 Sydney’s Alex Cameron made a late run to win the national BMX elite national title in Shepparton today. After taking the lead from Adelaide’s Anthony Dean in the third straight, Cameron went on to claim his first major win of the year. A mishap in the first straight ruled out any chance for Olympian, Luke Madill, to take a record fourth national title. Defending champion, Billy Jolliffe and national series winner on Thursday, Brian Kirkham, also fell victim to the squeeze in the first straight. Second place went to Dean with fellow Adelaide riders, Kirkham and Michael Fenwick, in third and fourth respectively. In the elite women’s race a strong start by Bendigo’s Jaclyn Wilson-Thompson looked likely to snare her the elite women’s crown until a late charge came from Queenslander, Cherie Simpson. The 19 year old pounced in the final corner claiming her first ever national title. “I can’t believe I won it!” said Simpson at the finish. “She (Wilson-Thompson) was quite a bit in front of me. I pulled the same move on her as I did on Thursday and she tried to block me. I got a tyre in front and we were pushing each other.” This marked Simpson’s second win of the championships after claiming the national series title on Thursday. Jaclyn Wilson-Thompson dominated in the heats in the and was just unlucky in the final.. “ I knew today it would be a lot harder. Jaclyn is very determined. She’s a tough competitor,” said Simpson. I came around the last corner and all the Queenslanders were there they were going crazy. I threw in a few pedals at the finish.” In the junior men’s final a blown tyre brought down Perth’s Darryn Goodwin leaving the win to Melbourne’s Matthew Dunsworth. Perth rider, Kirsten Dellar was able to claim a win in the junior women’s race. Other national titles were taken by Tony Harvey (30+men), Ryan Van Vugt (16 boys), Madison Janssen (16 girls), Jack Buchhorn (15 boys), Rachel Jones (15 girls), Jordan Lecher (14 boys) and Harriet Burbidge-Smith (14 girls).. In Copenhagen eight of Australia’s top riders raced in the second round of the World Cup Supercross overnight. World ranked number one, Sam Willoughby from Adelaide, was eliminated in the semi-final however three of the Aussie women made it into the final. Beijing Olympian, Nicole Callisto, was the highest placed Australian in fourth place while Rachel Bracken and Caroline Buchanan placed fifth and sixth respectively. Beijing Olympic gold medallist, Maris Strombergs from Latvia, won the men’s final. Second was Great Britian’s Liam Phillips and Corben Sharrah from the USA placed third.
The women’s race was won by Laetitia le Corguille from France. Current world champion, Sarah Walker from New Zealand, placing second and Aneta Hladikova from the Czech Republic was third. Both Willoughby and Buchanan are now both ranked in second place overall in the World Cup Supercross series. For media assistance/ interviews/photos or information please contact: Sharon Payne Media Manager, BMX Australia 0412 773500 | ||
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