Top Hawke's Bay BMX rider sidelined after breaking collarbone

Hawke's Bay BMX rider Amy Martin, 15, was taken to the emergency room with a broken collarbone after falling from her bike during a race on Australia's Gold Coast at the weekend. Photo / Supplied

Hawke's Bay BMX star Amy Martin is forced to hang up her helmet for the next six weeks, after a crash during a race on Australia's Gold Coast left her with a broken collarbone.

The 15-year-old, who is ranked No1 in New Zealand for her age group, was representing New Zealand in the Senior BMX Test Team at the weekend, when she came off her bike in the "rough and tough" race.

"I can't really remember what happened but I had to get taken off the track in a stretcher and they gave me heaps of painkillers. It hurt like hell."

She had also sprained her sternum earlier in the event, but kept competing and took fifth place in the "Champ Bikz" race.

Yesterday she was watching the races from the sideline, with fellow team member Baylee Luttrell taking her spot in the competition.

She would return to Hawke's Bay this week and remained optimistic about the recovery period ahead.

"It's disappointing, but it will make me come back stronger and more determined," she said.

Martin also represented her country at the International Children's Games last month at Lake Macquarie, New South Wales.

A first for New Zealand, Napier City Council's initiative, supported by the Napier Port, sent a team of 18 children, including Martin to the games.

She returned with two gold medals from the BMX time trial and racing events.