A fractured ankle and muscular issue had kept the Western Region Academy of Sport rider off her bike earlier this season, but watching her race on Saturday it was hard to tell.

Puzicha took out the three-lap handicap plus nabbed a pair of scratch race wins and while missing out in the wheelrace, was delighted for the rider who was first across the line.

“I was at the back for that, so I let the other girls have a chance and it was good because my WRAS team-mate Zara Fuller won,” she said.

Puzicha’s most impressive victory at the Bathurst Velodrome arguably came in her last scratch race.

She sat on Fuller’s wheel early on and had some brief turns in front as the field surged then backed off then surged again.

However, as Puzicha entered the back straight for the final lap and decided to unleash, no-one could match her. She went on for a convincing win ahead of Lidcombe Auburn’s Keira Will.

She was pleased with that effort and the event as a whole.

“They kept on speeding up in that scratch race, but I’m pretty used to that. I just decided to go all for it because it was the last race,” she said.

“Yeah they do mark me, because I’ve got the record they stay on my wheel. I don’t feel pressure, not really, because I’m used to it.

“I fractured my ankle and my muscles have been growing too quickly for my hip, so this was my first time back in. It [ankle] happened when I got kicked playing women’s soccer for school, I play for The Scots School.

“It’s been pretty good today, I’m pretty happy with how it went.”

Puzicha will be looking to continue her good form in the second round of the National Junior Track Series this coming weekend at Dunc Gray Velodrome.

She missed the opening round of the annual series at Melbourne, but is hoping to make up points and add to her impressive effort from last season.

“Next week I’ve got Sydney NJTS, the National Junior Track Series, which should be fun because this was my first full on week of training,” she said.

“I rode in it last year and I came third overall and I came back from a fractured neck for it last year.”

Other Bathurst juniors to enjoy a podium at the open were: under 9 girls Sianna Fish and Hallie Allen; under 11 boys talent Darcy Fish; Lara Allen in the under 11 girls division; under 13 boys competitor Cadel Lovett; and Ebony Robinson in the under 13 girls events.