BMX: World champs in line for NZ titles

JUNIOR ACE: Young Rotorua BMX star Lachlan Stevens-McNab, 10, is on the hunt for a national title this weekend. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Young BMX star Lachlan Stevens-McNab will be among a big group of Rotorua riders looking to impress at the BMX National Championships in Tauranga.

The national champs were originally scheduled to start yesterday but poor weather resulted in the event being shortened to a two-day event held today and tomorrow.

With some top senior riders missing this weekend, including Kawerau Olympian Sarah Walker, the spotlight will likely fall on the junior and age-group ranks battling for national titles.

Several world champions will be leading the way in the age-group classes including Stevens-McNab in the 10-year-old division, Sacha Earnest (Auckland) in the 8-year-old division and Tony Wilcock (Hamilton) in the 30-39 years class.

Rotorua BMX Club is taking through a team of 47 riders today to compete in a range of the age-group events.

The BikeNZ high performance group are currently competing at the opening round of the UCI World Cup in Manchester. The high performance group includes a team of five riders led by Olympic silver medallist Walker.

Taranaki's Matt Cameron just missed out on selection for the high performance team and will be a standout in the elite competition.

Cameron is keen to test himself on the relatively unfamiliar track where he has only ridden once before.

"With most of the team off at the world cup the men's elite field is smaller, but we are all around the same level so it should be a tight competition." Cameron said.

"Cody Stevens knows the track like the back of his hand. He's got to be one of the favourites. And there's also Ryan Lewis - it's his first year competing in the elite division."

There will be practice sessions held today followed by racing tomorrow at the Tauranga BMX Track.