Rotorua's BMX bandit Lachlan Stevens-McNabb has retained his World Champion crown.
The 7-year-old was unbeatable after snaring a second successive title at the UCI BMX World Championships at Copenhagen this morning.
The Rotorua rider, who won the six years world title in South Africa last year, led from the start to claim
his second world crown in the Challenge age group racing.
Despite forecasts for rain the youngster's final was in clear, sunny and hot conditions.
Lachlan was unbeatable, winning all three qualifying motos, his quarterfinal, semifinal and final but the 7-year-old reckons it was a tough ask.
"It was harder than last year," Lachlan said.
"There was a lot more riders and all of them had trained really hard and got a lot better. I'm really happy to win though."
Several Rotorua riders were in competition this morning with Ngahina Pene also picking up a bronze in the 8-year-girls division.
In the boys' division Lachlan's younger brother 5-year-old Wyatt, racing in his first World champs, was fifth in the final of the 5-6 years boys division.
Zach Paterson managed a sixth in the 9 years, while Tuhoto-Ariki Pene was seventh in the semifinals of the 10 years division. In the girls' division Caitlin Flavell was fifth in the 5-6 year division.
Tomorrow is the turn of the older age groups with 12 New Zealand riders in action in the morning.
The elites get their first taste of the track later in the afternoon ahead of Friday's final practice session and qualifying time trial.
BMX:
UCI BMX World Championships, challenge results:
Boys:
5-6 years: Wyatt Stevens-McNabb(Rotorua) 5th.
7 years: Lachlan Stevens-McNabb (Rotorua) 1; James Whyte (Mountain Raiders, Pakuranga) 8.
8 years: Rico Bearman (North Harbour) 3rd.
9 years: Zach Paterson (Rotorua) 6th in round of eight.
10 years: Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (Rotorua) 7th in semifinal.
12 years: Zach Kershaw (Papakura) 6th in round of eight; Jayden Fleming (Papakura) 5th in round of eight.
13 years: Carlos Kershaw (Papakura) 7th in round of eight.
Girls:
5-6 years: Caitlin Flavell (Rotorua) 5.
8 years: Ngahina Rene (Rotorua) 3.
10 years: Kaly Harcourt (Hamilton) 3; Baylee Luttrell (Hamilton) 7th in semifinal; Mikayla Bearman (North Harbour) 4.
13 years: Zoe Fleming (Papakura) 5th in semifinal.
14 years: Tahlia Hansen (Rangiora) 2; Abigail Fox (Gisborne) 4.
