COMPETITION will be stiff when Bathurst stages the third round of the BMX NSW State Series later this month, but there is still reason for the host club to expect good results.
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Not only will the contingent of Bathurst BMX Club riders that compete hold the advantage of being familiar with the track, but a number of them are in good touch.
Last Sunday at the second round of the State Series at Macarthur, four Bathurst riders contested the final in their respective categories while another two qualified for the semi-final stage.
Chelsea Westman placed third in her 14 girls category, having qualified for the final by placing fourth, fifth then third in her motos.
In the final she was actually the second best performed NSW rider as well given runner-up Zoe Johnston is based in Victoria.
Her brother Liam Westman only narrowly missed a podium as he placed fourth in the 17-24 men’s decider, while Caleb Hampton made the semis in that same category.
Jett Robertson reached the 12 years boys semi-finals, while both Phil Martin (45-49 men’s) and Hayley Wolfenden (superclass women) placed seventh in their respective finals.
On top of that, the three youngest Bathurst riders who made the trip to Macarthur – Dom Pappas, Wyatt Robertson and Brad Martin – gained valuable experience.
That those results came on a day when heat added to the degree of difficultly for the riders, Wolfenden said it was a positive sign for Bathurst.
“It was low 30s and that does make it harder. You’re hot and you’re in all your gear and there was a hot wind as well, so it was harder to cool off between all your races,” she said.
“There were a lot of fast riders there … so I’d say it was good prep for our Bathurst round. It was pretty good representation there.”
Wolfenden herself was happy to reach the final given she stepped up to Superclass, competing against many of Australia’s top ranked women.
“I didn’t go in with high expectations. Ash [Miller, victor] is the next upcoming rider, she smashed the junior elites and clocked a lap time faster than all the seniors when she rode at nationals,” Wolfenden said.
“I think I’d be lying if I said it was not really intimidating because they’re fast, but you can’t do anything about it. I reckon I feel more pressure racing against them because you want to keep up, you don’t want to be left behind.”
The Bathurst riders will all be working hard to make sure they are on the pace when hosting round three of the State Series on April 29.
Wolfenden hopes support from a home crowd can lift them as well.
“We are hoping to do well, obviously the better your home riders go, the better the show,” she said.
“It should bring in a lot of riders. It’s a great thing for our club to host a state round, it’s good recognition for our club.
“It’s a free event too, so people can come up and watch. Hopefully we can get a good crowd there.”
Racing at the state event will start at 10am.