKX/PROBIKX UCI + GRANDS ASSAULT NATIONAL SERIES RND 2 3: CHAMBIKX/PROBIKX UCI RND 3, BATHURST 4: OCEANIA BMX CHAMPIONSHIPS, BATHURST 5: GRANDS ASSAULT NATIONAL SERIES RND 3, BATHURST 17-19: ACT STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS - TUGGERANONG BMX CLUB

MARCH

APRIL

1-2: CHAMBIKX/PROBIKX UCI + GRANDS ASSAULT NATIONAL SERIES RND 4, CAIRNS 23-30: BMX AUSTRALIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, SLEEMAN CENTRE, BRISBANE 6: UCI BMX SX WORLD CUP ROUND 1, PAPENDAL, NETHERLANDS 7: UCI BMX SX WORLD CUP ROUND 2, PAPENDAL, NETHERLANDS 13: UCI BMX SX WORLD CUP ROUND 3, HAUSDEN-ZOLDER, BELGIUM 14: UCI BMX SX WORLD CUP ROUND 4, HAUSDEN-ZOLDER, BELGIUM

MAY

JUNE

JULY 25-29: UCI BMX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, ROCK HILL, USA

AUGUST

16: UCI BMX SX WORLD CUP ROUND 5, SANTIAGO DEL ESTER0, ARGENTINA 17: UCI BMX SX WORLD CUP ROUND 6, SANTIAGO DEL ESTER0, ARGENTINA 18-24: QLD STATE TITLES, TOWNSVILLE BMX CLUB 30-1 OCT: NSW STATE TITLES, MACARTHUR BMX CLUB

OCTOBER

5-7: WA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, SOUTHSIDE BMX CLUB 6-7: NT STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, SATELLITE CITY BMX CLUB 25-29: SA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, VENUE TBC

11-12: TAS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, VENUE TBC 16-19: VIC STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, WYNDHAM WARRIORS BMX CLUB 23-26: USA BMX GRAND NATIONALS & RACE OF CHAMPIONS, TULSA, OKLAHOMA

DECEMBER

SEPTEMBER

NOVEMBER

From the CEO Changes, National series begins & NSOD I’d like to start by wishing all our members and supporters a Happy New Year. The upcoming year looks to be a huge one for BMX racing and everyone at BMX Australia hopes that you get maximum enjoyment from your participation in the sport over the next 12 months.

As a sport we have such a wide scope of participation that we can truly offer a great riding experience for everyone.

Whether you are a Mini Wheeler just starting in the sport, a club rider who enjoys riding with their mates at their local track or someone with ambitions to ride at the highest level, we have a place for you in our sport and we hope you make the most of the opportunity.

with the National Championships in late Many of our members will have noticed a April. We are also pleased to be hosting number of changes that have occurred in the Oceania Championships in Bathurst the past few months, most noticeably with in March and have recently announced that the National Series events at Shepthe BMXA Rule Book for 2017. We have made some amendments that were aimed parton and Cairns will be classified as HC events, meaning there are more UCI at making the rulebook a little more rider-friendly and we trust that these chang- points on offer and more prize money for the riders. es will help you to enjoy your riding this year.

Our first event in the National Series was conducted at Nerang on the first weekend We have also introduced a number of changes to the OSM system for event en- in January and what a great event it was. tries, which now allow for a family to enter The Nerang club did a great job of getting the venue ready, the officials ensured multiple riders at the one time, which will the event ran smoothly and on time, the ease the time burden on families with a number of riders entering events. Further BMXA event staff did a great job of coorimprovements to the OSM system, will be dinating the event. Most importantly, the riders turned up in numbers and put on a rolled out over the coming months as we great display of riding, ensuring that the look for ways to improve the service ofweekend was enjoyed by all who attendfered to our members. ed. It has set the scene for a great season of racing and we look forward to the The events scene is looking just as large upcoming events. as the rest of the developments being made in the sport, with our National Series running over four months, culminating The National Sign On Day is being run PAGE | 4

at clubs around Australia throughout the month of February. I encourage everyone to get along and support your club’s involvement in the NSOD. If you have a friend who you think may be interested in our great sport then please bring them along to the club and get them involved in what we all know is a great family oriented sport.

I wish you all the best for a great year of BMX in 2017.

Martin Shaw.

From the president I’m sad to have missed our first event of the year. I’ve heard a lot of rave reviews about the weekend at Nerang, everything from the track to the venue, club, workers, volunteers, officials, organisation, riding etc, it was all top notch standard.

Well done to all involved. I for one was on Norfolk Island with (a) ridiculously poor Internet connection (I couldn’t watch the live streaming!) and (b) amazing food, views and the odd beer.

The next cab off the rank for our National Series is Shepparton and I am looking forward to catching up with everyone at that event and watching some great racing, if the reports from Nerang are anything to go by.

Racing aside, what’s been going on at BMXA? From the outside it might not appear to be much, but in fact it’s crazy time in the office with a significant number of licences to process at this time of year, National Sign-on Day preparation and a large amount of planning/paperwork being handled on the events side of the office.

We have put on an additional staff member (welcome Sylvia Armstrong!) who is already making a difference to the office workload.

We hope that Sylvia enjoys talking to our members and becoming involved with our wonderful sport.

Speaking of our phones, technology stuck its nose in the way the other day and the phone system decided to go on a late Christmas

break for a day (no phones). While it makes for a quiet day in the office, it doesn’t help our members. Like any workplace our office isn’t immune from technology making life difficult, so I implore you to remember that before venting any frustrations when you do finally get through to staff.

Apologies to those that were left in the lurch, we’ve already put steps in place to try and avoid a future occurrence.

While on the subject of staff … if you want to know who to talk to about specific things look be sure to check out the contact us page on our website!

Changing gears, Bathurst BMX have asked me to be involved in a Trivia Night on 25 Feb (night before NSW Open on 26th) to raise money for Bruce Moore, one of our riders who was badly injured in 2016. I’m probably not supposed to announce this yet, but a bit of free publicity never goes astray!

We should not forget the past in our headlong rush into the future and we should support our clubs and BMX Family where we can. Now without blowing my own bags, I run a pretty mean Trivia Night (it has its own Race Director), so keep an eye out for information on Bathurst BMX’s website and Facebook, tickets should be available soon!

Seriously, don’t miss that weekend because it will be great fun for a good cause. If that’s not enough pressure for the organisers, I don’t know what is.

See you round the tracks …Neil Cameron.

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Strengthfor91 dinner adds more to #SW91 Fund

More than $5000 raised on the gold Coast

September 10, 2016, there has been an outpouring of support in the time since, with this dinner bringing together the Australian BMX community at one location in order to bolster the Strength For 91 fundraising effort.

While the money raised was no doubt a highlight, Mankowski said she was blown away by the support given to her in the lead up and during the event.

“Firstly I want to give a special thank you to Nerang BMX Club for taking on board all of the ticket sales and handling of the cash flow for the event,” Mankowski said.

“They had absolutely no hesitation in assisting the promotion of the event, and were truly amazing.

More than $5,000.00 has been raised by a dedicated group of people on the Gold Coast to assist the recovery of Australian BMX star Sam Willoughby.

Led by former rider Melissa Mankowski (pictured above with a young Sam Willoughby), a firm friend of the Willoughby family, the ‘Strengthfor91 Fundraising Dinner’ was held at the Parkwood International on the eve of round one of the BMX Australia National Series.

“I also received great support from Cycling Australia, BMX HPU coach Wade Bootes, family, old BMX friends and work colleagues. Katie Brown from Channel 7 ran the original story, every little bit helped and I am beyond proud of the night.

“Thanks also to my amazing friend and local Gold Coast DJ Corey Hill for providing MC duties and playing great tunes.

“Overall, organising this event was the least I could do for a kid I grew up to admire as a friend, a human and talented athlete.”

Donations to Sam Willoughby’s recovering can still be made at road2recovery.

Despite Willoughby’s injuries occurring on com/cause-view/strengthfor91/.

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#Strengthfor91

Meet the cairns kids first group of mini wheelers break into racing

The mini wheeler scene in North Queensland is alive and thriving, and now four years after the BMX Australia membership class for the youngest riders was initially introduced, two of its inaugural pupils are about to begin life as age group competitors.

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In 2012, Cairns BMX Club were one of a handful of clubs selected to trial the Mini Wheeler class and among their first intake of riders were Logan Prince and Will Emeleus.

Now both boys are sevenyears-old and have progressed from the Mini Wheeler to the Sprocket Rocket class, and are now racing competitively in 8-years boy’s club competition.

Their story puts the spotlight on the importance of the Mini Wheeler class.

Created to provide riders as young as two-years-old an introductory level that focuses on developing balance, gross motor skills and independence to begin riding a bike, Mini Wheelers has become an integral part of rider development in Australia.

Despite the success of the entry level participation class today, not everyone was convinced that a class that asked riders to compete on balance bikes, with no pedals would survive.

History has proved otherwise.

For Cairns BMX Club the success of Mini Wheelers is largely attributed to the nurturing coaches who have kept a watchful eye on the riders taking part. Thanks to them, Mini Wheelers continued to go from strength to strength for the club.

With their final Sprocket Rocket event now over, Logan and Will are said to be excited to be racing in what they call the ‘money’ class. Their enthusiasm for the sport and riding with their mates remain strong as the first time they rolled the balance bike around the track four-years ago.

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ANDY HUGHES there’s two sides to andy hughes: THE QUICK WITTED, SELF DEPRICATING MATE & THE HARD CORE, FAST & DEDICATED RIDER

As far as BMX riders go, Andy Hughes is everyone’s cup of tea…at least every member of the BMX Australia Development Academy.

A first year elite men’s rider, Hughes has an exterior of quick wit and self-deprecating humour that can lift a room instantly, that’s why his teammates love him. But at his core, he’s a fast and dedicated athlete who has the potential to mix it with the best.

Spend five minutes with the LMX BMX Club member and you will quickly learn what he’s all about. From his road back from injury in 2015, to the up and down results experienced in 2016 and the difficulty of finding sponsorship, a conversation with Hughes can have more gear changes than a Formula 1 car lapping the tight Monaco circuit.

He’s an open book, and that’s his appeal.

Saturday March 5, 2016 was a turning point for Hughes. Under the hot sun at Bathurst BMX track he streaked to a clear victory of almost one second to win the junior elite men’s national championship.

Hughes’ winning time was fast enough that it would have also won the elite men’s national title.

It wasn’t a bad effort for a rider that had just made his return following a 12-month stint on the sidelines.

For many up-and-comers there are a number of barriers to cracking the code to the elite level of BMX. Whether it’s finances, ability, training ethic or motivaPAGE | 14

tion among others, this is a sport that asks competitors to fight their way all the way to the top.

have come back as strong.

Not once did my motivation to return waver, I was never disheartened.

The largest barrier for Hughes was a torn ACL, a serious injury that not many riders would expect at the dawn of their career. When things should have been taking off, Hughes instead found himself missing the majority of 2015, leaving him to plot for 2016.

“By the time I was back on the bike I was loving it again. Then coming back to racing was another challenge. I was very inconsistent at the start of 2016, but as the year moved on I improved.

“I managed second in the national series and then “It was really hard getting won the Australian title. back,” Hughes reflects.

From there I raced some of the world cup series, was “There was a lot of hard second in the time trial at work done in the gym and I the world championships, have to thank my physio. If but then missed the final in I didn’t have him I wouldn’t the race event. Looking

A major turning point, 2nd in the junior men’s time trial at the 2016 UCI BMX World Championships in Medellin, Colombia: Pic Jerry Landrum/BMXMania.com

back it was a good year, considering where it started.”

Learning from his mistakes and experiences and moving on is one of Hughes’ strong suits. Although the 2016 domestic season had finished favourably, the 2016 UCI BMX World Championships in Medellin, Colombia was a different beast that built up Hughes’s confidence one day, before slamming it down the very next.

“Finishing second in the time trial was a massive confidence booster. I was feeling good and knew that I could beat most of the guys in the competition around the track if I could get out of the gate well,” he recalls.

“But come race day the semi final didn’t go to plan.

I over-jumped the very last jump into the second turn, looked up and saw the French rider. I knew we would collide and that It was an experience that I was going down. When I took him longer to overlooked up, no one else had come than expected, but crashed around me. That one that he now looks back was it. My worlds camon with steely resolve. paign was over.

“I don’t know a lot of the other riders, I wasn’t too happy with the French rider and didn’t really speak with anyone. I just packed up my gear and sat in the grandstand to watch the rest of racing.

“I was gutted. I had been riding so well all day.

“Normally I’m dirty on myself when I make a mistake and I’m over it after a day or two. It took longer for this one. Looking back, these things make you stronger, you think ‘I was that close, so maybe next year I will get a little closer,’ it pushes you along.”

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Top-Bottom: Just like everyone else Hughes began at a young age; A world champion at 11-years-old sparked the passion for Hughes; on his way to the junior elite national title in 2016.

Although the worlds result took time to heal, Hughes doesn’t obsess over racing and results. That’s not to say he doesn’t care or take it seriously enough. It’s more that he has an ability to switch on and off when he needs to, no doubt his unique humour helps.

“I do my best to have a good sense of humour and get along with everyone, especially in the Academy. I be myself, have a laugh with them all and try and make everyone happy,” Hughes smiles.

“Below all that I am a serious racer. When the time comes to put the helmet on and get up on the gate I am quiet and like to do my own thing, focus on myself and no one else.

“I think if I had to give a 10-year-old me some advice it would be to just go out and have fun, spend time riding with your mates. I’d tell myself not to get caught up in the racing and obsessing with winning and what you need to win. Be more serious when racing, but not too much, you’re 10.

“And do sprints!”

Now entering a new phase in his career, out of junior and into elite level riding, Hughes knows the stakes have again been raised, but he’s keeping his goals in check for 2017.

“My ultimate goal is to make the Australian final, and the worlds team. There aren’t a lot of available spots on that team, so if I can be consistent I’m in with a chance,” he said.

“I raced a few world cup events last year, so I have a taste of what elite competition is like. Everyone is bigger, stronger and PAGE | 16

they give you no room on the track. It’s hard to recover from mistakes.

“I’ll need “Dad is my best motito try and vator, and ever since I emulate was young has said he those guys. I’ll will always put in 100 race the first two per cent, as long as I World do the same.”

Cup events again, and then it will be all about worlds for me.”

His 2017 goals are spelled out with conviction and belief. In Hughes’ corner is his father and BMXA Development Academy coach Luke Madill, two people that can see the potential in the rising star.

Unlike other riders though, there isn’t a group of sponsors supporting this journey. It’s a relative sore point for the young man who dreams of scaling the heights of BMX. But in true Andrew Hughes style he’s open to discussing anything, good or bad.

“I’ve found sponsorship really tough, I’ve had one or two over the years but that’s it,” he laments.

“I’ve tried to get sponsors, but I’ve always been too late, or told that there is no budget for it. The sponsorship market is tough, there’s not a lot of money out there for BMX. “So it’s been me, mum and dad making it happen. Dad and I just get the gear we want and go and chase the results. Dad is my best motivator, and ever since I was young has said he will always put in 100 per cent, as long as I do the same.

“He has a lot of belief in me and I don’t think he ever thought I would come this far. As I get older, BMX requires more time and effort and as long as I hold up

my end of the bargain, he is there with me. He doesn’t want to see this opportunity go to waste. You get one shot in sport.

“All the same, hopefully we land a sponsor someday.”

Until that day comes, Hughes knows where he wants to go with sport.

“I have plenty more to give in BMX and I haven’t accomplished nearly half of what I want to yet.”

No matter what he plans on accomplishing, you can be sure that Andrew Hughes will be unapologetic in doing it his way, an open book that will be intrinsically focused on his goals in one breath, the humorous icebreaker in the next.

Doing it together, Andy Hiughes and his dad.

NERANG TURNS IT

ON!

Round 1 of the Chambikx/Probikx UCI & Grands Assault National Series commenced the season in fashion!

If there was a better start to the 2017 BMX racing year anywhere in the world, we haven’t heard about it.

The Australian BMX season kicked off in top gear at the Nerang BMX Club from January 6-7 with more than 270 riders attending to compete in both the Chambikx/Probikx UCI and Grands Assault National Series.

Number of competitors aside, the level of racing displayed from riders as young as 10, through to the eldest competitors, was exemplary for the first event of the year.

Before we move onto the second event of the year at Shepparton BMX Club, to be held from February 4-5, here’s a look back on the weekend that was in Nerang.

Chambikx/Probikx UCI Doing it for grandad Tall, powerful, experienced and a die-hard competitor. The Northern Territory’s Matt Juster is an intimidating rider on track, but on day one of school we saw a softer, sentimental side to him.

From the moment the gate dropped in Nerang, Juster was on the money as he finished first in all but one moto, won his quarterfinal and semi final, before claiming victory in the very first elite men’s event of the year.

In the moments after winning, he dedicated the victory to his grandfather, who had passed away just four days prior.

Watch out for Juster over the coming events, if his dominance on the first day in Nerang was anything to go by, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with for the remainder of 2017.

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Kiwi Steals the limelight on aussie soil New Zealander Zoe Fleming doesn’t mind causing an upset, in fact she’s done it before at Nerang!

Fleming upstaged a field of Aussies, including reigning national champion Leanna Curtis to win her first ever elite women’s race with a tidy performance in the final.

Curtis inevitably finished third, the pair split by Queensland’s Tyler-Lea Thorley.

The result mimicked Fleming’s result from Nerang in 2015, when she won her first ever junior elite women’s event. Ironically Thorley also featured in the top three on that day as she finished third.

Sakakibara & boyton deal the new students a lesson Experience proved key in the women and men’s junior elite races at Nerang with Saya Sakakibara and Joshua Boyton coming out on top come race day.

Sakakibara had come into the event as the favourite, and delivered in spades as she won every single lap she contested during the event. While the results will show her strength, it would be remiss to overlook the performance of Caboolture BMX Club’s Sara Jones who put Sakakibara’s win under serious pressure.

In the junior men’s race Boyton put his first year of experience in the junior class from 2016 to good use, producing a smart race to finish a second clear of Izaac Kennedy, with Matt Krasevskis in third.

Just like Sakakibara, Boyton won every lap he contested to make a statement ahead of the remainder of the season.

Welcome to big school A number of riders made their first step into the challenger classes, entering the 14-years Chambikx Series.

Ready to begin their path to the Olympic Games or life as a professional BMX rider, some of Australia’s most promising future talent put their best foot forward for victory.

Come the end of racing it was Buddha Baum in the boy’s event and Paige Harding in the girl’s who put themselves ahead of the pack, claiming their first wins in the series.

Welcome back to the top step As much as things change, they stay the same.

There were a number of familiar faces populating the podium in the remaining age groups of the Chambikx UCI series.

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Chief among them was Beenleigh BMX Club’s Des’Ree Barnes, who had a flawless 2016 in the 14-years girl’s National Series and National Championships, before winning her age group world title. In 2017 she moved to the 15-years class and continued her winning form.

Meanwhile in the 16-years boy’s class the name Brad Shaylor sat at the top at the end of the day, just as it did in March 2016 when he won the 15-years boy’s event at the BMX Australia National Championships in Bathurst.

It was the same story in the 16-years girl’s race as Molly McGill picked up in Nerang where she left off in Bathurst last year, as number one in her age group.

Can they maintain the momentum Victoria’s Tasman Wakelin saved his best lap at Nerang until the final of the 15-year’s boy’s race as he swept through the field to win his event. It’s a positive step forward for Wakelin after a tough run at last year’s national championships.

Michael Robinson claimed a clear win in the 30+ Masters class to beat home Luke Marsh and Sam Baber by a healthy margin, while Dirk Winter held off Hayden Jones in the 17-29 men’s event.

Tegan McClellan won the women’s 17+ event.

Grands Assault national series More riders, more races.

The Grands Assault National Series broke cover for the first time in Nerang, and like the Chambikx/Probikx Series those competing in it left nothing on the table.

With just five rounds, the last of which will be held at the BMX Australia National Championships, this Series will award one of the most coveted prizes in BMX racing for the victors in each class – a trip to the USA BMX Grand Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma in November 2017.

Up-and-comers top the pro classes In the AA pro men’s class Mackay’s Tristyn Kronk drew first blood as he chalked up his first ever elite win to beat home Nicholas Fox of New Zealand and Victoria’s Joshua McLean.

The pro women’s race pitted prolific age group winner Des’Ree Barnes against Aussie champ Leanna Curtis and the highly rated Saya Sakakibara.

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Sakakibara won, while day one elite women’s winner Zoe Fleming backed up for a second place finish, compatriot Jessie Smith coming in third.

Lake Macquarie BMX Club’s Nathaniel Rodway had come to Nerang with high expectations of himself as he moved into the junior elite men’s class for the Probikx Series.

However a disappointing result there seemingly fuelled a fire as the young Novocastrian put the win beyond doubt in the A pro men’s race, taking the first step towards a trip to the USA.. .

Winter is coming

Among the older male riders it was two familiar names who finished atop the standings, Dirk Winter claiming victory in the 17-32 men, while Michael Robinson was the pick of the bunch in the vet pro class. Both ended with a flawless weekend across the Chambikx/Probikx UCI and Grands Assault National Series in their respective classes.

Age groupers fix their eyes on the prize Molly McGill again proved to be atop her age group as she won the 16-years girl’s event, while Cairns rider Wade Mundie won the boy’s. In the 15-year age groups Oliver Moran beat home Kai Angel in the boy’s race, Kiana Botfield the winner in the 15-years girl’s.

There was more joy for the Cairns BMX Club in the 14-years girl’s event with Shannon Petrie finishing first.

Meanwhile Nerang BMX Club’s Jesse Asmus won on home soil in the corresponding boy’s event, Kira Hill and Tyson Kenny doing the same in the 13-years girl and boy’s events.

In the 12-years girl’s Isabella Schramm beat home Sienna Pal and Sophie Craig, while Thomas Tucker won the boy’s event with Callum Howarth and Campbell Allan finishing second and third respectively.

Samual O’Grady won the 11-year’s boy’s event from Brodie Gooch, nine-years world champion Portia Eden beating home world number two Sacha Mills in the girl’s event.

Portia Eden on her way to victory in the Grands Assault National Series - Pic by Paul Goodall/Racer

Ashton Kenny won the 10-years boy’s event, the youngest age group to contest the Grands Assault National Series, beating home Oliver Rivers and Ashton Pace. .

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THE

DIRT JANUARY 2017