New Zealand’s BMX Olympian, Sarah Walker (Rotorua), claimed her first win since competing in Beijing. At the UCI Oceania Round in Canberra today Walker claimed victory despite only two weeks of preparation.
Walker took the win in a classy field including one of Australia’s Olympians, Nicole Callisto, and national series leader, Caroline Buchanan from Canberra. In a close finish Buchanan finished in second with Melbourne’s Ziggy Callan in third.
Walker was pleased to be back competing in BMX.
“We’ve all had a bit of an off season lately,” explained Walker. “We’ve all started racing at different tomes. I only started a couple of weeks ago. I think the others have had a couple of months really.”
After losing to Buchanan in yesterday’s round today Walker had different ideas.
“Today I was feeling a lot better,” said Walker. “I had the advantage of not trying to get out of the gate as hard with the amount of training I’ve had.
Her long break from serious competition was deserved and well timed.
“I really made the most of it because I won’t get another one for three and a half years.
I had enough time to want to come back to come back to BMX and want to come back as hard as I can. I just love racing.”
The return to racing for Walker marks the beginning of her progress towards another Olympic dream.
“There won’t be many girls there from the last Olympics. It is promising that I will be there.
The youngest rider in the elite men’s field outclassed his older BMX counterparts to win.. Nineteen year old, Matthew Willoughby from Adelaide claimed the best win of his career. Willoughby passed early leader Billy Jolliffe and was able to keep Beijing Olympian, Luke Madill. Willoughby led after the third straight in a tough final. Madill secured second and Newcastle’s Billy Jolliffe snared third.
":I was feeling really good all weekend," said Willoughby. "This is my best result ever."
Race report from Matt
In canberra on the weekend for round 5 and of the probikx series and rounds 8 and 9 for the uci oceanic series.
On friday night I rode well winning all my heats and was feeling really good I got a second in my semi final and was feeeling good for the main.
but once again the main I didnt have very good luck I got bumped in the first turn and I got shot staright over the top, I got going again quickly and was able to get back a few placings piking up 5th so not all was lost.
On saturday morning once again I was riding well wining my motos and I got 2nd in my semi final once again and was had a good feeling the final again.
In the final I got resonbly good start and went into the first turn 2nd and nothing happened thank god. I then passed the leader down the pro section and took the lead I was able to hold on from there for win holding off luke madil who went to the olmypics so that was awsome for me it felt so good to have to door open finalally that I have been knocking on all year. I am now in 2nd spot overall in the probikx rankings and 4th overall in the uci rankings.
So now im going to get some hard training in between now and the nationals and hopfully do welll there and get the win once again now knowing I can do it.
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