BMX: McLeod on track for champs

National titles and world championship places are up for grabs at the New Zealand BMX Championships in Rotorua this weekend.

The country's best riders, from pre-schoolers through to veterans, will compete for national honours at the Te Ngae Rd track.

It's the first time Rotorua has hosted the event and race director Alex Nicholls said it's set to be the biggest national championships ever, with 925 competitors.

"With the worlds being in New Zealand next year, there's a lot more people travelling, as it's the first chance to qualify for that," he said.

The 2013 BMX world championships will be held at Auckland's Vector Arena and the top 16 in each class this weekend will qualify.

Rotorua BMX club president Cameron McLeod said it was a great achievement for the club to host such a big event.

"We have had the North Island Champs here twice before but the nationals is the pinnacle," he said. "This place will be transformed, with a big grandstand going up, a marquee and staging area."

McLeod said a few big names such as Sarah Walker, Kurt Pickard and Marc Willers would miss the event as they were competing with the New Zealand team overseas.

"Sarah was disappointed, she's a Rotorua club member, so was disappointed to miss home track advantage," McLeod said.

However, there would still be plenty of "guns" to look out for in the elite field, while junior and age-group competitors would also be vying for top ranking in their respective classes.

The Rotorua club have 52 riders entered, including McLeod's 12-year-old son Hamish. Now ranked third (NZ 3) in the country in the 20" class, Hamish is hoping the home advantage could help him go a couple of places better this year.

"I want to be NZ 1," he said. "And then world number one."

The John Paul College student has competed in BMX for five years and this weekend will contest the 20" and the 24" Cruiser classes.

For the past year, Hamish has delivered The Daily Post on his BMX, and the daily paper run has become a crucial part of his training regime.

"It's good training because I sprint up the hills," he said.

His customers have become fans, often asking about his racing exploits.

It promises to be a busy weekend for his family, with Hamish's father also competing in the 45 and over Cruiser class.

"I am NZ 5 in my class so I just have to beat four more guys," McLeod said. "I am getting there ... just as long as I stay on my bike." The event starts on Friday with practice runs and trials for the Mighty 11 transtasman team, followed by the opening ceremony at 12.30pm. Seeding runs get under way from 11am on Saturday, with the finals day on Sunday from 9am.