NATIONAL title, Oceania title and now a BMX NSW State Series round win – the Bathurst BMX track is a venue where Leanna Curtis has enjoyed an impressive run of success.
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Since making her first appearance at the venue two years ago, Curtis has impressed those who have seen her in action as she has tackled impressive elite women’s fields.
On Sunday the Southlake-Illawarra BMX Club rider went undefeated in the women’s superclass division when Bathurst hosted the third round of the BMX NSW State Series.
It was the first time this season she had won a round in the series, having placed second at both the Macarthur and Maitland events.
Having previously ridden at Bathurst – and having a passion for the venue – was something that helped her cause.
“Racing here before, it helps for sure, I love this place too. It’s hard to be in a bad mood at this place because I just love the track so much,” Curtis said.
“It has been close over the first couple of rounds and today was the first day I remembered that the moto points count as well, so I made sure I tried hard in every race and got wins in all of them.”
While round one winner Saya Sakakibara did not compete at Bathurst, Curtis still faced some stiff superclass opposition including the Macarthur round winner Ashlee Miller.
The Castle Hill rider finished as runner-up to Curtis in two of the three motos on Sunday and in the final pushed her rival again.
Miller actually got the better of the start before Curtis, who got faster each lap she did of the Bathurst track over the course of the day, reeled her in.
Curtis got the holeshot and while Miller was close behind through the rest of the lap, the former went on to take the spoils.
She stopped the clock at 48.270 seconds, with Miller producing her quickest lap of the day – a 48.532 – in finishing second.
Third belonged to another Castle Hill rider in Gemma-Lee Thomas (48.965).
“We’ve got a couple of good juniors. Ashlee Miller, she’s a junior elite national champion and she’s definitely pretty quick at the moment, so I had to try and hold her off,” Curtis said.
“She was in front of me down the hill, so I had to try and get in front of her, it was lucky I had the inside line.
“You’ve just got to get in front then be nice and clean.”
Curtis not only raced while in Bathurst, but she spent time on Saturday coaching juniors who hope to one day follow in her footsteps.
While racing rather than coaching is Curtis’ passion, she still enjoyed passing on some of her knowledge.
“We did a couple of one-and-a-half hour sessions with the kids and it was good,” she said.
“I definitely prefer to ride myself, but the kids, seeing the look on their faces, that’s something which is really good. It’s a close second to racing.”
The fourth round of the state series – the Southlake Open – will be held on July 1, followed by Sawtell on July 15.
