Bay of Plenty BMX riders are among the top 11-year-olds in their sport in New Zealand - and with their New Zealand Mighty 11s BMX teammates, they're looking to claim a double win over rivals across the ditch.
The New Zealand junior team, made up of the country's top 11-year-old riders, currently hold the boys' team trophy while the Australians are the girls champions. Each team includes four male and four female riders, with the girls' team featuring Bay of Plenty riders including Tauranga's Hannah Mason and Rotorua's Kate Hastings. Fellow Rotorua rider Bellah Birchall is a reserve for the girls' team.
The teams leave for Australia tomorrow to allow the New Zealand team to spend next week preparing for the Mighty 11s transtasman cultural exchange, hosted in Australia by BMX New South Wales. Teams will compete in five motos on June 8 and 9 at Maitland BMX Club in New South Wales.
In addition to the test team racing, all New Zealand riders will compete in an open class event with riders the same age.
Hannah, a member of the Tauranga BMX Club, says being a part of the Mighty 11s is a great opportunity.